The Purpose of Reading Quran is Remembrance and Reflection

المقصد من القراءة الذكر والتدبر

The Purpose of Reading the Quran is Remembrance and Reflection

Translated by: Reza Ervani bin Asmanu

This article about the Purpose of Reading Quran is part of the Islamic Question and Answers

السؤال

Question:

عند قراءتي آية الكرسي أو غيرها عند الصباح أو قبل النوم، لا أتمعن في معانيها، بل أقرؤها بشكل سريع، وذلك لكثرة قراءتي لها. فما الحكم؟ وشكرًا.

When I recite Ayat al-Kursi or other verses in the morning or before sleeping, I do not ponder their meanings, but rather recite them quickly due to frequent repetition. What is the ruling on this? Thank you.

الإجابــة

Answer:

الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، وعلى آله وصحبه، أما بعد:

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and his companions. To proceed:

فقد قال الإمام النووي ‎-‎رحمه الله ‎-‎ اعلم أن تلاوة القرآن هي أفضل الأذكار، والمطلوب القراءة بالتدبر‎…‎ . 

Imam an-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Know that the recitation of the Quran is the best form of dhikr (remembrance), and what is required is to read it with reflection…

وقال: ينبغي للقارئ أن يكون شأنه الخشوع والتدبر والخضوع، فهذا هو المقصود المطلوب، وبه تنشرح الصدور وتستنير القلوب، ودلالته أكثر من أن تحصر، وأشهر من أن تذكر. وقد بات جماعة من السلف يتلو الواحد منهم آية واحدة ليلة كاملة، ومعظم ليلة يتدبرها عند القراءة.

He also said: A reader should have an attitude of humility, reflection, and submission. This is the intended goal. Through it, the chest is expanded and hearts are illuminated. The evidences for this are too numerous to be counted and too well-known to even be mentioned. A number of the Salaf (early pious generations) would spend the entire night reflecting upon a single verse while reciting it repeatedly.

وقال أيضاً في كتابه الأذكار: المراد من الذكر حضور القلب، فينبغي أن يكون هو مقصود الذاكر، فيحرص على تحصيله، ويتدبر ما يذكر، ويتعقل معناه. فالتدبر في الذكر مطلوب، كما هو مطلوب في القراءة لاشتراكهما في المعنى المقصود‎…‎إلخ.

He also said in his book *al-Adzkar*: The purpose of dhikr is the presence of the heart. This should be the intention of the one remembering Allah—he should strive to attain it, reflect upon what he says, and understand its meaning. Thus, reflection in dhikr is required just as it is in recitation, because both share the same intended meaning… and so on.

ومما يدل على أهمية التدبر لآيات القرآن قوله تعالى: 

Among the evidences of the importance of reflecting on the verses of the Quran is Allah’s statement:

كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ [ص:٢٩]

“[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.” (Surah Sad verse 29)

وقد عاب الله على قوم لا يتدبرون القرآن فقال:

Allah also criticized a people who do not reflect upon the Quran. He said:

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَى قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا [محمد:٢٤]

“Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?” (Surah Muhammad verse 24)

وقال تعالى:

And He also said:

لَوْ أَنْزَلْنَا هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى جَبَلٍ لَرَأَيْتَهُ خَاشِعًا مُتَصَدِّعًا مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ [الحشر:٢١]

“If We had sent down this Qur’an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah.” (Surah al-Hashr verse 21)

ومن هنا نقول للسائل الكريم: احرص على التدبر والتأمل والخشوع عند قراءتك لآية الكرسي وغيرها، ففي القراءة بطمأنينة راحة للنفس وطمأنينة لها، كما قال تعالى:

Based on this, we say to the honorable questioner: Strive for reflection, contemplation, and humility when reading Ayat al-Kursi and other verses. Reciting calmly brings peace and tranquility to the soul, as Allah says:

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُمْ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ [الرعد:٢٨]

“Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.” (Surah ar-Ra’d verse 28)

وكثرة قراءتك لذلك لا تبرر قراءتها بدون تمعن، لأن القرآن الكريم، وكلام الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم الكريم مليئان بالفوائد والعبر والمعاني، فقد يظهر لك معنى قد خفي عليك لزمن طويل. وهذا مجرب.

Frequent recitation does not justify reading without contemplation, for the Noble Quran and the words of the Prophet ﷺ are full of wisdom, lessons, and meanings. A meaning you missed before may appear to you after a long time—this is a known and proven reality.

وقد تكون هذه آخر قراءة تقرؤها، كما قال صلى الله عليه وسلم:

That may be your last recitation, as the Prophet ﷺ said:

“وصل صلاة مودع”. رواه ابن ماجه والحاكم،

“Pray as if it were your farewell prayer.” (Hadith Narrated by Ibn Majah and al-Hakim)

مع أن المسلم يصلي كل يوم خمس مرات

Even though a Muslim prays five times every day.

والله أعلم.

And Allah knows best.

Source: IslamWeb