Ramadhan, the Month of Qur’an

﷽

AlhamdulillahirabilAalameen wasalatu wasalamu ala rasolulillah wa ala alihi was sahbihee aj-ma’een

Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh

O Muslims! We are witnessing the blessed month of Ramadhan pass us by. This is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed as a guidance for mankind, as well as a clarification between truth and falsehood.

Allah (swt) says:

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَان

“The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.”

Ramadhan is the month of Quran – Great Imaams such as Imam Malik would close all the other books of knowledge and focus on Qur’an. We should read the Qur’an, listen to the Qur’an, but also understand and implement the Qur’an.

Allah tells us this book is a guidance (al-Huda) and a criterion (al-Furqaan).

It is al-Huda, a guidance for us in how we should worship Allah –  our sole purpose in life.

Allah (swt) says:

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me”

We are the creation of Allah, and He has provided us with a manual or a book of instructions on how we should worship him. Take the example of any technology or object made by man, whether it be a mobile phone or even your car. They come with a manual which explain how to use it effectively, how it needs to be maintained, and how to fix any problems when they occur. If this is the case with these mere objects, then is it not essential to have a manual for the most complicated creation on this earth, Mankind? Of course! That manual is the Qur’an.

The Furqaan that Allah refers to is the criterion, which is the halaal and haraam. The Qur’an explains this in every aspect of our lives. These can broadly be split into three:

• Halaal and Haraam in terms of our relationship with Allah – I.e. to worship him alone and not to commit shirk

• Halal and Haraam in terms of the relationship with ourselves – i.e. what we can eat, what we can wear etc.

• Halal and Haraam in terms of the relationship with others – i.e. How we trade with others, how we should treat others, the transactions (no cheating/lying/riba) etc.

Today, Qur’an is absent in our lives. What do I mean? Yes we read it, we listen to it, Subhan’Allah we  even have competitions on who can recite it most beautifully. But it is absent when it comes to it’s implementation (i.e. the Shari’ah). Islam has a comprehensive social system, economic system and a political system but today it is absent in the realm of life. Therefore we must work to bring back the implementation of the Qur’an so that we can refer to it as a criteria between right and wrong

How did the Messenger (saw) understand the Qur’an?

The first revelations of the Quran were about seeking knowledge and proclaiming the message of Islam:

اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ

“Read in the name of your Lord who created”

يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ  قُمْ فَأَنْذِرْ

“O you who covers himself [with a garment], arise and warn”

These were the first verses to be revealed and are core aspects of the Deen – that is to gain knowledge, and arise and warn the rest of mankind.

Allah (swt) made clear the reason why he sent the Messenger (saw) to mankind,

He (swt) says:

هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ

“It is He who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Deen of Truth that He makes it prevail over all other Deens, even though the Pagans may detest it.”(61: 9)

The Prophet (saw) and his companions understood this and that is why Islam spread so quickly following the establishment of the system of Islam in Medinah.

The understanding and implementation of Qur’an is a fundamental part of this Deen. Today, there is much focus on memorising the Qur’an but not as much focus on its understanding and implementation. There are brothers, who Masha’Allah, may Allah reward them, have memorised the entire Qur’an but do not know it’s meaning. The greatest of generations, the Sahabah would commit ten verses to memory, study their meanings and explanations, and then act upon them before memorising another ten. This tradition seems to be lost, especially in the indian sub-continent.

Umar (ra) once said, 

“Do not be fooled by the one who recites the Qur’an, for his recitation is but speech. Instead, look to those who act according to it”

Many of us will be attending Taraweeh during the nights of Ramadhan where the Qur’an will be recited and in many cases the entire Qur’an will be complete. It is not enough for this month to pass by where we only listen to these verses but do not ponder over its meaning.

Allah (swt) says:

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ

“For, believers are those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a tremor in their hearts, and when his verses are recited to them, it increases their iman; and put (all) their trust in their Lord”

This is the way we should really understand and react when we listen to the verses of the Qur’an and not to be content with just listening to the rhythm but be motivated into acting upon the verses of the Qur’an. We should recognise Qur’an as an instruction from Allah and follow it as our criteria in life.

Unfortunately today Ramadhan has been reduced to something we do individually and in seclusion. But do you know that many battles in the history of Islam were won in the month of Ramadhan. The first battle between Islam and Kufr (the battle of Badr) was fought in Ramadhan. So Ramadhan in history would act as a motivation for the believers to make the word of Allah the highest so that the criterion could be spread across the world. Brothers, do Qiyam, spend the nights in the worship of Allah, but in the day and during iftaar come together, speak about the lessons from the Qur’an, and motivate each other to establish the Deen of Allah in our lives. Don’t make it an entire month of seclusion, do things collectively and you will see the Barakah insha’Allah.

Aqulu Qawli Hadha Wastaghfirullaha Li Wa Lakum Wa Lisaa-iril Muslimina Fastaghfiruhu Innahu Huwal Ghafurur Rahim.

~ Your brother, Jahir