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Studying the Quran is everyone’s responsibility

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
With the ‘ism’ of Allah, the Most Merciful and The Most Compassionate.

And the Messenger has said, “O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur’an as [a thing] abandoned.” ” -Quran 25:30

To establish a good relationship with God is every believer’s dream. Getting close to Him means everything. However, popular belief has led humans to be as far as possible from the message of God, thus making humans losing their relationship with God, or more dangerously, making humans think that they are developing a good relationship with God but they are actually not. How can we know for sure whether we have a good relationship with God, and how can we build that relationship? It’s nothing but through His message. And that message refers to the Quran. Only by studying, understanding, practicing, and trying to understand the original import of the Quran, one can expect to establish a good relationship with God.

As stated earlier popular belief is what is causing humans to be far from the Quran. What I mean by this is the understanding of some people who view the Quran only as a book of songs and poetry. Or a book of blessings without taking it as guidance. Or a book to only give supplication to the dead. Or a book to be read. But they never try to study the message of the Quran.

Why do we stress so much reading the Quran is Arabic without looking at its translation? What’s the use of reading then? If a German author writes his book in German, then non-German speakers would read the translation of his book. But when it comes to the Quran, why, do some Muslims not even bother to read its translation? Are they trying to dishonor the Quran?

study the quran

They do not view the Quran as guidance- a book that will give them a way out to the problems faced by the ummah today or even in their everyday lives. They do not view the Quran to be an instruction of life. They may say that the Quran is the ultimate guidance, but they honestly have no idea what they are talking about. It is evident through their own lifestyles when they do not practice the teachings of the Quran in daily life. Worse, they do not even understand and never bothered to study the Quran.

Amin Ahsan Islahi, one of the greatest scholars in Islam, said (as cited by Israr Ahmad Khan) that those who use the Quran only for the dead, for ‘blessing’, for holy water, are having something that can bring down the fortresses of satan but only using it as pesticide. [1]

We need to understand that Islam is not a tradition. Islam is not defined through popular belief nor through what our parents say it is. “And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say, “Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing.” Even though their fathers understood nothing, nor were they guided?” Quran, 2:170.

Similarly, we have to throw away all of our presumptive beliefs of the Quran. What defines the Quran is the Quran itself. And the Quran never told us to read the Quran in a melodious way (Quran 36:69). The Quran told us to study and understand the Quran;

“And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?” – Quran, 54:17, 22, 32, 40.

“Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?” – Quran, 47:20


“The companions would never recite the Quran only for the sake of blessing, putting aside reflections over it. Recitations of the Qur’an only to get blessing got introduced from the time when people began treating the Qur’an as a book of blessing instead of guidance. It was when the Qur’an’s use was confined to easing the pangs of death, crediting rewards into the account of the deceased, inaugurating even sinful acts so as to turn the sin into good deeds, and making it a talisman to ensure the safety in the cause of people’s worldly undertakings.” – Amin Ahsan Islahi, quoted by Israr Ahmad Khan in “Understanding the Quran: A Refelction.” chapter 2. [1]

Those who do not want to study the Quran are the residents of Hell;

“And We have certainly created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind. They have hearts with which they do not understand (the signs and words of Allah), they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. Those are like livestock; rather, they are more astray. It is they who are the heedless.”

Quran 7:179

So which one do you choose? Hell or Paradise? Allah or Taghut? Quran or man-made book?

Conclusion

Dear readers, Islam is not a religion that you can get for free. Just because you were born a muslim, doesn’t mean you’re a mu’min (believer). Belief (iman) requires conviction and lots of investigation. And it can only be achieved through the study of the Quran.

Following the masses will not lead you to the truth (Quran 6:116). Not even following your parents (Quran 2:170). Not even blindly following ulama’ (scholars) (Quran 9:31). In fact, if all Muslims study the Quran as their ‘map of life’ it can act as a check-and-balance to Islamic scholarship/ authoritarianism/ clergy.

The Quran needs to be studied because it contains clear evidence of Islam “And thus have We sent the Qur’an down as verses of clear evidence and because Allah guides whom He intends” Quran, 22:16. The Quran needs to be studied “And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?” (Quran, 54:17,22,32,40), and we need to follow the Quran and nothing else “Follow, [O mankind], what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than Him any allies. Little do you learn.” (Quran 7:3)

And Allah knows best.

Read more: Quran & Hadith, which one to follow?

References

[1] Israr Ahmad Khan, (2006), “Understanding the Quran: A Reflection” Kuala Lumpur :Research Centre IIUM.

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