In
the name of Allah
Why
do you recite the Qur’an?
What
is your intention when reading the Qur’an?
The
prophet (SallaAllahu
‘alayhi wasallam)
said, “Verily actions are but by intentions, and every person shall
have (be rewarded for) what they intended” [Reported in Bukhari &
Muslim]
Maximising
the intentions is the trade of the hearts of the sahabah (May
Allah be pleased with them)
and the scholars, and those who know Allah very well. They used to
carry out one action whilst having many intentions behind this
action, so that they are rewarded abundantly for every intention. It
is due to this that Ibn Kathir said, “The intention reaches further
than the action”.
Below
are some intentions that would maximise our reward if we have them
when reciting the Qur’an:
1.
For it to intercede for us on the day of judgement. The prophet
(SallaAllahu
‘alayhi wasallam)
said, “Recite the Qur’an for it will come as an intercessor for
its people on the day of judgement” [Reported in Muslim]
2.
So that we can increase in reward. Abdullah ibn Mas’ud narrated the
prophet (SallaAllahu
‘alayhi wasallam)
mentioned that “whoever recites one letter/word from the book of
Allah, then for him is a reward, and a reward is multiplied by ten”
[Reported in Tirmidhi]
3.
For it to fill our heart. The prophet (SallaAllahu
‘alayhi wasallam)
said, “The man who has nothing of the Qur’an inside him is like a
ruined house” [Reported in Tirmidhi]
4.
For us to memorize
and act
on every verse we recite so that we can ascend in Jannah. The prophet
(SallaAllahu
‘alayhi wasallam)
said, “It is said to the one who recites the Qur’an, recite and
ascend, and read like you used to read in the dunya, for your place
(in Jannah) is at the last verse you recite” [Reported in Abu
Dawud and Tirmidhi]
5.
For it to remove the illnesses from our hearts and cure our bodies,
and for mercy to envelope us. Allah says in Surah Al-Israa’
[17:82] {We send the Qur’an as healing and mercy for those who
believe}
6.
For it to give our hearts tranquility and peace. Allah says in Surah
Al-Ra’d [13:28] {Verily in the remembrance of Allah do the hearts
find rest}
7.
For it to give life to our hearts, light to our chest, and to remove
our anxieties and worries. The Qur’an is the spring of the
believer, as rainfall is the spring of the Earth. The prophet
(SallaAllahu
‘alayhi wasallam)
used to say in his Du’aa “..that you make the Qur’an the spring
of my heart, the light of my chest, the remover of my sorrow, and the
remover of my worries” [Reported in Ahmad]
8.
For it to guide us. Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah [2:2] {This book
of which there is no doubt, (is) guidance for the pious}. And in a
hadith Qudsi, Allah says, “Oh my slaves, you are all astray except
those whom I guide, so seek my guidance and I will guide you”
[Reported in Muslim]
9.
For us to die while reciting the Qur’an as Uthman (RadhiyAllahu
‘anhu)
became a martyr whilst reciting the Qur’an. Ibn Kathir said,
“Whoever lives upon something will die upon it, and whoever dies
upon something will be resurrected upon it”. He based this on the
verse in Surah Al-Jathiyah [45:21] {Do those who commit evil deeds
really think that We will deal with them in the same way as those who
believe and do righteous deeds, that they will be alike in their
living and their dying? How badly they judge!}
10.
For it to bring us closer to Allah by loving His words. The prophet
(SallaAllahu
‘alayhi wasallam)
said, “You are (on the day of judgement) with whom you love”
[Reported in Muslim]
11.
For it to increase our Iman. Allah says in Surah At-Tawbah [9:124]
{And when a surah is revealed, some of them ask “which of you did
this increase him in Iman?”. As for the ones who believe, it
increased them in Iman and they rejoice}
12.
So that we can increase in our knowledge of our Lord so that we can
increase in showing humility before Him and manifesting our need for
Him, so that we can rely on Him at all instances
13.
For it to be a reason for Allah to make us from His people. The
prophet (SallaAllahu
‘alayhi wasallam)
said, “Allah has His people (from the creation)”. The sahaba
asked, “Who are they?” He (SallaAllahu
‘alayhi wasallam)
replied, “They are the people of the Qur’an. They are Allah’s
people, and His close ones” [Declared Sahih by Al-Albanee]
14.
For you to fulfil the purpose of the revelation of the Qur’an by
contemplating on its verses and acting upon it. Allah says in Surah
Sad [38:29] {A blessed book we have revealed to you so that they may
ponder over its verses and so that it serves as a reminder for those
with a heart}
15.
From the greatest intentions that we can have and the most important
one is to intend this as an act of worship, as it was commanded and
legislated by Allah. Allah says in Surah Al-Muzzamil [73:4] {And
recite the Qur’an}
After
reading all of this, have you ever asked yourself what your intention
is when reading the Qur’an? And will you carry on constraining it
to just one intention only?
[Much
of this is a translation from an Arabic article]
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