Reflecting on the Quran - A cure for the hearts - I

The Noble Quran is the words of Allaah The Almighty that He has
revealed to be implemented as a complete way of life for people.
Therefore, undoubtedly, the recitation of the Quran is one of the most
beloved acts of worshiping Allaah The Almighty. It is also certain
that reciting the Quran without understanding or reflection is not the
goal: the main objective is that a reciter wholeheartedly ponders the
meaning of the Quran and fully reflects on, understands and thinks
about its secrets and pearls of wisdom.
The Quran Calls for Reflection
Allaah The Almighty invites us to reflect on His Book and ponder
itsmeanings and secrets; He Says (what means):{[This is] a blessedBook
which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect
upon its verses and that those of understanding would be
reminded.}[Quran 38:29]
The Quran reproaches those who do not reflect on it or extract its
meanings. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):{Then do theynot
reflect upon the Quran? If it had been from [any] other than Allaah,
they would have found within it much contradiction. Andwhen there
comes to them information about [public] security or fear, they spread
it around. But if they had referred itback to the Messenger or to
those of authority among them, then the ones who [can] draw correct
conclusions from it wouldhave known about it. And if not for the favor
of Allaah upon you and His mercy, you would have followed Satan,
except for a few.}[Quran 4:82-83]
Also, people differ when it comesto their listening to the Quran.
Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):{And how many a generation
before them did We destroy who were greater than them in [striking]
power and had explored throughout the lands. Isthere any place of
escape? Indeedin that is a reminder for whoever has a heart or who
listens while he is present [in mind].}[Quran 50:36-37]
Ibn Al-Qayyimsaid about these verses,
There are three types of people with respect to these verses:
(1) A person with a dead heart. This is the person who has no heart,
so this verse is not a reminder to him.
(2) A person with a somewhat living and ready heart, but who does not
listen to the recited verses of the Quran through which Allaah The
Almighty conveys His manifest signs. He does not listen to its verses
either, because they do not reachhim or because they reach him while
his heart is occupied with other things. The heart of this person is
not present, and hence this person does not receive the benefits of
the reminder, even though his heart is ready to receive it.
(3) A person with an alive and ready heart. When the Quranic verses
are recited to him he attentively listens: he does not keep his heart
busy with anything except understanding the verses that he is
listening to. This person has present, attentive ears and heart.
Therefore he benefits from the recited verses and witnessed signs.
Indeed, the first type of person is like a blind man who does not see;
and the second is like a person who sees but looks in the opposite
direction. Both do not perceive the Quran. The third typeis like a
person who sees and looks at his target, follows it with his eyes and
meets it in the middle, not far or near. This is the person who really
perceives it. Glory be to Allaah who made His words a cure for what is
in the heart!
Moreover a person may have a spirited heart that is able to extract
lessons and derive wisdom. This type of heart makesa person remindful
and able to learn lessons. Once he hears a verse it adds much light to
him. These are the perfect creatures ofAllaah who enjoy the greatest
faith and insight. They grasp what the Prophet,, told themas if they
witnessed it, but do notover-scrutinize it. It is said that the
example of Abu Bakr As-Siddeeqwith the Prophet,, is like that of two
persons who enter a house. One of them watches its details and minute
aspects whereas the other touches what is inside the house without
fully perceiving or comprehending its details, but only knows that it
has great things that his eyes could not have perceived. Both of them
then leave and then the latter asks the former about what he saw
inside the house – and whatever he tells him about it, hebelieves him
due to the proofs that he has witnessed. This is thehighest degree
ofAs-Siddeeqiyyah(steadfast affirmation of truth) and it is not
farfetched that Allaah, who is theConferrer of Favors, endows a slave
with faith like this, for the bounties of Allaah The Almighty are
beyond count and expectation.
If the owner of such a heart hears verses while he has insight in his
heart, this will add more light to his light. Conversely, a person who
lacks this type of heart but attentively listens and his heart is
witnessing this, will nevertheless receive the reminder. Allaah The
Almighty Says (what means):{And [even] if it is not hit by a downpour,
then a drizzle [is sufficient].}[Quran 2:265] Similarly, all acts of
goodness may vary in their types and ranks, like a downpour and
adrizzle, and so are their effects and causes. Likewise, people of
Paradise are of types: forerunnerswho are closer to Allaah The
Almighty and companions of the right, and between them are great
degrees of preference.
The Prophet,, Reflected upon the Quran.
Huthayfahsaid:"I prayed with the Messenger of Allaahone night and he
started recitingSoorat Al-Baqarah. I thought thathe would bow at the
end of one hundred verses, but he continued. I then thought that
hewould perhaps recite the whole Soorah in one Rak'ah, but he
continued. He then started reciting Soorat An-Nisaa', then started
Aal-'Imraan and recited leisurely. When he recited a verse which
referred to the glory of Allaah, he would glorify Him. When he recited
a verse which contained a supplication, he would supplicate. When he
recited a verse that dealt with seeking refuge with Allaah, he would
seek refuge with Him."[Muslim]
The Prophet,, wept when IbnMas'oodrecited before him the verse
fromSooratAn-Nisaa'(which means):{So how [will it be] when We bring
from every nation a witness and we bring you, [O Muhammad] against
these [people] as a witness?}[Quran 4:41]
Could this have occurred without reflection? The Prophet,, would
invite people to reflect on and understand the meanings of the Quran.
Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):{Indeed, in the creation of the
heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are
signs for those of understanding. Who remember Allaah while standing
or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation
of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create
this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us
from the punishment of the Fire."}[Quran 3:190-191] When this verse
was revealed theProphet,, said:"Woe to whoever reads it without
pondering on it."
The Righteous Predecessors' Reflection on the Quran
Ibn 'Abbaassaid:"Performingtwo Rak'ahs with reflection is better than
performing prayers all night without heart
(reflection)."Al-Fudhaylsaid,"The Quran was revealed to be
implemented, but people made its recitation their aim."People
asked,"How do we implement the Quran?"He replied,"By holding its
permissible acts to be permissible and its prohibited acts to be
prohibited, abiding by its orders and abandoning its prohibitions, and
reflecting on itswonders."
Some of the righteous predecessors would perform prayers all night,
reciting one verse and reiterating it, pondering its meanings and
reflecting on it. Their aim was not to read the Quran in full, rather
their main concern was to read with reflection and understanding.
Muhammad ibn Ka'b Al-Qurathisaid,"I read only Soorat Az-Zalzalah and
Al-Qaari'ah [chapters 99 and 101] during my prayers at night,
repeating and pondering on them, and this is more preferableto me than
reading the whole Quran hurriedly."