The Best Way to Spend Ramadan

25/07/2011| IslamWeb

The blessed month of Ramadan reminds the believing Muslims of the importance of the Quran, with which Allah The Almighty has honored humanity by revealing it during this month. He, The Almighty, Says (what means): {“The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.”}[Quran 2: 185]

The best way to spend time during the month of the Quran, Ramadan, is to memorize, recite, practice and contemplate it, following the example of our role model, the Messenger of Allah,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ). Ibn‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that, “The Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) was the most generous of people and he used to be more generous during the month of Ramadan, when he used to meet Jibreel (Angel Gabriel, may Allah exalt his mention) and review the Quran with him. During this time, the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) was faster (in his generosity and bringing good) than a blowing wind”.  [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
 
This Hadeeth (narration) indicates that it is recommended to review the Quran and study it in the month of Ramadan, even gathering in groups to do so, and that it is recommended to repeatedly recite the Quran during the month of Ramadan.
 
Some of the Salaf (righteous predesessors  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  them) used to read the entire Quran in Ramadan every three nights, and some used to do it every seven nights, like Qataadah, may Allah be pleased with him; others used to finish it every ten nights. Ibn Rajab  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him said, "The Salaf used to recite the Quran in the month of Ramadan during prayer and other times; Qataadah used to teach the Quran in the month of Ramadan. Whenever Ramadan started, Az-Zuhri  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him used to say: ‘This is the month of reciting the Quran and giving food’.”
 
Benefits and blessings of the Quran
The Quran is the Word of Allah The Almighty that cannot be likened to any other words. It is protected from falsehood and corruption by Allah The Almighty Himself. It is written in a Preserved Book (Al Lawh Al Mahfooth). It is easy to learn and is often contemplated, memorized, and recited. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {“And We have indeed made the Quran easy to understand and remember, then is there any that will remember?”} [Quran 54: 17]
 
Among the special attributes of the Quran are:
  • It has been made easy to memorize and remember. Anyone can memorize it, be they young or old, Arabs or non-Arabs.
  • It is not boring to read or recite repeatedly and each time one reads it, it offers new insights.
  • Scholars can never have enough pondering over it, educating themselves from it and learning more of its meanings.
  • Neither humankind nor Jinn can produce a chapter that resembles it, because it is an eternal miracle and proof. 
 
Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {“[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.”}[Quran 38: 29]
 
The Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), said: "He who recites or reads a letter from the Book of Allah gets a reward and the reward is multiplied by ten. I don't mean ‘Alif Laam Meem’ is a letter, rather, Alif is a letter, laam is a letter and Meem is a letter.” [At-Tirmithi]
 
Allah The Almighty granted a special elevated position to those who memorize and work according to it. The Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention )  said: "The best amongst you are those who learn the Quran and teach it to others." [Al-Bukhari]. 
He,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), also said:
"The example of the believer who reads the Quran is like the "Utrujjah" (a type of fruit). It has a nice smell and a sweet taste. The example of the believer who does not read or recite the Quran is like a date, which has no smell but tastes sweet. The example of a hypocrite who reads the Quran is like the Rayhannah, it smells nice but it tastes bitter. The example of the hypocrite who does not read the Quran is like the Hanthalah (colocynth) which does not have any smell and it tastes bitter” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
We ask Allah The Almight to enable us to be included in the ranks of the people of the Quran, not just in Ramadan but all through our lives.

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