Is it obligatory to understand the Quran?
- Is it obligatory to understand the Quran?
The purpose is not to hurt someone’s feelings, but to examine our relationship with the Quran. - To assess if there is any available time in our schedule for understanding the Quran, rather than not allocating a suitable time.
- To dispel the arguments put forth by the devil for not reading the Quran. Each one of us has a devil that has almost convinced us to neglect a direct understanding of the Quran.
The speaker is addressing only you.
Importance of understand of quran
كِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَـٰرَكٌۭ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوٓا۟ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ
This is a book that We have sent to you full of blessings so that people can think about its verses. so that those with wisdom can reflect upon them. [Quran 38:29]
Revealed for pondering-2
أَفَلَا. يَتَدَبَّرُونَ. ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ. أَمۡ. عَلَىٰ. قُلُوبٍ. أَقۡفَالُهَآ. ٢٤
Do they not then think deeply in the Quran or are their hearts locked up? [Quran 47:24]
A grave warning!
. وَقَالَ. ٱلرَّسُولُ. يَٰرَبِّ. إِنَّ. قَوۡمِي. ٱتَّخَذُواْ. هَٰذَا. ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ. مَهۡجُورٗا.
And the Messenger (Muhammad, pbuh) will say (on the day of Judgment): O my Lord! Lo! mine own folk make this Quran of no account [Al-Qur’an, 25:30].
The Rights Of Qur’an
Scholars say that to leave Qur’an is not to do any of these:
- Believe in it
- Read it
- Understand it
- Ponder its verses
- Act upon it
- Spread it
Are we Excused?
For non-Arabs there is no excuse, especially for those who have learned other languages apart from their native one.
We learned English and mastered it because it had worldly benefits.
We neglected Arabic because it seemed of no practical use to us.
If we don’t learn the language of Allah’s book, how will we communicate with Allah?
Qur’an is easy to learn
Certainly, here’s a simplified translation of the Quranic verse:
“And We have certainly made the Quran easy to remember. So is there anyone who will be mindful?” [Quran, 54:17].
The Quran is made easy for remembrance (not for deriving legal rulings, for example).
Qur’an is easy to learn (cont’d)
In this context, the word zikr has two meanings hifz memorization to remember and to understand.
As a community we have worked diligently and witnessed the fulfillment of Allah promise. We have nearly millions of memorizers Hafiz of the Quran. To appreciate the greatness of this miracle try to memorize a paragraph in a language you can read but don’t understand such as a European language you don’t know . It won’t be that difficult will it?
However if we work on the other aspect understanding we will also see miracles here. In fact the effort required for understanding the Quran is often much less than what is required for memorization.
The Prophet’s (pbuh) eagerness to learn Qur’an
And {O Muhammad} do not be in haste with the Quran before its revelation is completed to you and say My Lord increase me in knowledge. {Quran 20;114}
Greatness of Quran The only non-creation
In this universe, everything around us is Allah creation except the Quran. It is one of Allah attributes and it contains His words.
We are indeed fortunate that the Creator of this universe, who has always existed and will always be alive, has honored us with a book in His own words. This book provides us with guiding principles for our own benefit, even though we often claim not to have time to study it.
The best of the Books the worst treatment from us
It’s a thought-provoking reflection. You’re highlighting the paradox that often, we treat the Quran, a divine book with profound guidance, with less respect and understanding compared to other books on our shelves. It’s a reminder to reevaluate our priorities and strive to approach the Quran with the reverence and understanding it deserves. The value of any book, including the Quran, goes beyond its physical presence; it’s in the wisdom and guidance it imparts to our lives.
Every other book is understood
Your observation highlights a common tendency in human behavior We often invest significant time and effort in understanding and mastering subjects that have a direct impact on our worldly lives,
such as physics’ chemistry’ commerce’ mathematics’ and others. However when it comes to the Quran which holds guidance for our spiritual and moral well being we may not put in the same effort to understand it,
This contrast serves as a reminder to prioritize our spiritual and moral growth and to dedicate the time and effort required to truly comprehend the Quran message and apply it in our lives. The Quran is meant to be a guide for our overall well being and its value goes beyond any other book.
I am busy
Many of us are so “busy” throughout the day that we often claim not to have time for reading or understanding it! The term “busy” doesn’t mean I’m constantly engaged; it simply means I’m prioritizing tasks that, in my view, are more important than the Quran.
Practically, I don’t consider it “worthy” enough. If it held significance for me, I would undoubtedly allocate time for recitation and comprehension.
Time for everything else
On the contrary, I seem to have time for everything else! Reading the news, socializing, and chatting are all part of my routine.
When it comes to conversing with Allah or listening to Him, I suddenly claim not to have time. Okay, is this not what you mean when you say I’m “busy” – when I’d rather not engage in what seems relatively “unimportant” or “insignificant” in comparison to other activities?
Fixed slots for every other activity
In our lives, we allocate daily time for everything, such as sleeping, eating, and reading newspapers. Do we have a designated slot for the Quran (in addition to the five daily prayers)? If not, it simply reflects the importance we give to it.
Disposable slot at slightest pretext
It’s interesting how when it comes to commitments like Quranic study circles, we often find simple excuses to skip them, like “I’m tired” or “I had some friends/relatives over and couldn’t make it.” Yet, when it involves our job or other interests like social gatherings, we don’t usually use such excuses and make every effort to attend. This observation raises important questions about our priorities and commitment to our spiritual development.
Did I bother to think that
If I approach the book of Allah with this “clarity,” “ease of work,” and a casual attitude, then how can I expect to connect with its author, Allah Himself?