1. THE PURPOSE OF REVELATION
If you don’t understand Quran and keep on reading it, the very purpose of revelation is lost. Allah SWT says: “This is˺ a blessed Book which We have revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ so that they may contemplate its verses, and people of reason may be mindful”. [38:29]
How can we do that if we don’t understand the Quran! One cannot and does not carry translation always, especially while listening to it in the prayer/salah!
2. THE GARDEN OF MIND
The mind is like a garden. If we don’t sow flowers, weeds will grow. Even if we sow flowers, weeds will still grow. We will need to remove the weeds continuously.
Flowers are the Guidance and the weeds are satanic thoughts. Allah SWT sows flower seeds into our brain every time we listen to Quran, especially in the prayer/salah. If we don’t water them (ponder), they will be wasted and weeds may grow.
3. THE OBJECTIVES OF RECITATION
There are 5 objectives of Reading Quran:
to receive rewards from Allah;
to gain knowledge;
to take action based on what Allah SWT is asking us to do;
to cure our heart and mind; and
to talk to Allah SWT!
How can we achieve all of these, especially the last four, if we don’t understand the Quran?
4. THE CLEANING OF HEART
People know that Fajr is compulsory but very few come to Masjid. Why? Not because they don’t know but because their hearts are rusted. We have a major misconception that Quran is a book of commandments only. The verses that deal with commandments constitute less than 10% of the total verses. The rest 90% is for the heart and mind. The heart keeps rusting and deviating because of sins. We need de-rusting and re-alignment.
Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) was asked not to go near the tree. Allah says: “but he forgot; and We did not find in him any determination”. We humans have these weaknesses. We have several Fitnahs (trials) surrounding us. We need continuous reminders and warnings which come to us only through daily recitation and listening to the Quran. Allah says about the Quran: “a healing for the (diseases) in your hearts” [10:57]. Can there be a better cure than what Allah has prescribed for us?
5. THE STRENGTHENING OF HEART
The Quran was revealed to the prophet (ﷺ) in pieces. “And those who disbelieve say: Why has not the Quran been revealed to him all at once?” Thus, that We may strengthen your heart by it and We have arranged it well in arranging. [25:32]. Heart should be firm in belief to His promises and warnings. Continuous pondering of the Quran everyday during and after Salahs helps us strengthen our hearts.
6. DAILY ‘TALK’ (MUNAJAAT) WITH ALLAH SWT
Prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) used to interact with the recitation. “And when he recited the Verses which referred to the Glory of Allah, he glorified Him, the Great, and when he recited the Verses that mention supplication, he supplicated, and when he recited the Verses that mention seeking Refuge of the Rabb, he sought (His) Refuge”. [Sahih Muslim].
Can we live without talking at least five minutes every day to our near and dear ones? Allah is most beloved to us. He loves us more than seventy times that of our mothers. Still we live without bothering as to what Allah SWT said today to us during prayer/salah!
7. LIVE GUIDANCE
Whatever we read or listen to the Quran, remember that it is a live guidance from Allah SWT to each individual when he or she listens to Quran. It is a huge loss only if one cannot appreciates the value of live guidance from Allah, our own Creator. A wise man can never neglect this.
8. RELATIONSHIP WITH ALLAH SWT
There are different dimensions to the relationship with Allah – His Love, Sincerity, Trust in Him, Remembering Him directly and whenever we see His signs in creation, Pondering His creation and in His names, not complaining of Qada, etc. This relationship is strengthened over time. It requires slow and steady cooking with regular heat coming from Quran.
9. QURANIC CHARACTER
According to Aisha (R), “His (the Prophet ﷺ) morals were the Quran”. The Quran is theory and the Prophet’s life was practical demonstration of that theory (thee Quran). We need to study the Seerah of the Prophet (ﷺ) and keep relating the verses that we study to his life. This is a project in itself and requires one to ponder the verses every day along with the Seerah of the Prophet (ﷺ).
10. QURANIC VISION
As a patient starts describing his problems, the doctor’s mind starts working on diagnosis and comes up with the relevant medicines. Similary, we come across many situations in our life. We should be able to see solutions in the Quran corresponding to these situations. Only through continuous pondering and relating it to the daily life, one can attain this vision.