Can the Quran be incorporated in daily life? Can it change man’s behavior and attitude? Yes, indeed, it can enlighten the heart, mind and soul.
It was during my teens that I picked up a translation of the Quran in my quest to find my true identity. I wanted to know why I was born; what Allah required of me in the form of duties and responsibilities; and how I ought to spend my life in order to win His Pleasure.
Since then, many years on, my heart brims with gratitude at how this Glorious Book has filled up my life with the most beautiful and vibrant colors in order to make it resonate with spiritual fulfillment.
There are many ways in which a Muslim can connect himself to the Quran, including the following:
1. Reciting
It makes you feel close to Allah, and alleviates any sorrow or grief due to its immediate stress-relieving effects.
Reciting the Quran with correct tajweed (rules of recitation) fills the heart with solace, the soul with peace and the house with blessings.
Daily recitation of a few pages of the Quran, especially after Fajr prayer, is the best remedy for keeping oneself on the path of righteousness tied to the rope of Allah.
Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn Al-As reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“The one who is devoted to the Quran will be told on the Day of Resurrection: Read and ascend (in ranks). Recite as you used to recite when you were in the first life (dunia). Your rank will be at the last verse (ayah) you recite.” (Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi)
2. Reading Translation and Exegesis
Reading is one of the most fulfilling pastimes, pursued by millions with zeal. What better to read on a relaxing day than the Quran or its explanation?
A good understanding of reality can be obtained if the Quran is understood by reading its translation and exegesis (tafsir), written by a knowledgeable and specialized scholar, as exegesis helps reveal the secrets of the Quran and sheds light on the hidden meanings of the words, verses and surahs.
3. Memorizing
“He, who does not memorize any part from the Quran, is like a ruined house.” (At-Tirmidhi)Abdullah Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said,
Having Divine words ensconced in your heart enables you to hum them to yourself when feeling low and to stand in long deep supererogatory prayers at night.
Moreover, it makes you feel especially close to Allah when, as you witness incidents in daily life, He replays relevant Quranic words in your mind granting you insight into the reality of the life of this world.
4. Attentive Listening
Whether it’s listening to a Quran recitation or to a scholarly lecture explaining it, whilst traveling in a car, surfing the internet, or attending a live class at an institute or a mosque, one of the best ways of reflecting upon the Quran is listening to it intently when someone reads it and explains it aloud to you.
Any student of Islamic knowledge would testify to the “on-high” feeling of enlightenment that follows a Quran class.
5. Acting upon It
From fulfilling covenants, taking loans, leaving behind inheritance, responding to evil with good, tying the nuptial knot, and calling to Islam, to principles of raising pious children and giving charity – the Quran provides complete guidance to Muslims, on how to lead a peaceful life individually and communally.
The Quran should be adhered to in our daily life; it is a Book sent as guidance for all mankind. Therefore, all other acts of worship related to the Quran would be of little avail; rather, they could actually bear witness against Muslims on the Day of Judgment, if they did not act upon its commands, or did not intend to act upon them when pursuing its knowledge.
6. Teaching It to Others
Uthman Ibn Affan narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
“The best among you is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it (to others.)” (Al-Bukhari)
It sounds very fancy to say, “I teach the Quran“, but in reality, propagating the Quran can be as simple as inviting a few friends over for tea, and reading a number of ayahs out to them in Arabic, followed by translation and exegesis over a period of half an hour. Everyone can then discuss how to apply what they have learned to their lives.
The short surahs of the Quran may be covered, or it may be taught chronologically in its entirety. The point is to open up the Quran for da`wah and reflection on a regular basis. The benefits of this activity – teaching it to others – outweigh those of reflecting upon it in seclusion.
7. Becoming One of Ahlul-Quran
The Quran has filled my life with vibrant colors, enriched my soul with its beneficial knowledge, and guided me to feel the solace of being close to Allah, my Creator. Wouldn’t you also want to go through that beautiful experience?
The bond that binds Muslims together on the basis of studying the Quran together is indescribable. It is sincere and unworldly love, solely for the sake of Allah; it transcends petty motives or gains.
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