“Stories from the Quran”

Introduction

Ramadan Project 2013

Deal with the Quran with Excellence! Don’t use the Quran to satisfy

your worldly matters. It is very easy to slip and use the Quran to

benefit yourself in the way of degrees, accomplishments, etc. Don’t

use the Quran – at least in this month – to satisfy your worldly

desires (to get praise, to finish something, etc). Ask Allah to make

your relationship with the Quran very strong and only for His sake!

Surah Baqarah #185

The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and

whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which

He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.

This ayah mentions the relationship of the Quran with Ramadan

We have the Quran in front of us! We can see it, touch it, our mind can understand it

It is the speech of Allah – everything in the Quran is from Allah

The Quran is a mercy from Allah

o Allah gave us the Quran that has important matters which we cannot sense, see or know

about by ourselves

o The Quran tells us our reality, our enemies, their plots, our destination, what we should do

The Quran is peace and tranquility

The Quran is healing for all types of problems

o Internal and external issues / physical and spiritual but we need to have the certainty

and trust that is it a cure for our sicknesses

The Quran is guidance

o It’s like alight that shows us how to behave with ourselves, with our Creator, with

humanity

o Guides us towards the goodness

The Quran is the life of the heart

Obstacles in the beginning of the month of Ramadan

When we feel we can achieve excellence by ourselves - without the help of Allah

We cannot do anything without Allah’s help so how can we enter Paradise by ourselves?

We need to rely on Allah completely, ask His help - استعانة باهلل

Hadith

There is a connection between generosity and

studying the Quran in Ramadan! When you

study the Quran in Ramadan (take it seriously-

busy yourself with the Quran-any little time you

have you pick up the Quran), the level of faith

will increase. Study the Quran with Ihsaan

(excellence). Don’t speed up to just finish the

Quran.

To be generous to sacrifice everything for the

sake of Allah

It is an impact of studying the Quran because

studying the Quran will reform you. Being generous is one of the manners. It is from the

power/strength of the Quran.

The balance of the Quran in Ramadan! Do it perfectly!

Don’t be lazy with the Quran

Don’t be hasty with the Quran

The Quran will intercede for you in the Day of Judgment

Hadith the Quran will speak on the Day of Judgment. It will say to

Allah to give its recitor a crown of honor. He won’t be satisfied so he

will ask Allah to give him a gown of honor. He still won’t be satisfied

to he will ask Allah to be pleased with him. Then Allah will be pleased

with him (recitor of the Quran). Allah will tell him to recite like how

he used to recite in the world and he will be elevated in ranks.

Remember you are hastening towards the pleasure of

Allah!

Surah Taha # 84

Manners/Etiquettes in dealing with the Quran

Apparent/visible etiquettes (اآلداب الظاهرة)

The recitor himself should have some manners

o He should have wudu (ablution)

o Prepare himself mentally

o Can recite the Quran in any position (sitting, standing, walking, lying down)

o The best position to recite the Quran is sitting with humility because remember its

Allah’s speech – He is talking to you (should not be with arrogance)

The Quantity – how much should you read?

o The righteous predecessors were always busy with the Quran – some finished the

whole Quran in 3 days, some in 1 week, some in one day!! Depends on the level of faith

o Have a specific time to read the Quran – don’t focus on how much you need to finish

(its only quantity)

o Our goal is the pleasure of Allah so read as much as you can but your time is

important! The more you recite the better it is! This is the way to do more Ihsaan with

the Quran

Recite the Quran with a beautiful tune/recitation (الترتيل)

o Giving every letters its right

o Prophet Muhammad used to recite each letter by letter – pronounce each letter

clearly

o الترتيل makes its beautiful to listen to the Quran and helps you to focus, ponder and

interact with the ayaat

Crying/feeling humble

o Because it is the speech of Allah you want to cry because Allah has allowed you to read

it, have it, understand it!

o Ayaat of mercy will make you cry at the vastness of Allah’s mercy

o Ayaat of punishment will make you cry because you want to be protected from the

eternal punishment

To give each ayah its right

o It’s not just a book or words

o Each ayah has its own rights upon you (use your 3D glasses! )

o Recite it, read every letter, understand each word, understand the whole ayah

o This is the right of the ayah upon you

Recite in a moderate tone

o You recite with a voice but not screaming loud!

o Don’t recite the Quran “mute” – without moving your tongue

o Recite the Quran with a soft voice – maybe little louder if it helps you to concentrate

o It will help you to awaken your heart

o 2 senses will be working – reciting and hearing

Beautify your voice

o Remember it’s the speech of Allah so beautify your voice

o Hadith beautify your sound with the Quran

o Allah is watching you/hearing you He will appreciate your efforts

Hidden/Internal etiquettes (اآلداب الباطنة)

Understand the greatness of the speech

o Because Allah is the Greatest so His speech is also great

Magnify Allah

Make your heart present

o You know that it is the speech of Allah so you want your mind and heart to be present

Understand the Quran

o Your mind will work when your heart is present

o You will be able to understand better

o If your heart is not in the Quran – you will just utter it with your tongue and will not

get the Ihsaan with the Quran

Reflect on the Quran

o Don’t limit your time with the Quran

o To understand it is very important

o Once you understand the meaning – then you need to know what is your reaction to

that understanding (pondering/reflecting)

o You know that Allah is the Most Merciful – so what are you supposed to do about it?

You make dua to get this mercy of Allah

You hope for the mercy of Allah all the time

o Don’t detach yourself from the Quran! Imagine each verse is being addressed to you!

Divine messages from Allah directed to you!

o Interact with the Quran

Obstacles in understanding/pondering over the Quran: 1. Your worry/concern/focus is to “finish” the Quran

The minute you think about how fast you will finish or your accomplishment – your

ihsaan (excellence) with the Quran is gone

Excellence cannot be done if your pressure yourself with time

Enjoy every ayah at a time

If you feel your heart was not focused – repeat the ayah

2. Your worry/concern/focus is only the tajweed and makharij (pronunciation & grammar)

Remember tajweed is just a tool of recitation

It is good to have it but if you don’t then don’t make that your goal

Your goal while reading the Quran is to attain the pleasure of Allah by understanding

the meaning and pondering over the meaning!

Don divert your focus

3. Not asking for forgiveness for your sins and having pride

Sins have an effect on the heart (black dots)

The Quran is very pure! A blackened heart cannot take the Quran

Always ask Allah for forgiveness

Don’t insist on your sins

If someone has pride and arrogance in their heart – he will be deprived from the

benefits of the Quran

The recitor of the Quran has to be humble!

The heart is like a crystal clear glass and the Quran is a mirror on it! The heart needs to

be clean and pure in order to understand the Quran

اللهم اجعلنا أهل القرآن أهل هللا

و خاصته