Reading the Qur'an but Practising Something Else
There is a prevalent culture among Muslims where they only view the Qur'an as
a way of gaining reward for reciting out loud the Arabic words
correctly. Such people think that they hold the Qur'an in high esteem,
but this only keeps them away from studying the Qur'an as they should.
Parents teach their children how to pronounce the Arabic words and send
their children to evening schools to learn to recite the Qur'an
correctly. Such people do not deny the importance of the Qur'an, but
their idea of the role of the Qur'an is extremely mistaken and shallow.
It is merely to either gain reward for each letter recited or to
validate Salah by reciting some short chapters. Members of this majority
group may even enjoy listening to recitations of the Qur'an, not because
of the message in the verses, but to appreciate the melody, or for
relaxation purposes!
What Islam is, is merely everything else they hear outside of the
Qur'an. Such people consider themselves highly religious, while they
hold such an ignorant approach to the Qur'an. They recite the Qur'an
frequently, but the recitation does not have any bearing on them. Then,
they take all their religious guidance from outside the Qur'an - they
think those practices amount to fulfilling their duty to the Qur'an.
Many of such ignorant people's ideas and practices are even against what the
Qur'an has to say, while they are not aware of it - or are aware of it
but deliberately ignore thinking about it, laying excuses such as 'I am
not knowledgeable enough' or 'I am a laymen, more knowledgeable people
have said this, who are you and me to question?'
The real purpose of the Qur'an is to give guidance to the individual
human being who has been created to worship Allah. The Qur'an's guidance
is in its meanings, not in the pronunciations of its Arabic letters. The
guidance of the Qur'an is a mercy, cure and light for the true believers
as it reveals many unknown secrets such as Allah's power, reasons to
happening of events around us, and the true nature of Allah's religion.
The Qur'an has been necessarily made easy to understand. But this
majority have been bereft from this blessing, all while they are
deceived into thinking they are following religion perfectly as they are
fulfilling their own idea of what the purpose of the Qur'an is.
"We have sent down to you a Book containing your message. Do you not
understand?" (Qur’an 21:10)
Thinking one is fulfilling their obligations toward the Qur'an by simply
carrying out rituals such as prayer and fasting, without making the
effort to find out what the Qur'an actually says about religion is a
great deception. This is because the Qur'an is a Book to reflect upon,
to learn from and to gain the necessary insight and wisdom it gives to
be a real believer, this is a duty upon anyone who wants to be a Muslim.
One cannot possibly be a true Muslim without having necessary knowledge
and understanding of the Qur'an. If one only learns about the Qur’an
from books written about the Qur’an, written by people, and does not
feel the necessity to learn from the Qur’an directly himself, he is only
deceiving himself. Allah mentions this ignorant approach in the words,
“Or do you have another book which you study?” (Qur’an 68:37).
Worship based on make-believing that Qur'an is being followed in the flow of the majority and under blind trust of leaders without a personal attachment to the Qur'an and knowledge of the Qur'an, holds little or no value in Allah's sight.
Let us ask ourselves: how much do we know about the Qur'an? Not
superficial knowledge like the number of chapters or verses, or which
city a chapter was revealed in, but the message in its verses and their
many intricacies and secrets. How much wisdom have you gained from the
Qur'an? Have you read the entire Qur'an even once in your own language?
How many times a day do you refer to the verses of the Qur'an as you
lead your day to day life? Are you sure whether any of your outlooks are
from the Qur'an, or is your religion muddled?
“The words of your Lord are complete in its truth and justice. Nothing can change His Words – He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. If you obeyed most of those on earth, they would lead you away from the path of Allah. They follow nothing but speculation – they are merely guessing.” (Qur’an 6:115-116)
"This too, is a
blessed Book which We have sent down – follow it, and be conscious
of your Lord, so that you may receive mercy – lest you say, ‘Books
were sent to two communities before us: we were not aware of what they
studied’, or ‘if only the Book had been sent down to us, we would
have been better guided than them.’ Now your Lord has brought you clear
evidence, guidance, and mercy. Who could be more wrong than someone who
rejects Allah’s Revelations and turns away from them? We shall repay those
who turn away with a painful punishment." (Qur’an 6:155-157)
It is clear that being heedless of the Qur'an will lead to losses in
this life and the Hereafter as Allah will call all people into account
their level of adherence to the Qur'an.
“Surely, the One who decreed the Qur’an to you will summon you to a
predetermined appointment. Say: 'My Lord is fully aware of who it is
that brings the guidance, and who has gone astray.' " (Qur’an 28:85)
As stated in the verse, all people are responsible for adhering to the
way of life decreed by Allah in the Qur'an. Without direct knowledge of
the verses, practising alleged claims about the Qur'an and following
the majority, may not have any
value in the sight of Allah.
Many people who do not have any Quranic insight or wisdom spread claims
about the Qur'an's verses which are a far cry from the verses' true
meanings. They usually get away with it as their audience have also been
conditioned to simply follow 'sayings' about the Qur'an, rather than the
Qur'an.
It is only when one opens his eyes and begins to comprehend the verses
of Allah, can he begin to follow the Book of Allah and hope to become a
true Muslim.
"...Indeed there has come to you from Allah a Light and a Clear Book.
With it Allah guides whoever follows His good pleasure to the ways
of peace and brings them out from the darkness into the light by His
permission: He guides them onto a straight path" (Qur'an 5:15-16)
That is why all Muslims must consider their position in religion in
relation to the Qur'an. Reciting the Qur'an without a sincere effort to
understand the verses directly will not enlighten the human soul.
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"We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an so you people may understand" (12:2) |
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