ETIQUETTE - class 5
Rights of Qur’an & the required Etiquette
QURAAN
Qur’aan is the greatest of the heavenly Books, the most complete, the most perfect and the last of them. Allaah commanded His Messenger Muhammad ﷺ to convey it to all of mankind, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O Messenger (Muhammad)! Proclaim (the Message) which has been sent down to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His Message. Allaah will protect you from mankind” [al-Maa'idah 5:67]
A Muslim believes in the sacredness of the Speech of Allah, as well as its honour and virtue that surpasses the speech of all others. He also believes that the Noble Qur'an is the Word of Allah, which no falsehood can approach, before it or behind it. Whoever speaks in accord with the Qur'an, has spoken the truth. Whoever judges according to it, has judged justly. Its devoted people are the people of Allah and His special people. Those who stick to it shall be successful and victorious. Those who turn away from it are the destroyed, the losers.
A Muslim's faith in the grandeur and greatness of the Book of Allah is increased by what has been stated about it by the one who received its revelation, the best of creation, our leader Muhammad bin 'Abdullah, Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who said:
“Read the Qur'an, for it shall come as an intercessor for its companion on the Day of Resurrection.” (Muslim)
"The best of you is he who learns the Qur'an and teaches Others.” (Al-Bukhari)
“The people of the Qur'an are Allah's people and His special servants.” (An-Nisa'i, Ibn Majah, and Al-Hakim with a Hasan chain)
So it is a must for us Muslims to know the Rights the Quran has on us and also the etiquette to recite it.
THE RIGHTS OF THE QURAN UPON THE BELIEVER
A source of guidance for humanity
It is the last of Allah's revelation conveyed to us through His final Messenger, Muhammad ﷺ. Muslims consider the commands and wisdom found in the Qur'an to be a constant guide for us in our daily lives.
In order to truly benefit from the Qur'an we have to be able to relate to the Qur'an in a practical way, every day of our lives. Great scholars of Islam have advised us to keep our relationship with the Qur'an effective by maintaining the following five responsibilities
Belief and Honor (Iman wa ta'zeem)
We regard the Qur'an as the words of Allah and believe it to be the best book of guidance for those who want to live righteous lives. We respect its message and honor it above all other books.
Reading and Recitation (tilawah wa tarteel)
Since the Qur'an was communicated to the Prophet ﷺ through Gabriel orally and the Prophet ﷺ in turn conveyed it to his companions orally we should learn to read the Qur'an properly and recite it correctly. There are great blessings (barakah) in reading the Qur'an in the correct manner.
Understanding and Reflecting (tafakkur wa tadabbur)
Many Muslims learn to read the Qur'an but few strive to understand its meaning. Since the Qur'an is mainly a book of guidance, we have a responsibility to understand its message and reflect on what it says.
Implementing the Guidelines (hukm wa iqamah)
One of the greatest duties we have is to live by the commands of Allah. The primary reason why Allah sent revelation was to guide human beings to be good and to be of benefit to the world, not to do wrong, nor to harm the world.
Conveying and Clarifying (tableegh wa tabyeen)
Each Muslim has the responsibility of conveying the message of Islam to others. If we believe in the Qur'an, respect the Qur'an, read it how it is supposed to be read, recite it properly, understand its message and live by its commands then our behavior will reflect the Qur'an. The Prophet's wife, 'Aishah was asked to describe the Prophet's conduct and she said: "his character is the Qur'an." This means that the Prophet ﷺ lived his life according to the message of the Qur'an. The best way to attract people to Islam is to live as good Muslims, to live like the Prophet ﷺ, to live according to the Qur'an.
Giving Priority to the Qur’an
Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 718H) said: “As for seeking to memorize the Qur’aan then this is to be given preference over many of the things that the people consider to be knowledge, but are -in reality – either totally useless, or having little benefit. It is also to be given precedence in learning especially by those who wish to acquire knowledge of the Deen, its principles and its particulars. Since what is prescribed for such a person at this time is that he should begin by memorizing the Qur’aan, as it is the foundation of the branches of knowledge of the deen. This is contrary to what is done by many of the people on innovation, in that one of them will preoccupy himself with superfluous parts of knowledge; such as kalaam (rhetorical speech) and argumentation; or very rare matters of differences; and blind following, which there is no need for; or very strange and rare ahaadeeth which are not established, nor of benefit; and many discussions do not establish proofs. And he abandons memorizing the Qur’aan which is more important than all of this.”
Seeking knowledge in due proportions
Allaah (`azza wa jall) said: “And it is a Qur’aan which We have divided into parts, in order that you may recite it to men at intervals. And We have sent it down in stages.”
The Prophet ﷺ said to `Abdullaah ibn `Amr ibn al-`Aas: “Read the Qur’aan in every month.” I said: I find that I have more strength than that. He ﷺ said: “Recite it in every twenty nights.” I said: I find that I have more strength than that. He ﷺ said: “Then recite it in every seven days and do not increase upon that.”
‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-’Aas also related from the Prophet ﷺ that he said: “He does not understand the Qur’aan who recites it in less than three days ”
ETIQUETTE WITH RECITING THE QURAN
When the person recites the Qur'an, he should adhere to the following manners:
1. He should recite it under the best circumstances, including being in a state of purity, facing the Qiblah and sitting in a respectable, honorable manner.
2. He should recite the Qur'an slowly and not be hasty in his recitation. He should not recite it in less than three nights. The Prophet ﷺ has said: “Whoever recites the Qur'an in less than three nights did not understand it” (The Four Sunan, and At-Tirmithi said it is Sahih)
3. He must have fear of Allah and humility while reciting the Qur'an. Allah Says in the Quran, “Those were they unto whom Allah bestowed His grace from among the Prophets, of the offspring of Adam, and of those whom We carried (in the ship) with Nooh, and of the offspring of Ibrahim and Israel, and from among those whom We guided and chose. When the Verses of the Most Gracious (Allah) were recited unto them, they fell down prostrate and weeping” [19:58]
It was narrated that Ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet ﷺ said to me: “Recite the Quran to me.” I said: “O Messenger of Allah, shall I recite it to you when it was revealed to you?” He ﷺ said: “I like to hear it from someone else.” So I recited Soorat al-Nisa’ to him, and when I reached this verse – “How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad) as a witness against these people?” [4:41] – he ﷺ said: “That is enough for now.” I turned to him and saw his eyes were streaming with tears. (Narrated by al-Bukhari andMuslim).
Weeping is the fruit of beneficial knowledge, as al-Qurtubi says in his commentary on the verse (interpretation of the meaning):
“And they fall down on their faces weeping” [17:109]
This is an eloquent description of them and praise for them. It is the duty of everyone who acquires knowledge to reach this level, so that when he hears the Quran he is filled with fear and humility. In Musnad al-Daarimi it is narrated from Abu Muhammad that al-Taymi said: Whoever is given knowledge and does not weep, he deserves not to have any knowledge, because Allah has described those who have knowledge; then he recited this verse.
We should know the greatness of the reward for weeping, especially when one is alone. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “A man who weeps for fear of Allah will not enter Hell until the milk goes back into the udder, and dust produced (when fighting) for the sake of Allah and the smoke of Hell will never coexist.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and al-Nasaa’i.
Also in the Hadeeth about the 7 under the Shade of Allah on the day of judgement amongst them is “a man who remembers Allah when he is alone and his eyes flow with tears”. May Allah make us one of those.
4. One should also beautify his voice while reading the Qur'an. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Beautify the Qur'an by your voices.” (Ahmad, Ibn Majah, An-Nasa'i and Al-Hakim who said it is Sahih)
Allah's Messenger ﷺ also said: “He is not one of us who does not make his voice beautiful with the Qur'an.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
5. Do not recite in an extremely loud or very low Voice. Keep your voice at a medium pitch. Allah ordains: “Be not loud voiced in thy prayer nor too low voiced but follow a way between”. (17 : 110)
6. He should recite in private if he fears that he would be reciting for show or reputation only or if he were to disturb those people who were praying. Allah's Messenger ﷺ said: “The one who recites the Qur'an aloud is like one who publicly gives charity.” (Ibn Katheer)
Although it is preferred to recite Quran in a clear (not too loud neither silent) and pleasant voice, but in public if one fears that his good recitation is becoming a means of Riya in him then the person should abstain from it.
7. A person should recite the Qur'an while thinking about and pondering over its meaning, with due respect and presence of mind, in order to understand its meaning and purport. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad to them): Believe in it (the Quran) or do not believe (in it). Verily, those who were given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them, fall down on their faces in humble prostration.
And they say: Glory be to our Lord! Truly, the Promise of our Lord must be fulfilled.
And they fall down on their faces weeping and it increases their humility”
[17:107-109]
8. A person should not be one who recites the Qur'an while he is heedless and going against what it says. In that case, he could be the cause for his own cursing by himself. For example, if he reads the verse: “No doubt! The curse of Allah is on the oppressors. “ (11:18) And: “Curse of Allah upon those who lie.” (3:61)
And he is a liar or a wrongdoer, then he is simply cursing himself.
9. A person should strive to have the characteristics that are descriptive of those who are Allah's people and His special people. Abdullah bin Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, once said,
"The reciter of the Qur'an must be known by his night while the people are sleeping, by his day while the people are not fasting, by his crying while the people are laughing, by his devotion and fear of Allah while the people are mingling, by his silence while the people are talking, by his humility while the people are boasting and by his grieving while the people are rejoicing."
TIPS FOR THE TEST
Memorize all the rights and Etiquette
Do not have to memorize the Ayahs, just get a good understanding about them.
ATTENDANCE/ASSIGNMENT
The marks for Attendance/Assignment will be given based on the below activities: -
Make Dua for yourself & the Ummah at atleast 5 different times that the Duas are accepted mentioned in the Etiquette Class of Week 4 - 5 Marks.
Inform at least 5 people about the times Duas are accepted - 5 Marks
Please continue to share the notes… JazakAllah Khair
May Allah help us all Learn the Good to apply it in our lives and the Evil to stay away from it InshaAllah!
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