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This month marks the greatest gift to humanity; the final revelation from the highest heavens. A gift that transcends any era, community or place, sent to the whole of mankind. Revelation that is perfect beyond imitation, inscribed in a preserved tablet.
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ
‘Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for mankind with clear proofs of guidance and the standard ˹to distinguish between right and wrong..’ {2:185}
For the vast majority of us, Ramadan is associated with fasting. However, in this ayah, Allah reintroduces the month of Ramadan as the month of the Quran. This is the only place in the Quran where Ramadan is mentioned by name - this is our call to reap the countless benefits of this month through his divine revelation.
So how do we truly benefit from the Quran during ramadan?
Tilawah (recitation)
Ramadan is the month of tilawah; it is in this month where Jibril (as) would descend from the heavens to recite the Quran with the Prophetﷺ. The noblest of angels convening with the noblest of creation to recite every single night highlights the immense blessing and reward involved with its recitation during this blessed month.
As to the manner in which we should recite, this was put very beautifully by Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (ra), the one whose recitation was described by the Prophetﷺ to be ‘as fresh as it was revealed’.
“Do not scatter the Quran as if it were dates falling from a tree, nor recite quickly as if it were poetry. Stop at its verses that amaze you and let it move your hearts. Let not your concern be reaching the end of the surah.” Source: Akhlāq Ḥamalat al-Qur’ān 1
Our pious predecessors would recite the Quran in such a profound way, completely immersing themselves in their recitation, giving each letter its due. And if you find yourself struggling to recite, be content with the mercy of our Lord who doubles your reward; once for reading and once for enduring the difficulty of recitation.
Tadabbur (reflection)
Reflecting over the verses of the Quran involves more than just reading the tafsir but pausing, listening, repeating and pondering over its verses.
A prerequisite to doing so is understanding the context in which each ayah and surah was revealed, we can do this by studying the accompanying moments in the seerah. This will enable us to contemplate what prompted revelations from the seven heavens to the earth. Distinguishing between Makki surahs (revealed before hijrah) and Madani surahs (revealed after hijrah) can help us comprehend the greater purpose of the surah, with Makki surahs generally focusing on promoting Tawheed and laying down the foundations of faith, whereas Madani surahs focus on the rules and regulation pertaining to the implementation of this faith.
Our approach to reflecting upon the Quran should be one of humility and realisation. So when we read over miracles that seemingly defy logic, we should understand the dimensions of our mind have no relevance to Allah swt’s dominion. The human mind is subjected to our own observations and experiences and the Quran transcends this. We should approach the Quran with an open mind, appreciating our own limitations and with the expectation that our own preconceptions will be challenged and corrected.
لَوۡ اَنۡزَلۡنَا هٰذَا الۡقُرۡاٰنَ عَلٰى جَبَلٍ لَّرَاَيۡتَهٗ خَاشِعًا مُّتَصَدِّعًا مِّنۡ خَشۡيَةِ اللّٰهِؕ وَتِلۡكَ الۡاَمۡثَالُ نَضۡرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَفَكَّرُوۡنَ
If we had sent down this Qur'an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah . And these examples we present to the people that perhaps they will give thought {59:21}
Such is the magnitude of this glorious Quran that we fail to grasp and constantly overlook.
A Call To Action
Reciting and reflecting over the Quran is not a means to an end but rather a call to action. When Allah says ‘يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُو ’ ‘oh you who believe’— it is us he is referring to, take heed of the guidance that follows. The companions of our Prophetﷺ would learn to recite ten verses from him and they would not study another ten verses until they had fully understood the knowledge and implemented deeds that were contained within these.They would say, “We learned sacred knowledge and action together.” The solemnity in which they approached the Quran is sadly a rarity in our ummah today.
So we must approach the Quran with a sincere determination to implement the guidance it contains—otherwise what separates reading this book from others?
We would be doing ourselves a huge disservice if our intention is simply to recite as much as possible rather than implementing its commands and avoiding its prohibitions. So next time we recite the Quran, let’s take a step back and think about the practical ways we can apply its teachings into our daily lives
إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِمَن كَانَ لَهُ قَلْبٌ أَوْ أَلْقَى السَّمْعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيد
Surely in this is a reminder for whoever has a ˹mindful˺ heart and lends an attentive ear {50:37}Consistency
Consistency
The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if small. Make the Quran a non-negotiable in your life, in the same way brushing your teeth, eating food and showering daily is. Even if on your busiest of days you only manage to recite a few verses, this is still a huge accomplishment in the sight of Allah.
So perhaps we may have felt inadequate in our worship to Allah throughout the past year, we may have even felt inadequate in our worship during this first portion of Ramadan. This month is an opportunity for us to revive our seemingly dead inconceivable hearts. The Quran is our means through which we purify our soul, and what better time to do this free of all the distractions of the Shaytan. At a time where our hearts are receptive to its message most. Ramadan is only but a limited number of days, we are not guaranteed to witness the white crescent moon of the next. So in these last ten days, let us take full advantage of the way Allah has honoured us with the blessing of reaching this month when so many of our beloved brothers and sisters weren’t afforded this.
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, Allah has his own people among humanity.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, who are they?” The Prophet said, “They are the people of the Quran, the people of Allah and his chosen ones.” Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 215
May this blessed month be our stepping stone to making the Quran our companion in this world, and our intercessor in the hereafter. Allahumma Ameen.