Ramadan: Developing a Heartfelt Connection and Love for the Qur'an

Opening & Du'a

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

Allah Most High spoke the truth. And the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ said:

Verily, Allah raises some peoples by means of this Book and brings others low by it.

Respected brothers, elders, mothers and sisters — we are now less than three weeks away from the blessed month of Ramadan. We make du'a to Allah like how the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ used to do:

O Allah, put barakah and blessings in whatever remains of this month of Sha'ban, and O Allah, allow us — give us the good fortune, give us the opportunity — of seeing, of witnessing, of experiencing the auspicious month of Ramadan. Ameen, ya Rabbal Alameen.

Ramadan: The Month of the Qur'an

In the entire Qur'an there is only one place when you will find the word Ramadan mentioned, and that is in Surah Al-Baqarah in the second juz', in the verse that I recited before you. Allah says:

Shahr Ramadan — the month of Ramadan. Then after this, Allah gives a description to this month. Notice how Allah describes this month of Ramadan. He says alladhi unzila feehi al-Qur'an — a month when the Qur'an was revealed. This is a very clear indication that the month of Ramadan is the month of the Qur'an. It's the month when we're supposed to be building and developing a relationship — our connection — with the Book of Allah.

Generally when we speak about our connection with the Qur'an, we speak about the recitation of the Qur'an. We speak about reflecting — tadabbur — of the Qur'an. We speak about making amal, practicing upon the Qur'an. But one thing which governs all of these things is the love for the Qur'an. A person who has love for the Qur'an — it will be very easy for him to recite the Qur'an, khatam after khatam. It will be easy for him to spend hours reflecting over the verses of the Qur'an. It will be easy for him to practice upon the Qur'an, because he has that love for the Qur'an.

This is something that we see in our aslaf, our pious predecessors — that they had great love for the Book of Allah. I want to run you through a few incidents from the life of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ as well as the noble companions, when we see their attachment, the love that they had for the Qur'an.

The Love of the Companions for the Qur'an

Abu Musa al-Ash'ari and the Prophet's Love for Listening to the Qur'an

Abu Musa al-Ash'ari رضي الله عنه, who was a very skilled, very talented qari — reciter of the Qur'an — one day was sitting in his home. He had a few people over, and he began reciting the Qur'an. More people joined; there was a whole group, and the house began to fill up. Lots of people came, listening to the recitation of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari رضي الله عنه.

News got to the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. Somebody came and informed him that Abu Musa al-Ash'ari is reciting the Qur'an in his house, and lots of people have gathered and they're all listening. So Nabi صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ said:

Is it possible that you can take me and give me a spot somewhere where the rest of them won't see me? Because naturally, Abu Musa رضي الله عنه would see the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, and while reciting he would feel shy — he would probably stop. The Nabi صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ wanted to listen to the Qur'an. He had, I'm sure, so many other things to do and to take care of. But he put all of that aside to come and listen to the recitation of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari رضي الله عنه.

So he came and sat in a place where the rest of them didn't know the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ was listening, and he was just enjoying the recitation. And then he said:

The voice of Abu Musa رضي الله عنه — the way he is reciting is so amazing — that Allah gave him the same vocal, the same tune that was given to Dawood عليه السلام.

Dawood عليه السلام, when he would recite the Zabur, when he would engage in the remembrance of Allah, Allah says:

The mountains would be affected; even the birds would be affected by the voice of Dawood عليه السلام. And Abu Musa رضي الله عنه had a very similar voice, a very similar tune with which he recited the Qur'an.

The Prophet Listens to Ibn Mas'ud Recite Surah An-Nisa

On another occasion, the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ called Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه, who is also a very well-known qari from amongst the Companions, and the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ said to him:

Oh Ibn Mas'ud, I want you to recite the Qur'an to me. So Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه felt shy, he felt embarrassed. Imagine your teacher tells you: can you recite the Qur'an to me?

He said:

Oh Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, how can I recite the Qur'an in front of you? The Qur'an was revealed to you — you should recite; how could I recite? The Nabi صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ said:

I love to hear the recitation of the Qur'an from others as well. So please, oh Ibn Mas'ud, can you recite the Qur'an to me?

So Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه started reciting from Surah An-Nisa. The huffadh would know — it's one of the most difficult surahs:

All these ayat are very challenging to recite. But Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه — his Qur'an was solid. He had no lack of confidence. He started from Surah An-Nisa and continued reciting. The Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ was enjoying his recitation — until he came to the verse:

When Allah is speaking about how Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ will have to testify against certain members of his ummah — people who didn't follow his way and example, who abandoned and forsook his sunnah — that the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ will have to testify against them on the Day of Qiyamah. That was extremely difficult for him to hear — that I am going to have to testify against members of my ummah, people whom I love so much. When he heard that verse, he said:

Oh Ibn Mas'ud, enough — stop now. Ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه said:

I looked up at the face of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ and he was in tears, he was crying so much. How am I going to testify against members of my own ummah? But the point I'm trying to drive here is — look at how the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ called Ibn Mas'ud specifically for this purpose: I want to listen to the Qur'an from you. So much love for the Book of Allah.

The Night in the Masjid: Certification from the Prophet

The same Ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه — there's another incident mentioned about him. On one occasion the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه and Umar رضي الله عنه were passing through the masjid at night, and Ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه was present there, engaged in salah and reciting the Qur'an. When the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ saw him reciting, he stopped and decided to listen. Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه had no idea that in the back, Nabi صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ was there, Abu Bakr was there, Umar was there, and they were all listening to his recitation.

He continued reciting, and the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ said quietly to Abu Bakr and Umar:

Whoever wants to recite the Qur'an as it was revealed — in the most perfect manner — then he should recite it just like how Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه is reciting. This is ijazah, this is certification directly from the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ for Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه.

After he completed his salah, Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه raised his hands and started making du'a to Allah. And the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ was silently saying:

Oh Ibn Mas'ud, continue making du'a, continue asking from Allah. Whatever you ask, Allah is going to give it to you.

In the morning, Umar رضي الله عنه said: I'm going to go and convey these glad tidings to Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه. Because he didn't know — as he was reciting, as he was making du'a, in the back was the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. So he went to the house of Abdullah ibn Mas'ud and said:

Oh Ibn Mas'ud, rejoice! Last night, when you were reciting Qur'an in the masjid, the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ was listening to you and he praised your recitation. And when you were making du'a, the Prophet was saying "sal tu'tah, sal tu'tah" — ask, ask, whatever you ask for you will be granted.

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه said: I appreciate it, thank you very much for informing me. But:

He preceded you. Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه already came and conveyed these glad tidings to me. When Umar رضي الله عنه heard this, he said:

Every time I try to outdo Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, he outdoes me. I just can't win against Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه. I thought I was going to be the first to come and convey these glad tidings to you, but Abu Bakr had already come and given you the good news.

Uthman ibn Affan and His Love for the Mus'haf

Uthman ibn Affan رضي الله عنه is another shining example of an individual who had so much love for the Book of Allah. He used to say:

I dislike that even a single day passes in my life when I don't open the Mus'haf and read from it.

When the rebels had surrounded his house towards the end of his life and they put him under a sort of house arrest — he wasn't allowed to come to perform his salah in the masjid, they cut off the water supply — he was going through great, great difficulty. Imagine: without food, without water, not being able to come out. What is a person supposed to do?

The night before he passed away, he saw the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ in a dream. The Prophet said: Oh Uthman, if you want, you can go and fight, and Allah will help you and grant you victory. Or if you want, you can have sabr, and then you can have iftar with me here in Jannah. Uthman said: I will have sabr and I will meet you today in Paradise.

And then the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ brought a bucket of water and said: Oh Uthman, drink. He drank. He said: drink again, drink again, drink again — until his thirst was quenched. And he woke up that morning fasting. It was that same day that he was martyred, the same day he passed away.

Nonetheless, that morning, when the rebels had surrounded his house and it was clear it was going to be his final day, he called for his Mus'haf. When it was brought, he opened it and started the recitation of the Qur'an from the beginning — until he reached the verse:

Towards the end of the first juz' — when Allah says that Allah will suffice you against them, Allah will take care of you. A very powerful ayah. When he was reciting this verse, that was the moment when the rebels broke into the house. وَالْعِيَاذُ بِاللَّهِ — they killed Uthman رضي الله عنه. According to the narration of Ibn Kathir, his blood fell and it actually stained that particular verse in the Qur'an.

SubhanAllah — right up until the end, engaged in the recitation of the Book of Allah. The same Uthman رضي الله عنه used to say:

If only your hearts were pure, you would never become tired of reciting the Book of Allah.

Our Goal: Cultivating Love for the Qur'an

My dear friends, this should be one of our goals as we inch towards the month of Ramadan — that we want to increase our love for the Book of Allah, for the Qur'an. Alhamdulillah, we have no shortage of huffadh. We have no shortage of youngsters who are memorizing the Qur'an. It is the desire of every parent that they want their children to be enrolled in the tahfidh program, that they want their children to memorize the Qur'an.

But together with this, we also need to instill within our hearts — and the hearts of our children — the love for the Qur'an. Otherwise, unfortunately, you see today many children who are memorizing the Qur'an, many youngsters who have memorized the Qur'an, who have no understanding of what is contained within the Qur'an. There's no love for the Qur'an.

That's why you see even huffadh today, unfortunately, some of whom are leaving the fold of Islam. Many examples of this are in front of our eyes. You have many huffadh who are completely and totally disconnected from the deen. There's no salah, there's no deen left in their lives. They've memorized the Qur'an, but they didn't internalize it. It was just done because they were forced to — their parents told them they had to, or their teachers told them they had to. It was just forced into them. And because there was no love for the Qur'an, later on it just created resentment in the heart.

My teachers always used to stress this point: whatever you are teaching children in the Qur'an, more important than their sabaq and their du'a and everything else, is that they have love for the Book of Allah. You have to instill that love for the Qur'an in their hearts. That will continue to keep them motivated. That will continue to keep them attached to the Qur'an. If that love is not there, then they will only read it so long as somebody is pushing them, so long as somebody is forcing them. The day that teacher is no longer there, the day the parent is no longer there to force them — then what is going to keep them connected to the Qur'an?

Two Practical Steps to Build Love for the Qur'an

So then the million dollar question is: how do we bring that love for the Qur'an in our hearts, and in the hearts of our children? I'll leave you with just two points.

Number one is to make du'a to Allah. Allah is the controller of the hearts. The Qur'an is the Book of Allah. So why not ask from Allah directly — O Allah, You put that love of the Qur'an in our hearts and in the hearts of our family, in the hearts of our children. Allah can do it. We just have to ask from Allah. So number one is to make du'a to Allah.

Number two is to make an effort to understand the meanings of the Qur'an. How many years have we been reciting Surah Al-Fatiha? How many years have we been reciting the last few surahs of the Qur'an — the Mu'awwidhatain, Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad, the last ten surahs, Juz' Amma? We've been reciting these surahs for many, many years — for some of us, perhaps many decades. But how much effort have we made to understand the deeper meanings of the Qur'an? To understand not just the translation, but the tafsir, the explanation of these verses?

When a person makes an effort to understand the meanings of the Qur'an, then very naturally he will fall in love with the Qur'an. Because he will be exposed to the beauty of the Qur'an. He will be exposed to the numerous, the infinite gems that are contained within the Qur'an. And he won't be able to stop himself — he won't be able to resist falling in love with the Book of Allah.

Alhamdulillah, in this masjid and in many other masjids, you will find weekly duroos, weekly halaqat of the tafsir of the Qur'an — the explanation of the Qur'an. This is something we should attach ourselves to, and attach our children to. Especially our younger children, those who are memorizing the Qur'an — bring them to gatherings like this, where they can gain some appreciation for the Qur'an. It's not just the words; it's not only reading and memorizing over and over again. Rather, there is so much for me to actually understand, to unpack, to appreciate from the Book of Allah.

May Allah fill our hearts with the love of the Qur'an, and fill the hearts of our children with the love of the Qur'an as well. Ameen, ya Rabbal Alameen.

رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا — wa akhiru da'wana alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alameen.

Announcements

Just a few announcements. The Jami'ah Masjid fundraising dinner will be taking place February 15th at 6pm at Shalimar Banquets. The brothers are also here at the back, so you can see them after the salah.

Some of the upcoming events:

— Laylatul Bara'ah (15th of Sha'ban) Program with Mufti Azimuddin Ahmed — this coming Monday, February 2nd after Salatul Isha.

— Fiqh of Fasting Workshop with Mufti Sa'ad Ra'oof — Friday, February 6th after Salatul Isha.

— Fiqh of Zakat Workshop with Mufti Minhajuddin Ahmed — Sunday, February 22nd after Salatul Duha.

Iftar sponsorship sign-ups are available at the office door in the lobby. You can sign up to take one night, two nights — whatever you're able to manage.

Weekly programs:
— Monday Compass Program — every Monday after Salatul Isha with Mufti Azimuddin Ahmed.
— Tuesday Night Tafsir: Reflect and Connect — with Mufti Minhajuddin Ahmed.
— Thursday Urdu Program on the Shama'il of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ — with Mu'allim Abd al-Basit.
— Weekly Team Fajr Program — every Saturday after Salatul Fajr, currently covering the lives of the Companions; breakfast is also provided.

The Tafhim Weekend Adult Classes started January 17th. There are multiple options available — online, on-site, and different tracks. You can view the flyers in the lobby or check the website for all options.

Sisters' part-time programs:
— Riyadh al-Saliheen Program — Wednesdays, 12–1pm.
— Part-time Hifz Program — Mondays to Fridays, 4 hours per week.
— Sisters' Urdu Tafsir — Wednesdays, 2–3pm (currently online).
— Sisters' Bi-weekly Sirah Series — taught by experienced female scholars.

Du'a Requests

We have a few du'a and shifa' requests:

— Brother Fawaz al-Hassan, who is currently in hospital — one of our students' relatives.
— Sister Khadija, who was diagnosed with blood cancer and has a surgery scheduled for Monday.
— Brother Haris, who had a cardiac arrest.

We make du'a that Allah grants all of them shifa'-e-kamilah, as well as all those who are sick in the Ummah of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. And those who have passed on — may Allah grant them all Jannatul Firdaus. Ameen, ya Rabbal Alameen.