Principles to approach the Qur'an- Part III

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4. Qur'an has been revealed for the individual "YOU"


Allah SWT says:

يَأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُمْ مَّوْعِظَةٌ مَّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَآءٌ لِّمَا فِى الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Oh mankind! There has come to you good advice from your Lord, and a cure for that which is in your breasts, -- a guidance and a mercy for the believers. (Surah Yunus: 57)

It doesn't matter if the other person is following the Qur'an or not; what matters and will affect you is depending how much you chose to live by the Qur'an. On the Day of Judgement, we will stand in front of Allah SWT alone, no one to help us or harm us except our deeds and how we approached the Book of Guidance. So, we cannot afford to "not follow" the Qur'an just because others are not, this should never be our excuse.

If we got an email from our most beloved, a friend or sister we love a lot, what would we do? How will you read this letter that has been addressed to none but yourself? How much haste and excitement would be there as you read it? Likewise, the Qur'an is addressed to "you", and it is from The One we claim to love the most! SubhanAllah. We say the Qur'an is the most important possession, most valuable property. But do we treat it that way? We seek Blessings for our gatherings and functions by starting with the ayahs of The Holy Qur'an; but do we follow and obey what it expects us to?! When the Qur'an was revealed, Allah SWT was either commanding to do something that is good for mankind (on an individual's level and/or for the mankind as a whole) or it was prohibiting something that is not good for us. And how much of this do we take seriously?

Allah says in Surah Aal Imran,

إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ وَاخْتِلَـفِ الَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لاّيَـتٍ لاٌّوْلِى الاٌّلْبَـبِ - الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَـماً وَقُعُوداً وَعَلَى جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِى خَلْقِ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ رَبَّنَآ مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذا بَـطِلاً سُبْحَـنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the Earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding. Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): "Our Lord! You have not created this without purpose, glory to You! Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire. [Surah Aal Imran: 190-191]

The people of real understanding are those who remember Allah at all times, reflect upon the creations of Allah. and constantly remember the purpose of this life. May Allah Azza Wajal make us all among the people of real understanding. We have to so much to ponder and reflect upon every creation of Allah SWT; shouldn't we reflect more upon the "Word" of Allah. Isn't the word of The Lord of all those to whom it has been addressed for, more superior than all the creations?! We believe the creations have flaws and do not last forever, everything created will stop to exist and will die, but the "Kalam" of Allah is not a creation. And by the way, only the one who reflect upon the ayah of the Quran will be able to reflect upon the ayahs (signs) of the world and only he will be able to reflect/ remember the ayah of the Quran when he sees the ayahs(signs) around him. When it rains, only a person who reflects over the ayahs of the revelation will remember that just like the descending of the rain-laden clouds, the Quran descended; just as rain is a Mercy from Ar-Rahmaan, so is the Qur'an. SubhanAllah. Similarly, when plants sprout from the ground, we must remember that on the Day of Resurrection, we will also wake up in a similar fashion.

5. Living under the shade of Qur'an as long as you live:

Our efforts to become more and more closer to Allah SWT should be continuous and consistent at all times. Our Emaan is subjected to increase and decrease. Emaan is not something static; so if it isn't increasing, it decreases. Allah Azza Wajal keeps talking to us about the struggles between truth and falsehood, and the treacherous temptations of the Duniya and Shaytan. We do not know where/what we are falling into unless we strive and experience the content and the real happiness that comes with submission and obedience to the Lord Almighty.

The more we turn to the Quran with Sincerity and a strong will to live under the shade of the Guidance, the more Allah Blesses us with goodness. The more number of times we reflect upon an ayah, the more wisdom and understanding and comprehension Allah gives us.

Allah SWT says:

الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَـتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ أُوْلَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَاهُمُ اللَّهُ وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمْ أُوْلُو الاٌّلْبَـبِ

Those who listen to the Word and follow the best thereof, those are (the ones) whom Allah has guided and those are men of understanding. (Surah Az-Zumar: 18)

And:

وَالَّذِينَ جَـهَدُواْ فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

As for those who strive hard for Us, We will surely guide them to Our paths. And verily, Allah is with the doers of good. (Surah Al-Ankaboot: 69)

And Allah SWT promises:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَاتِ يَهْدِيهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ بِإِيمَانِهِمْ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الاٌّنْهَـرُ فِي جَنَّـتِ النَّعِيمِ

Verily, those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, their Lord will guide them through their faith; under them will flow rivers in the Gardens of delight. (Surah Yunus: 9)

How foolish would it be if we did not hold firmly to the rope of Allah, and instead chose to fall into the dark traps set up by Shaytan! How foolish would it be if we chose mere temporary excitements over the eternal bliss?! May Allah SWT make among those who are wise, and know Him, and listen and turn our hearts to His Guidance, Mercy and Blessing- The Qur'an....aameen...