Lesson 2: Outward Manners of the Qur'an
- Allah is addressing us through the Quran and in light of that we can understand its tremendous and transforming power.
- We must then approach the Quran in the right way. It should be with adab. What is adab? Adab is proper manners; the way you do something. It is the best way of approaching the matter. Adab is putting things in their right places to the right extent. It is the praiseworthy way of approaching the matter.
- Why are manners important? 1) We have been commanded by Allah to act in a certain manner. (i.e. Obligations, sunnah - recommended) 2) These express our submitting to the right command and seeking Allah's pleasure. 3) They signify an attitude - of seeking Allah and of our awe of Allah's majesty and yearning for Allah's beauty. 4) They are a means of expressing our striving towards Allah. This is why these manners have been emphasized.
- Imam Ghazali begins by telling us about ten outward manners related to the Quran. The outward and inward are related because your outward is an indicator of your inward and if your inward is true, it is manifest on your outward. They are both interrelated.
- They both express our yearning and turning to Allah. Allah is sought both in inward and outward conduct.
- The first of the ten outward manners related to the state of the reciter: 1) Ritual purity. It is obligatory to be in a state of ritual purity when touching the Qur'an. Allah has told us in the Qur'an: None may touch it except those pure. The Prophet SAW also affirmed this in many hadith.
- The Maliki Imam Qadi Abdul Barr Maliki: "The scholars of the lands around whose opinions the matter of fatwa revolves in the lands are in consensus that the Qur'an can only be touched by one in a state of ritual purity. He mentioned this was the consensus among the scholars.It is highly recommended to be in ritual purity even when you are just reciting it without touching it. i.e. from memory.
- 2) Dress. It is recommended to be dressed in the best of ways.The early Muslims would dress well on occasions such as prayer, reciting the Quran and when gaining sacred knowledge. One should have an attitude to look one's best when presenting themselves to their lord. However, this should not hold one back when reciting the Quran. i.e you wake up in the middle of the night and want to pray or recite, you should not say I don't have energy to change my clothes and abandon praying or reading the Quran. Go ahead and pray in your pajama but if you can dress well that would be superior.
- 3) Posture. One's posture shows one's attitude. Sit in a posture that is respectful. Be mindful of little things pertaining to adab. They aren't religious rulings but would be better to observe.
- 4) Concentration. You should recite the Qur'an in circumstances that are conducive to concentration. i.e. If you will be distracted by listening to the Qur'an when on computer because you will be browsing the net, use another mode for listening. Benefit through the Qur'an by concentrating.
- 5) Amount of reading. There's those of the early Muslims who became so deeply attached to the Qur'an that when they used to speak, most of their speech was the Qur'an. When they were explaining things, they would use Qur'anic metaphor, stories etc so much so that it would seem that most of their speech was the Qur'an. Furthermore, the Prophet (SAW) advised some to read more and some less. Thus, the early Muslims had different habits on when they would finish the Qur'an. Ibn Abi dawood relates that some early Muslims would finish the Quran once every two months and these people would focus on reflection. Most of the early Muslims, however, would finish the Qur'an ever ten nights, every eight nights etc. Those who completed the Qur'an every day include Uthman r.a., tareem ad dari, and other sahaba. (Related from Shafi and Abu Hanifa). This is because of the degree of attachment they had to the Qur'an. The Prophet (SAW) gave us guidelines: Try to finish the Qur'an monthly and better than that twice a month and better than that weekly and better than that in three days. These are levels. He also called us to always strive to recite the Qur'an as well as to have tadabbur (reflection of the Qur'an). There is quantity and also quality.
- How does one get to that level of reciting the Qur'an with excellence? A) Have a consistent amount to recite everyday. Everything done consistently is trans formative. Take from religious actions that which you can sustain for by Allah, Allah doesn't tire until you do. (Hadith) Aisha r.a states the best of religious practices to the Prophet (SAW)(or possibly to Allah) is that which is done consistently. In the hadith, the pronoun in it can go back to the Prophet (SAW) or to Allah. However, it would only be beloved to the Prophet (SAW) if it is beloved to Allah.
- B) The sunnah is gradual increase. The Prophet (SAW) was always increasing in his works as he got older. It is a sunnah to increase in good works. He (SAW) told us to increase in good works but gradually. This is increase that is sustainable and does not threaten consistency.
- C) Excellence: Striving not only for quantity but quality. One that has proper inner and outward manners that we are discussing. Imam Ghazali explains and gives us many examples in his text about the amount that many early Muslims would recite. By day and by night. Sometimes reciting one verse in the prayer all night.
- Adab relates to the mode of division. If you are going to divide the recitation to the Quran. One division that was made was sevenths. This is found in some of the mushaf. This is useful for those reciting the Quran on a weekly basis. Others divide into Quran into thirds. Others would divide into fourths. There is other habits as well. The practical thing for us is the juz. (30 juz) It is useful because the balance is to recite one juz every day. From this you can do gradual increase to the higher levels as mentioned above. Do what you can. Have a certain amount that you will recite daily. You should also listen to a lot of Quran especially if your recitation is weak. This would improve your recitation of the Quran because what you hear affects your own pronunciation.
- Build up on what you are already doing and be consistent in it. Set a standard that you can do consistently and also engage in.
- 6) Writing the Qur'an: Doesn't relate to us much but if you do, write it with adab. In a state of wudhu and write it neatly. Write it from the Mushaf. In a respectable state.
- 7) Recitation: Proper recitation (Tajweed) Tajweed has two aspects: Correct pronunciation and excellence in pronunciation. There is a minimum amount of tajweed that one should know. If you don't know, take the means to learn it. There's also sunnahs of tajweed, that is excellence in pronunciation. Try to make your recitation proper and excellent. When you listen to someone recite badly and good, you can tell the difference because it has an affect on you. If you can't recite well, remember the words of the Prophet (SAW) (As words of encouragement) : Those who find it difficult to recite the best they can, the shall have twofold reward. For reciting and for struggling (paraphrased)
- Recite in a steady manner: "Recite the Qur'an in a steady, melodious tone. (Qur'an) Imam Ghazali discusses this. This relates to reciting with tajweed and with excellence. In a recitation that is steady in its speed. Observe the rules of excellence of recitation. Not very slow nor very fast but in a moderate pace.
- Also to recite melodiously. "Beautify the Qur'an with your voices". (Hadith) Whoever does not recite the Qur'an melodiiously is not of us (Hadith) What does this mean? It means that the believer should be someone who is able to recite melodiously. (meaning well and with feeling) This has two aspects: 1) Engaging with outward manner 2) Also it means that you are Inwardly engaged in your recitation. You move your heart with it.
- The Prophet (SAW) would recite a verse and pause. Recite a verse and pause. He would elongate the last syllable. This is from proper tajweed. He used to also (SAW) recite in an unhurried manner. Allah says, "Do not move your tongue quickly in order to hasten with this recitation." Even when you are trying to memorizing, don't be rushed about it. Also don't have this inward attitude to just get it over with.
- 8) Weeping: The Prophet (SAW) told us: Cry when you recite the Qur'an and if you cannot cry, make yourself cry. (Hadith) The sahaba would be so moved when they recited the Qur'an that their beards would drip with tears and their clothing would get moist from the tears that fell. Why would you cry? It's not just about sorrow. A sense of awe, a sense of the gravity of affairs that the Qur'an has come with glad tidings but also as a warning and wake up call. "Where are you with your standing with Allah." This sense of crying and sadness is not just about worldly kind of sadness. It emanates from a sense of awe from the majesty and power of Allah. You realize you are weak and needy. You realize how distant you are from Allah. You have a sense of fear and the standing with Allah. You recite the Qur'an that the consequences that are mentioned are applied to you. You also cry because you yearn for Allah's mercy, His concern, His forgiveness. You are grateful to his blessings. You cry in love of Allah and yearning for his closeness. A sense of desperation to be close to Allah (SWT). You cry out of not just fear and sorry but also for longing, thankfulness and gratefulness towards Allah (SWT). This is why the Prophet (SAW) mentioned to cry.
- 9) Observe the right of the verses over you: It is to give each verse its due. How? First is to recite it properly. Second, pause upon each verse and reflect on each verse. How does it relate to you? What is it telling you about your life and your standing with Allah? What does it tell you that you should or should not be doing? Sometimes the verses calls for you to make supplications and embody good qualities and distance from bad qualities that have been mentioned about the past people.
- 10) Supplicate in your recitation of the Qur'an - Before you begin reciting the Quran, make dua'a for Alalh to perfect your recitation. O 'Allah grant me the recitation of Quran that I draw near to you. Pour your heart out before you start reading. After you recite the Qur'an, supplicate. To make it a proof for you and not a proof against you. During your recitation, supplicate. Asking Allah for virtues that he calls to you and refuge in those wrongs that He warns about. The Prophet (SAW) said: Supplication is the core of all worship. So, when you recite the Qur'an, make it an act of imploring Allah.
- 11) Reading out loud - Praiseworthy to raise your voice a little so you can hear yourself. Abu dawood and others relates: The Prophet (SAW) found Abu Bakr praying with a low voice and Umar r.a raising his voice. When they both met together, the Prophet (SAW) mentioned this to them. Abu bakr r.a said : The one I was in with intimate discourse with could hear me (meaning Allah). Umar r.a said, I was awakening the drowsy and driving away the devil. He told Abu Bakr raise your voice a little and to Umar, lower your voice a little. There is benefits to reading out loud, that you join between worship of the tongue and the ears. What you hear, deeply influences you. Imam Zabidi mentions, the great educators (in islamic tradition and in previous traditions) are in agreement that which is heard has deeper impact than that which they can see - in terms of learning and understanding of it. When you recite Qur'an alone, recite so you can yourself, raise your voice a bit higher, however, where there is people around, make sure you don't disturb them.
- It is a communal obligation that when Qur'an is being recited that some are listening to it and are attentive. The Prophet (SAW) used to ask his companions to recite the Qur'an to him. He replied because he loved to listen to it.
- Practically, you can listen to Qur'an while you commute (while being attentive). This is a great opportunity for sisters also when they can't pray to listen to the Qur'an. There is a reward for listening to the Qur'an as well.
- 12) Beautify your recitation, attitude, handle and every aspect with the Qur'an. - When you do anything, do it with excellence.
Useful ink for Etiquettes of Reading and Handling the Qur'an al-Kareem by Imam Muhammad ibn Ahmad Qurtubi : http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/misc/eofq.htm