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The Obligations Muslims Owe to the Qur'an
By Dr. Israr Ahmad
The pathetic and disastrous condition of the Muslim Ummah throughout the world is due to the abandoning of the Holy Qur'an by the Muslims. We can neither expect any improvement in our worldly state of affairs, nor hope for salvation in the Hereafter, unless we carry out all the obligations that we owe to the Qur'an.
The attitude of indifference that we constantly show towards the last of Allah's Revelations, along with our hypocritical lip-service, is tantamount to ridiculing it. Instead, we must clearly understand our responsibilities towards the Holy Qur'an and try our very best in fulfilling them.
The Qur'an Makes Five Demands From Every Muslim
Our First Obligation
Believe in the Qur'an โ Iman
To have faith (Iman) in the Divine origin of the Qur'an. Iman has two phases:
Verbal Profession
Iqrar bil-lisan
Verbally professing that the Qur'an is the Word of Almighty Allah, revealed through Angel Gabriel to Prophet Muhammad ๏ทบ.
Heart-felt Conviction
Tasdeeq bil-qalb
A deep, sincere and unshakeable conviction in the heart that the Qur'an is truly from Allah.
"The Messenger believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, as well as the believersโฆ." โ Al-Baqarah 2:285
Our Second Obligation
Read the Qur'an โ Tilawat, Tarteel & Tajweed
Slow and thoughtful reading of the Holy Qur'an with correct pronunciation. Tilawat is not only an important form of worship โ it is also an effective method of continually refreshing our faith.
The Qur'an is not a book to be read once โ it is a book that needs to be read again and again, carefully, reflecting on its messages and constantly seeking guidance for our lives.
The Holy Prophet ๏ทบ remarked: "Surely, these hearts get rusted as iron gets rusted in water." He was asked how the heart's rust could be rubbed off. He replied: "By frequent remembrance of death and the recitation of the Qur'an." โ Narrated by Bayhaqi
Our Third Obligation
Understand the Qur'an
The Qur'an has been revealed so that it may be understood and pondered upon. There are two stages of comprehension:
Stage 1 โ Tazakkur
The basic level of understanding. The teachings of the Qur'an are not foreign to the human fitrah (nature). Allah has rendered it easy for all โ even those with limited intelligence or knowledge can understand its basic message, provided their nature is untainted.
Stage 2 โ Tadabbur
A penetrating, intense reflection and thorough deliberation โ diving deep into the bottomless ocean of its wisdom. This level is impossible unless one devotes their entire life, all their talents, and all their energies to comprehending the Qur'an.
"Those to whom We have sent the Book, study it as it should be studied; They are the ones that believe thereinโฆ" โ Al-Baqarah 2:121
Our Fourth Obligation
Act Upon the Teachings of the Qur'an
The Qur'an is the "Guidance for Mankind." Its purpose will be fully realised only when people act upon its teachings and make it the guide in every sphere of their lives. If we disregard the injunctions of the Qur'an, then reading and understanding it will only make us more guilty before Almighty Allah.
๐ At the Individual Level
Every Muslim must mould his or her life according to the teachings of the Qur'an โ constantly changing lifestyles and mending ways in accordance with its teachings.
๐ At the Collective Level
Muslims as a whole are responsible for establishing the Sovereignty of Allah in both the public and private sphere โ working towards a just and equitable order in accordance with the Qur'an.
The Prophet Muhammad ๏ทบ said: "None of you can become a true believer until his desires become subordinate to what I have brought."
"And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing; so follow it and be righteous, that you may receive mercy." โ An'aam 6:155
Our Fifth Obligation
Convey the Message of the Qur'an to the World
This was originally the responsibility of Prophet Muhammad ๏ทบ, who fulfilled his obligation by conveying the Divine message to the Ummah. Since Prophethood has been concluded with his advent, it is now the duty of Muslims to deliver that message to all humanity.
โ ๏ธ Unfortunately, the proclamation of the Divine message to the whole world appears like a far-fetched idea โ because at the moment, Muslims themselves are ignorant of the teachings of the Holy Qur'an.
๐ก Therefore, a powerful intellectual and academic movement โ "Back to the Qur'an" โ is needed to propagate and disseminate the knowledge and wisdom of the Holy Qur'an, both for the general masses and on the highest level of scholarship.
"โฆSo admonish with the Qur'an such as fear My warning!" โ Qaf 50:45
"The Qur'an is not a book to be read once โ it is a book that needs to be read again and again, carefully, reflecting on its messages, constantly seeking guidance for our lives."
May Allah grant us the ability to fulfil all five obligations we owe to His Holy Book.
May He make the Qur'an the light of our hearts, the guide of our lives, and our companion in the Hereafter.
ุขู
ูู ูุง ุฑุจ ุงูุนุงูู
ูู โ Ameen, O Lord of the Worlds
Article by Dr. Israr Ahmad