Sat 20 Jan 2018
✏️ Authentic Adhkār from the Qur’an & Sunnah:
Lesson 4: Making Dhikr with the Qur’an, its Great status and reward, and What is required of a person
- Brief recap of last lesson
- The best type of Dhikr (remembrance) is the Qur’an itself
- Allah says: “Verily, those who disbelieved in the Reminder (i.e. the Quran) when it came to them (shall receive the punishment). And verily, it is an honourable respected Book (because it is Allah’s Speech, and He has protected it from corruption, etc.). (See V. 15:9]” [41:41]
- Continued: “Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise (Allah).” [41:42]
- Continued: “Nothing is said to you (O Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)) except what was said to the Messengers before you. Verily, your Lord is the Possessor of forgiveness, and (also) the Possessor of painful punishment.” [41:43]
- The Qur’an is the best of the books, revealed to the best of the Messengers
- Allah says: “And no example or similitude do they bring (to oppose or to find fault in you or in this Quran), but We reveal to you the truth (against that similitude or example), and the better explanation thereof.” [25:33]
- Ibn Kathir (may Allah be pleased with him) said regarding the above verse that this is a great degree of nobility to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) in that the Angel (Jibreel) used to come to him with the Qur’an in the morning or evening, whether he was travelling or resident. This was not the same as the previous revelations.
- The great status of the Qur’an and its virtue is not something hidden from the Muslims. It is word of Allah, it contains the news of what occurred in the past, news of what will happen in the future and it judges between us.
- The Qur’an has such a high status because it is the speech of Allah, and nothing is comparable to the attributes of Allah, therefore the Qur’an is unique.
- The Qur’an is not created and it is different to anything created. The virtue of the Qur’an compared to any other speech is like the comparison of the superiority of the Lord over his creation
- We must therefore give importance to the Qur’an and preserve its station
- Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ud said whomsoever wishes to know if he Loves Allah then he should check himself with the Qur’an. If you Love the Qur’an then you Love Allah as the Qur’an is the word of Allah
- We should recite, understand, and memorise the Qur’an
- Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud also said the Qur’an is the word of Allah, so whomsoever rejected anything from it then he has rejected Allah
- The Qur’an was revealed in the month of Ramadhaan. No doubt the revelation of the Qur’an to Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was from the greatest of blessings of Allah subhaanahu wata’aalaa.
- The month of Ramadhaan has a special connection to the Qur’an
- Verse re above
- There is also narration in Musnad of Imam Ahmed that the other revelations were also revealed in the month of Ramadhaan
- NOTE: some of the scholars have indicated that the above narration is weak, however it is authentic, then it would indicate that the revelations all came in the month of Ramadhaan
- Ibn Abbaas narrated The Qur’an was revealed in one go to the skies of the earth and then from there in portions it was revealed to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم)
- The Qur’an was revealed in one go on the night of Decree
- See Surah (chapter) Al-Qadr: “Verily! We have sent it (this Quran) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree)” [97:1]
- To perform remembrance via the Qur’an it is necessary that a person has:
- recitation,
- understanding
- memorisation,
- and Acting upon it
- Reciting the Qur’an and pondering over its meanings is from the greatest forms of guidance for a person;
- Allah sent this Qur’an as a guidance. Mercy, and a light for all of Mankind
- Allah has made the Qur’an a cure for the diseases of the Hearts, especially doubts and desires
- It guides to that which is more upright
- It contains signs from Allah as well as threats and warnings
- On the authority of Tameem ibn Aus ad-Daree (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “The deen (religion) is naseehah (sincerity).” We said, “To whom?” He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.” [Reported by Muslim, also in the 40 Hadith of Imam Nawaawi]
- What is sincerity to the Book of Allah?
- Shaikh Al Fawzaan said sincerity to the Book of Allah is Five things:
- To have the correct aqeedah/core beleif regarding the Qur’an. That it is the speech of Allah and NOT created (as some mistakenly believe)
- To recite it
- To memorise it
- To understand it
- To practice and act on the Qur’an
- There are many narrations regarding the reward for the recitation of the Qur’an:
- Narrated Muhammad bin Ka’b Al-Qurazi:”I heard ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud saying: ‘The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “[Whoever recites a letter] from Allah’s Book, then he receives the reward from it, and the reward of ten the like of it. I do not say that Alif Lam Mim is a letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter.” [Reported by At-Tirmidhi]
- It is mentioned that the Salaf and great scholars of the past used to always give great importance to the Qur’an
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said “Allah raises some people (in status) because of this book and brings others low because of it” (see below hadith)
- It was narrated that Nafi’ bin ‘Abdul-Harith met ‘Umar bin Khattab in ‘Usfan, when ‘Umar had appointed him as his governer in Makkah.:’Umar asked: “Whom have you appointed as your deputy over the people of the valley?” He said: “I have appointed Ibn Abza over them.” ‘Umar said: “Who is Ibn Abza?” Nafi’ said: “One of our freed slaves.” ‘Umar said: “Have you appointed a freed slave over them?” Nafi’ said: “He has great knowledge of the Book of Allah, is well versed in the rules of inheritance (Fara’id) and is a (good) judge.” ‘Umar said: “Did not your prophet say: “Allah raises some people (in status) because of this book and brings others low because of it” [Ibn Majah]
- Abu Malik Al-Ash`ari narrated that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Al-Wudu is half of faith, and All praise is due to Allah (Al-Ḥamdulillāh) fills the Scale, and Glory is to Allah and all praise is to Allah (Subḥān Allāh wal-Ḥamdulillāh)’ fill” – or – “fills what is between the heavens and the earth, and Salat is light and charity is an evidence, and patience is an illumination, and the Quran is a proof for you or against you. And all people shall come to the morning selling their souls, either setting it free or destroying it.” [Reported by At-Tirmidhi]
- Qataadah said that No one sits with the Qur’an except that when he gets up, he will either leave with an increase or he will leave with a decrease. What does this mean?
- The are entire books written about the influence of the Qur’an on you and the mannerisms required for one who memorizes it
- Al-Imam Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Al-Husain Al-Aajuuri (d. 360 AH) mentioned in his book “Akhlaq Hamalatil Quran”:
- A believer who has intellect, and recites the Qur’an, he will present the Qur’an upon himself like a mirror and he will be able to see what of his actions are good and what is evil by examining the Qur’an [as the Qur’an is comprehensive and encourages good and forbids evil]. Whatever of evil he sees he fears as he knows the threats of Allah mentioned in the Qur’an and what he sees of goodness then he will be encouraged to strive on by the Quran
- Q&A:
- What type of Adhkar should one do after the Prayer? Is it alright to just read the Qur’an after finishing prayer and nothing else?
- If you are reading midway through a surah (chapter) of the Qur’an, do you have to say bismillaah first to start?
Next week insha Allāh: Different levels of the Surahs and verses