If you truly want to benefit from the Qur'an, your heart must be
attentive and alert when reciting it or listening to it.Listen to it
carefully with presence of mind, paying attention to it as if Allah
Himself was speaking to you directly. Understand that this Qur'an is
an address directed to you from Allah, Most High, upon the tongue of
His Messenger (SAW).
Allah, Most High, says,
"Truly there is a reminder in this for anyone who has a heart, or who
listens attentively with presence of mind." [1]
A deep and lasting impression is dependant upon something that will
stimulate a person, a location that can be influenced, his being in
theright condition, and removing any barrier that would impede this
from happening. This verse mentions of all of these in the most
succinct and lucidof ways; clearly articulating the intended meaning.
"Truly there is a reminder in this"
refers to the previous verses of this chapter. This,the Qur'an, is the stimulus.
"for anyone who has a heart"
refers to the location that can be influenced. The heart referred to
here is the living heart: the heart that is aware of Allah. He, Most
High, says,
"it is simply a reminder and a clear Qur'an so that you may warn
thosewho are truly alive," [2]
i.e. those whose hearts arealive.
"or who listens attentively,"
i.e. directs his faculty of hearing towards it and pays it the utmost
attention. This is the condition that must exist for a person to be
roused by the words.
"with presence of mind,"
i.e. with an alert and present heart, not one thatis unmindful and
absent. Ibn Qutaybah said,
i.e. a person who listens attentively to Allah's Book with presence of
heart andmind, not someone who isunmindful with an absent air.' [3]
This then alludes to the barrier: an unmindful and inattentive heart
which does not understand what is being said and, as such, is unable
to reflect upon it or direct any conscious thought towards it.
Therefore, if all these things come together, the end-result is
obtained: benefiting from the Qur'anand taking heed.
If someone were to ask: if the end-result, the lasting impression, is
only attained by the combination of these matters, why then did Allah
say
"or"
in the verse,
"or who listens attentively"
which implies a choice between one or another option? Surely "and"
should have been mentioned in its place?
It is said in reply: this is a good question; "or" has been mentioned
by taking into consideration the state of the addressee.
Some people have hearts which are alive, hearts thatwill readily
accept the truth and whose innate nature ( fitrah ) is intact; if such
a person was to reflect in his very heart and turn his mind to it, he
would conclude that the Qur'an is authentic and true. His heart would
witness what the Qur'an informs it of and the subsequent impression
upon it would be light layered on top of the light of its innate
nature. This is the description of those about whom it is said,
"those who have been given knowledge see that what has been sent down
to you from your Lord is the truth." [4]
Concerning them, Allah says,
"Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The metaphor of His
light is that of a niche in which there is a lamp, the lamp inside a
glass, the glass like a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an
olive, neither of the east nor the west, its oil all but giving off
light even if no fire touches it. Light upon light! Allah guides to
His Light whoever He wills, Allah propounds metaphors for mankind and
Allah has knowledge of all things." [5]
This verse refers to the light of the innate nature covered by the
light of revelation; this is the condition of the person who has a
living, receiving heart. We have explained this verse, its subtleties
and lessons in detail in ourbook, Ijtima` al-Juyush al-Islamiyyah `ala
Ghazw al-Mu`attila wa'l-Jahmiyyah. [6]
Therefore, the person who has this type of attentive heart receives
the meanings of the Qur'an and readily accepts them so much so that it
seems as if the words have been inscribed in his heart and he is able
to recite them fluidly from memory.
Other people have hearts which fall below the level of those mentioned
above;their hearts are not as ready to receive the truth, they are not
completely alive, and their innate nature is not as refined.
Therefore, they stand in need of a witness who would differentiate the
truth from falsehood for them. In order to be guided, such a person
must pay the utmost attention to the Qur'an's words, he must devote
his heart to it, ponder it and comprehend its meanings, and only after
this will he come to realise that it is true. :->
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