The Gift of Quran

 

The Holy Quran is not only a sacred book, but the eternal word of Allah, a direct link between the Creator (Allah) and His servants. It was revealed as a blessing for all humanity (all the worlds), as a warning and glad tidings, but it is more for the one who has fear of Allah and who submits to His will. As Allah tells us in the Quran itself: “This is the Book; there is no doubt in it. It is guidance for the righteous (those who fear Allah and want to follow His path)” (Al-Baqara 2: 3). For every sincere Muslim, their relationship with the Quran must deeply shape their faith, their spirituality, and their destiny.

 

Hazrat Ibn Masud (ra) said: “Whoever wants to know whether he truly loves Allah and His Prophet, then he should observe his relationship with the Quran. If he loves the Quran, then he truly loves Allah and His Prophet.” (Tabarani)

 

A believer must cultivate the love of the Quran in the depths of his heart, and this is essential for him to gain access to the love of Allah. This bond of love that he establishes with the Quran will reveal his love and sincerity towards Allah and His Messenger Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), as well as all the Messengers that Allah sent, as a sign of His love for Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), where He sends such people, like Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) and this humble servant (Munir Ahmad Azim), to elevate the teachings of Islam in the world, to give the Quran its true value and to follow the footsteps of our beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) in explaining the Quran in a clear way so that people of every era can develop a special relationship with the Quran, where the Quran is applied in their life in such a way that the Quran becomes alive for them, where they find that Allah Himself – whether in the presence of one of His Islamic Messengers or in the absence of one – is speaking to that believer through His Quran itself.

 

Here, we find that this blessing becomes greater during the presence of a Prophet and Messenger of Allah in the world, where not only divine revelation is descending, but Allah gives courage, patience and makes promises, whether to His Messenger, and also to other sincere believers who accept His decrees and have no doubt in what He has revealed as revelation. And so we find the extraordinary phenomenon where Allah guides that believer to understand His decrees, as well as (to understand) His Prophet whom He sent through the Quran itself!

 

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) received his first revelation – a Quranic revelation – to “Read”! And Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) did not know how to read or write. And yet, we have seen that the verbal Quran was later compiled into a book that has survived centuries and centuries as a command that applies to all sincere believers. That command is as follows: “Read, in the name of your Lord Who created...” (Al-Alaq, 96: 2)

 

And later, during his Prophethood, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) gave us these glad tidings regarding the Quran: “Whoever reads one letter from the Book of Allah will receive a reward, and that reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not saying that ‘Alif Lam Mim’ is one letter, but ‘Alif’ is a letter, ‘Lam’ is a letter and ‘Mim’ is a letter.” (Tirmidhi)

 

You must keep in mind that when you recite the Quran, Allah will then strengthen your faith. He will also give a new breath to your soul, where He will give you courage and patience and give you the necessary energy to fulfill your duties as believers and where this will allow you to draw closer to Him (Allah).

 

Allah invites us to reflect upon His verses: “This is a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, so that they may reflect upon its verses and that those endowed with understanding (Ulul-al-Baab) may take heed!” (Sad 38:30)

 

Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) used to deeply meditate upon the verses of the Quran during his night prayers. Hazrat Hudhayfa (ra) reported: “The Prophet recited at length the Surahs Al-Baqara, An-Nisa, and Al-Imran in a single Rakah (unit) of prayer... and he used to glorify Allah when a verse spoke of that, he used to supplicate when a verse said so (i.e., supplicate to Allah), and he used to seek protection when he came upon a verse of threat.” (Muslim)

 

Therefore, we must always remember that the Quran is a guide. Allah says: “This Quran shows (people) the straightest path, and gives glad tidings to those who believe and do good deeds, that they will have a great reward.” (Al-Isra, 17: 10)

 

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) taught us: “Read the Quran, for it will come on the Day of Judgement to intercede in favour of the one who used to read it often.” (Muslim)

 

The companions of the Quran are those who recite it regularly, study it, and put its commandments into practice. On that day (the Day of Judgement), they will receive immense honours: “The Quran will say: ‘O Lord! Beautify him!’ So a crown of nobility will be placed upon him (that believer)... then it will say: ‘Read and ascend!’ And then he (that believer) will receive a reward for every verse recited.” (Tirmidhi)

 

A person who neglects the Quran exposes himself to a grievous responsibility, a very heavy consequence. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) already saw in a dream a man whose head was crushed by a rock because he had learned the Quran, but later abandoned it. Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said about that man: “He used to sleep without reciting it at night, and did not put it into practice during the day.” (Bukhari)

 

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “Indeed, Allah has privileged people among mankind.” His companions asked: “Who are those people?” He (pbuh) replied: “They are the people of the Quran. They are the people of Allah and His privileged ones.” (Ibn Majah)

 

Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) also said: “The best among you is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it (to others).” (Bukhari)

 

Remember well that when you read the Quran, and for you to develop a love for it, to read it, you must read it with emotion, you must understand what you are reading, and therefore, you must read it with its translation (if you do not know the Arabic language), you must try to understand it, give it all your attention, and put its commandments into practice for the love of Allah, and also out of fear of Allah (Taqwa), and you must try to teach it to other people as well, where you are spreading the light of the Quran in your families, in society and in the world. Insha-Allah.

 

Reflect well that this Book is sacred, and it is our guide, our light and our hope for a better future in the Aakhirat (the Hereafter). Insha-Allah.

 

O Allah, Master of the Great Throne, Master of the heavens and the earth, make us companions of Your Quran, those who read it, meditate upon it and put it into practice. Illuminate our hearts with its light, purify our souls through its wisdom, and elevate our ranks through its verses. Grant us the love of the Quran more than the love of this worldly life, and make the Quran an honoured intercessor for us on the Day when nothing and no one will be able to save us except by Your Mercy. Ameen.

---Friday Sermon of 11 July 2025~ 14 Muharram 1447 AH delivered by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius.