Reflect on The Quran
Chapter 29
“What use to be something that burned in the hearts of men, is now a subject of abstract philosophical debate” ~ Muhammad Iqbal
Every literary masterpiece in history has required at least one attempt at revision and improvement, and yet the Qur’an was never “edited” and remained unchanged over the span of twenty-three years (and since).
It is common knowledge that any literary excellence requires an entire process of editing and revision and any sophisticated masterpiece is not simply produced all at once by someone with no knowledge of rhetoric.
However, this is the case with the Qur’an, which was revealed over a period of twenty-three years in different locations, during different historical moments, in front of countless mixed audiences, at times during direct questioning and challenges, and yet once the verses were recited by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, he could not ask for them back to make changes and improvements.
The Message
The Quran is the message (risalah) of Allah to the people. By reciting it in prayer, you are reminded of the bigger picture and what is important. We read that Allah is One, and that He possesses everything, and He is the Lord of the worlds — so how can we ever believe humans work outside of Allah’s Will when we see injustice? We read about the trials of those before us, how they remained steadfast and Allah (swt) was with them — how then can we give up? We read that whoever trusts in Him, then He will be sufficient for him, that He answers all du`a’ (supplication) — how then can we despair?
In order for the Qur’an to heal us, we need to read it with that understanding, and with the intention of receiving guidance. Sheikh ash-Sha’rawi in his book of tafseer (commentary on the Qur’an) quoted a beautiful statement of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq, who he said was the most knowledgeable of the secrets of the Qur’an:
“I am amazed at the one who has been afflicted with fear, and he does not flee to the Words of Allah: ‘Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs’ for verily Allah has said after it ‘So they returned with favor from Allah and bounty, no harm having touched them.’ (3:173–174)
And I am amazed at the person who is afflicted with sadness, and he does not flee to the Words of Allah: ‘There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers,’ for verily Allah has said after it
‘So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.’ (21:87–88)
And I am amazed at the person who is afflicted with betrayal and deception by people, and he does not flee to the Words of Allah: ‘I entrust my affair to Allah. Indeed, Allah is Seeing of [His] servants’ for verily Allah has said after it: ‘So Allah protected him from the evils they plotted, and the people of Pharaoh were enveloped by the worst of punishment.’ (40:44–45)
And I am amazed at the person who is afflicted with sickness, and he does not flee to the Words of Allah: ‘Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful,’ for verily Allah has said after it:
‘So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him [back] his family and the like thereof with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers [of Allah].’” (21:83–84)
Have a Relationship With The Quran
The emphasis here is the ‘relationship’ with the Quran versus read more Quran. Do you read Quran out of love for Allah or because you ‘should’ read it? Do you read Quran because it makes you so happy, brightens up your day and gives you inner peace or because you’d feel guilty if you don’t? Whether you come from a place of love or guilt, effects the way you interact with the Quran. (Tip: choose love!) — Hafsa
Building a relationship with the Quran begins with reading it frequently and branches out to developing multiple ways of connection — read it, talk about it, study tafseer, learn Arabic, implement it and let your heart be open to receiving the guidance of the Quran. Notice the ayahs that resonate with your soul. Do you have a favourite Surah or an ayah that you keep coming back to? Is there a reciter that soothes all your worries?
Its Effect on a Mountain
We are yet to fully appreciate the reality of this book that is with us, that book that would have caused mountains to crumble had it been sent upon them.
“If We had sent down this Qur’an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and crumbled from the fear of Allah. And We present these parables to people for them to ponder.” (59:21)
Shawkani explained that this is “…because of its importance, its greatness, its eloquence, its strength of expression, and the lessons it contains that soften hearts. Because of all this, were it to have been sent down upon any of the mountains on Earth, you would have seen that mountain — no matter how solid and massive — crumbling to pieces from humility before Allah, from caution of His punishment, and from fear that it would not be able to give due respect to His Words. So, with this vision and parable, one grasps the loftiness of the Qur’an and how deeply it affects the heart.”
In other words, if this is how a solid, hulking, inanimate mountain would be changed by the Qur’an, imagine its potential in changing your tender, living heart and soul…
When people open themselves to it, its effect surpasses magic.
Appreciate that Revelation “got it right” in the very first instance
This thought should come towards the end of any steady period of meaningful reflection. The reader should ruminate that all the benefits, lessons, wisdoms and ways that he can now better his own life with, all taken from a single verse, had but one single chance to be presented in the beginning.
When the Messenger conveyed new revelation, it was to an audience ready to listen, memorise and preserve those words, in that order, precisely. Let us consider the last written work we drafted: a school assignment, a message on a card or letter to a prospective employer? An article for Islam21c? No matter how many times you read it back, you will always feel a sense of ill-satisfaction and wonder: ‘Should I have changed a word?’ Or, ‘Why is this sentence so poorly worded?’
The next time you reflect upon the words of your Lord, either in a Tafsīr class or listening to an online lecture on your favorite verses, remember that the Qur’ān only ever had one “version” and it transformed the world as we know it. This is a testament to the divinity of this Book. The Qur’ān is flawless and there was only ever one draft.
“Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’ān, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?” (47:24)
Let it Touch Your Heart
Ibn Masʿūd said, ‘There are people who recite the Qurʾān yet it does not descend beyond their throats; were it to reach the heart and take root therein, it is then that it would benefit.’
We should be allowing the verses in the Quran to create seismic shocks to our comfort zone that it inevitably will do if you truly dive into their deep and incredible meanings, which reveals themselves in diverse forms the more one struggles and engages with the Quran.
Al-Ghazāli said “One is to assume that he is the one who is intended in every statement in the Qur’ān. Hence if he hears a command or prohibition, he assumes that he is the one who is being commanded and prohibited. If he hears a promise or threat, he does the same. If he hears the stories of the past and those of prophets, he realises that entertainment is not the objective, but rather, it is for him to take lessons, and to extract from its lines all what he needs.”
The earlier generations who attained success realised the Quran as their Lords messages and would therefore contemplate them at night and pursue them during the day.
A scholar spoke well when he said “It should be remembered that never the less full appreciation of the spirit of the Quran demands practical involvement with the struggle to fulfil its mission. The Quran is neither a book of abstract theories and cold doctrines which the reader can grasp while seated in a cosy armchair nor is it merely a religious book like other religious books the secrets of which can be grasped in seminaries and oratories.
On the contrary, it is a blueprint of a guidebook of a message or a mission of a movement. As soon as the book was revealed it drove a quiet, kind hearted man from his isolation and seclusion and placed him on the battlefield of life to challenge a world that has gone astray.
It inspired him to raise his voice against falsehood and pitted him against the standard bearers of unbelief.”
Reflect with The Intention of Sincerely Seeking Guidance
[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.” (38:29)
Allāh praises this book saying that it is “mubārak”; it contains so much good. And then He tells us the reason He sent it — the letter “lām” is to show the wisdom behind it — the reason given is to reflect over its verses.
Tadabbur, from a linguistic perspective, it is derived from the term Dubur which is in reference to مؤخرة الشيء / the rear of something. Hence the term Tadabbur means النظر في عواقب الأمور وما تؤول إليه — “To consider the outcomes of matters and their consequences.”
But this is not a philosophical reflection, rather it is in order to take heed and be affected by what has been revealed, such that you take action and change your life.
The one who acts upon Tadabbur is essentially, therefore, in reference to one who ponders over what is behind the verse with respect to knowledge and application. Should one succeed in aligning his mind upon this whilst reciting the Qur’ān, then such a person is now upon the path of Tadabbur, and is actively applying the instruction in the above mentioned verse. There are no limits to Tadabbur, for Allāh may inspire you with a valid point of reflection that hadn’t been mentioned by anyone before you.
This does not happen for everyone though; it happens to “ulul-albāb” — those who have understanding. Allāh does not use simply the word “intellect” because He is talking about a particular kind of intellect, one that is pure and untainted.
The opposite is those who approach it with pre-conceived ideas and therefore either seek to back up those ideas, or critique Allāh’s words. Hence all they will receive is misguidance.
As Allāh says in Āli ʿImrān:
“It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise — they are the foundation of the Book — and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allāh. But those firm in knowledge say, “We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord.” And no one will be reminded except those of understanding.” (3:7)
Those who approach the Qur’ān to critique it find things which put people to trial and create discord. The believers however, read the same verses and say “We believe, all of it is from our Master”. We approach it as believers, and thus if that meaning is unclear or unknown, it would be best to accept our limitations of understanding and move on to the next verse or otherwise ask a knowledgeable person for help.
Whilst Tafsīr is the duty of scholars who have a strong footing in the Arabic language, amidst other prerequisites, Tadabbur is the duty of the entire Ummah.
Previous Nations
Allāh speaks of a previous nation who too carried their book with pride but without reflecting and implementing its rulings.
“The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not take it on is like that of a donkey who carries volumes [of books]. Wretched is the example of the people who deny the signs of Allāh. And Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.” (62:5)
May Allāh protect us all from following this example, and instead enable us to develop a strong relationship with the Qur’ān — to read and reflect over it, and thus be impacted by it so that we increase in righteous deeds and remembrance and glorification of our Lord.
If you want to benefit from the Quran, you must concentrate and devote your heart solely when reciting and listening to it. You must pay attention, and try to comprehend the fact that what you are reading is the word of Allah. As you read, you must know that Allah is addressing you in and through this Quran. Indeed, it is the words of Allah to you through the tongue of His Messenger.
When you pay attention to the Quran, you discover that it can only be from Allah. It becomes clearer and clearer to you that it cannot be from a human being. But many people don’t perceive the Quran this way because Allah doesn’t open its doors to people who do not pay attention.
The intent to reform is to be followed by commitment to that goal. If all that is sound then such a person is helped and sustained by Allah. If one is not fully committed to self-reform, even the best guidance cannot avail him. There is no better guide book than the Quran. However, it benefits only those who resolve to act upon its guidance.
At the level of ideas there is no system of thought and belief — secular or religious, social or political — which could surpass or equal Islam. In a fast-changing world, while other systems have undergone profound transformations, Islam alone has remained above all change and mutation, and retained its original form for the past 1400 years.
You can connect to the Quran without forsaking or abandoning your activities. Your mission is to internalise the message, exhibit it in your character and pass it on to others.
Are You Astonished at Speaking Animals
The fact that you have within your home a book, the content of which is not from this universe, is what is truly deserving of your astonishment. A book that has described the happenings of the past with flawlessly accurate detail, a book that speaks of the events that shall unfold tomorrow, and a book that is compatible, rather, a solution to every era it witnesses.
So, the Qur’an once changed the planet. And as we can see, it is in the process of doing so again. But it changes the world by first changing the people who live in it.
