Assalamu AlaikumWa Rahamat Allaah Wa Barakatuhu Ramadan Kareem ! My dear brothers and sisters in Islam Assalamualaikum I begin by praising Allah subhanahu wa ta’la. We are approaching half way mark of the month of al-Qur’an. Therefore, today we will share some thoughts about etiquettes of Qur’an. Indeed this is the Speech of Allah, the Book of Allah and indeed it is full of rahma and blessing. There are many etiquettes regarding usage of the Book of Allah. In Sha Allah we will elaborate few of them today so that it may benefit all of us in this blessed month. 1. SUNNAH IS TO RECITE THE QUR’AN IN VARIOUS POSITION In general, we have a commonly held belief that one has to sit down formally to recite the qur’an. However, such notion are far from truth to say the least. Indeed it is from the etiquettes of reciting the Qur’an is that we recite it whilst we are sitting, while we are standing, while we are walking, while we are riding, and while we are lying down; this is not only permissible but it is from the etiquettes of the Book of Allah subḥanahu wa ta‘ala as was evidenced from our teacher Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Therefore we can surely say that such permissibility is brought to us from the Qur’an and from the sunnah. For example, Allah praises the type of people who: “Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth…” [Ale-Imraan, Ayat 191] Fuurther Allah subhanahu wa ta’la says: “In order that you may mount firmly on their backs, and then may remember the Favour of your Lord when you mount thereon, and say: Glory to Him who has subjected this to us, and we could never have it (by our efforts).” [Az Zukhruf, Ayat 13] Therefore we see that the Qur’an can also be recited when mounted or while riding our vehicles if appropriate and safe to do so. Those who feel that Qur’an can only be recited from a Musaf are missing out on a great deal of reward. Think about the companions, who never had a mushaf as we have today. They used to recite from the memory (primarily) and other written documents (be it papyrus or dried animal bones). Also we see in the manners of Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) that he used to recite Qur’an in many circumstances and situations. Abdullah bin Mughaffal (radiallahu anhum) said: “I saw the Prophet reciting (Quran) while he was riding on his she camel or camel which was moving, carrying him.He was reciting sūrat’l-Fatḥ or part of sūrat’l-Fatḥ ……..” [Bukhari] Contemplating on those verses and hadith of Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) we can easily incorporate Qur’an recitation in every possible acts of our life. Let us see what Aisha (radiallahu anha) said: “The Prophet (ṣallallahu alayhi wa sallam) used to lean on my lap and recite Quran while I was in menses.” [Bukhari] My dear respected brothers and sisters in Islam, irrespective of what position one is in, it is more important that we have a pure body and mind, clear focus and pristine intention of pleasing Allah jalla wa ala. 2. UNDERSTANDING THE QUR’AN Another key etiquette with the Qur’an is that we ponder and deliberate over the meaning of the Book of Allah. We must understand the purpose and reasons for revelation. Allah simply did not send a book to be blindly recited. The essence behind Allah revealing the Qur’an above all other reasons is to understand His message. Unfortunately, with our gradual distancing with the Arabic language, we hardly understand any meaning of the Qur’an. My dear brothers and sisters in Islam, let this Ramadan be our beginning of trying to understand the Qur’an. Pondering over the Book of Allah, understanding meanings of ayats of the Qur’an and respecting the Qur’an by ensuring that one has presence of mind while reciting it can bring us closer to Allah jalla wa ala. Indeed we need His closeness for ourselves. Allah subhanahu wa ta’la says: “(This is) a Book (the Quran) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember.” [Sad, Ayat 29] In the above verse, Allah says that the main reason behind revelation is “so that they may ponder”. He could have stipulated other reasons such as - “so that they may recite / memorize” or “so that they may use it as a means of worship” or “so that they may listen to it”, etc. However, He subhanahu wa ta’la chose PONDERING as His chosen option for the Qur’an. Let us make this Ramadan fruitful by starting to ponder over the meaning of the Qur’an. Let us sit with our esteemed teachers to learn it. Let our haughtiness and attitude does not prevent us from learning the Qur’an. Ameen. Remember, Allah jalla wa ala said: “This (Quran) is a Message for mankind, in order that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is the only One Ilah, and that men of understanding may take heed.” [Ibrahim, Ayat 52] 3. AL TA’AWWUDH AND BASMALAH Another important etiquette with the Book of Allah is that a person takes heed with regards to reciting the ta‘awwudh and the basmalah before beginning recitation. It is bad manners to open the Book of Allah and just begin reciting without seeking the ta‘awwudh and without completing the basmalah. Al-ta‘awwudh refers to saying: A‘udhu billahi mina’l-shayṭan’l-rajīm — “I seek refuge in Allah from shayṭan, the accursed.” Al-basmalah refers to saying: “Bismillah’l-raḥman’l-raḥīm — “In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficient, the Most Merciful” Proof for this is found in the saying of Allah subḥanahu wa ta‘ala. He says: “So when you want to recite the Quran, seek refuge with Allah from Shaitan, the outcast (the cursed one).” [An Nahl, Ayat 98] Abu Sa‘id al-Khuḍri (radilallahu anhum) narrates that when the Prophet (ṣallallahu alayhi wa sallam) stood at night (for ṣalah), he would make takbir (i.e. Allahu akbar) then he would say: “Subḥanak’allahumma wa bi ḥamdika wa tabarak-asmuka wa ta‘ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghayruk” —“How perfect you are O’ Allah, and I praise you, blessed be your Name, and Lofty is your Position, and none has the right to be worshipped except You”; next he would say: “La ilaha ill’Allah” three times, followed by “Allahu akbar kabiran” three times and then say: “A‘udhu billahi’l-Sami‘il-‘Aleemi mina’l-shayṭan’l-rajim min hamzihi wa nafkhihi wa nafthihi — (I seek refuge in Allah, the All-Hearing and the All-Knowing from the accursed shayṭan, from his pride, his poetry, and his madness” and then he would begin reciting the Qur’an. [Abu Dawud — considered authentic] From a sunnah perspective there are three affirmed ways of reciting al-ta‘awwudh: 1. “A‘udhu billahi mina’l-shayṭan’l-rajim” 2. “A‘udhu billahi’l-Sami‘il-‘Aleemi mina’l-shayṭan’l-rajim min hamzihi wa nafkhihi wa nafthihi” and 3. “A‘udhu bi’s-Sami‘il-‘Aleemi mina’l-shayṭan’l-rajim [Abu Dawud – there is weakness of this hadith]. Scholars of Islam agreed that the ruling regarding recitation of ta‘awwudh is compulsory. It is obligation to seek refuge in Allah due to the above cited verse. Since Allah commanded us, we adopt the safer option of reciting it without going much into fiqh of it. However, a small number of scholars however consider it to be sunnah and not wajib. Allah knows best. With regards to the basmalah, then our scholars have said that it is sunnah to say the basmalah upon reciting the Qur’an. Issues pertaining to BASMALAH being part of every sura or not part of at-Tawba are beyond the scope of this treatise. The proof for BASMALAH being sunnah comes from following hadith. Anas ibn Malik (radiallahu anhum) narrated that one day when the Messenger of Allah (ṣallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was sitting amongst them, he dozed off. He then raised his head, smiling. We said: “What makes you smile, Messenger of Allah?” He said: “A surah has just been revealed to me” and then he recited: “In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Verily We have given thee al-Kawthar (fountain of abundance)…” [Muslim] Finally, it is NOT a sunnah to say SADAQALLAHUL ADHEEM after ending Qur’an recitation. There is no evidence that he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) suggested us to do so. This statement means ALLAH HAS SPOKEN THE TRUTH. If we say once or twice, that may be (!) OK, However, saying it regularly and giving it ‘sunnah’ status is not from correct practice and may lead to innovation. May Allah make us people of Qura’an. May Allah make us people who understands the Qur’an and act accordingly. Please make dua for me, my parents and my family. Wassalam Abu Akeef
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 03:44:13 +0000
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