شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ
“The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind, and as clear signs that show the right way and distinguish between right and wrong.” [Surah Al-Baqarah, v.185]
Reciting the Holy Qur’an is a specific act of worship in itself, regardless of whether the reader understands it. Even if the reader does not understand the Qur’an and is unable to ponder over the verses, they will still be entitled to all the virtues, spirituality, and nearness to Allah, The Most High.
Recitation of the Holy Qur’an was one of the four objectives of the prophetic missions—the other three being: Tazkiyah, Teaching of the Book and Wisdom.
هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولًا مِنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ
وَإِنْ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ
“He is the One who raised amidst the unlettered people a messenger from among themselves who recites to them His verses, purifies them, and teaches them the Book and the wisdom, while they were earlier in open error.” [Surah Al-Jumu’ah, v.2]
إِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ رَبَّ هَٰذِهِ الْبَلْدَةِ الَّذِي حَرَّمَهَا وَلَهُ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ.
وَأَنْ أَتْلُوَ الْقُرْآنَ
“I am but ordered to worship the Lord of this city, which is sanctified by Him. And to Him belongs everything, and I am ordered to be one of the Muslims (who submit themselves to Allah), and to recite the Qur’an….” [ Surah An-Naml, v91, 92]
اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ
“Recite (O Prophet) what is revealed to you of the Book” [Surah Al-‘Ankabut, v. 45]
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِنَّ هَذِهِ الْقُلُوبَ تَصْدَأُ كَمَا يَصْدَأُ الْحَدِيدُ إِذَا أَصَابَهُ الْمَاءُ . قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا جِلَاؤُهَا؟ قَالَ: كَثْرَةُ ذِكْرِ الْمَوْتِ وَتِلَاوَةِ الْقُرْآنِ.
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar رضى الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “These hearts be come rusty just as iron does when water gets to it.” On being asked what could clear them he replied, “A great amount of remembrance of death and recitation of the Qur’an.” [Mishkah, #2168]
The final divine book has a clear connection with the blessed month of Ramadhan. For this reason, many of the Faithful strive to recite this book from cover to cover multiple times in 29 or 30 days. Some family members will compete with each other and will exert themselves to surpass their spouse, sibling or cousin.
Below, I have compiled some etiquette of Tilawaah / Adaab Tilaawah. By adhering to these adaab, In Shaa Allah, we will be able to reap the maximum benefit of this great act of worship and increase our spirituality and nearness to the Divine.
- It is recommended to have wudu when reciting from memory and mandatory when touching the Mushaf.
- To cleanse one’s mouth with a Siwaak/Miswaak before commencing recitation.
- To recite the Holy Qur’an in a clean place, the best place is the masjid.
- To face the qiblah.
- To look into the mushaf and recite.
- To recite Ta’awuudh (seeking refuge in Allah from the devil) when beginning to recite.
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيم
- Ta’awuudh is to be followed by Tasmiyah (to say the name of Allah):
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
- To recite in a beautiful voice.
- To recite correctly and with proper pronunciation.
- To repeat the verses.
- To ponder on its meaning.
- To cry or act as if one is crying when reading the Holy Qur’an.
- Not to talk to anyone while reciting.
- To vision that Allah is speaking to me.
- Upon finishing, ask Allah for faith and assistance to live a life according to the Holy Qur’an.
By Mawlana Mushtaq Shaikh
References:
Al-Itqaan fi Uloom al-Qur’an, by Imam As-Suyuti
Etiquette with the Qur’an by Imam Al-Nawawi
Ramadhan aur Qur’an, Mawlana Muhammad Ilyas Ghuman