Allah mentions about how the believer is when he recites the Qur'an:
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـناً وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Ayat are recited unto them, they increase their faith; and they put their trust in their Lord. (Surah Al-Anfaal: 2)
Allah SWT says:
قُلْ ءَامِنُواْ بِهِ أَوْ لاَ تُؤْمِنُواْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْعِلْمَ مِن قَبْلِهِ إِذَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ يَخِرُّونَ لِلاٌّذْقَانِ سُجَّدًا - وَيَقُولُونَ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّنَآ إِن كَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّنَا لَمَفْعُولاً - وَيَخِرُّونَ لِلاٌّذْقَانِ يَبْكُونَ وَيَزِيدُهُمْ خُشُوعًا
Say: "Believe in it or do not believe (in it). Verily, those who were given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them, fall down on their chins (faces) in humble prostration.'' And they say: "Glory be to our Lord! Truly, the promise of our Lord must be fulfilled.'' And they fall down on their chins (faces) weeping and it increases their humility. (Surah Isra': 107-109)
Allah uses the parable of mountains that are so prominent, strong and fixed to the ground firmly crumbling down due to humbleness when Qur'an is sent upon them. So just imagine how we as humans, who have been placed with hearts in our chests, should be when we hear verses from the Qur'an. Allah says:
لَوْ أَنزَلْنَا هَـذَا الْقُرْءَانَ عَلَى جَبَلٍ لَّرَأَيْتَهُ خَـشِعاً مُّتَصَدِّعاً مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ وَتِلْكَ الاٌّمْثَـلُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Had We sent down this Qur'an on a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rent asunder by the fear of Allah. Such are the parables which We put forward to mankind that they may reflect. (Surah Al-Hashr: 21)
Allah SWT cautions us not to be like those before us, the disbelievers, who did not show humility and accept the guidance from The Holy Book. He says:
أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلاَ يَكُونُواْ كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ مِن قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الاٌّمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَـسِقُونَ
Has not the time yet come for the believers that their hearts should be humble for the remembrance of Allah And that which has been revealed of the truth, lest they become as those who received the Scripture before, and the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened And many of them were rebellious. (Surah Al-Hadeed: 16)
When we face difficulties and trials in our life, we turn to Allah, and recite the Qur'an for comfort to our hearts. And in doing so, we feel at peace, gratitude, love, patience, contentment etc. Just imagine if we were to turn to This Greatest Book at all times, and contemplate on it, and reflect it in our actions and thoughts. It would keep us away from the corruption and ruins of the heart, and it would continue to nourish and strengthen our soul, and give us a sense of complacence.
The words of the Qur'an are so powerful that when it was revealed to the Arabs who were living in ignorance (jahiliyyah), their hearts would soften. To the extent that, even the enemies of Prophet Muhammed Sallallahu alihiwassalam, like Abu Jahal (who was too proud to accept Islam) would be in awe, and hence would prevent themselves and others from listening to it. We should remember that the Arabs were very poetic people, and yet, they felt they had never heard such eloquent words before. And we also know the story of Umar Al-Khattab Radhiyallahu anh who accepted Islam even though he had been a strong enemy of Rasoolullah and Islam in the beginning. And therefore, we should work more hard to be able to appreciate the qur'an more, inshallah. May SWT give us the thawfeeque to learn more and more and attain the fruit of it, which will lead us to jannah.
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The Qur'an we recite will guard us in our grave, in the form of a handsome man. However, it can also act as a proof against us. (Oh Allah, save us from such a situation, and ease our trials in our grave for us, aameen.) Prophet Sallallahu alihiwassalm said: Verily Allah raises up a people with His Book, and He abases others. It has also been affirmed that he said: And the Qur'an is either a proof for you or against you. (Both these ahadeeth have been related by Muslim)
Reciting the Qur'an without understanding is also a virtuous and has merits, but the merits increase when we try to understand it. Similarly, reciting the Noble Words with the best and correct intonation and pronunciation (tajweed) is also recommended highly, but over-burdening yourself to do that alone, without paying attention to the meaning itself is not encouraged. Similarly, it is a good act to start a function or program with the verses of the Qur'an. But when we use it to start a program, where matters that are against the teachings of the qur'an happen (like starting a function where singing, dancing, intermingling etc takes place), then we are doing injustice to the Qur'an. The words of The Lord are too great to be dishonoured like that.
And Allah knows best.
