And the Messenger will say, ”O my Lord! Surely my people have treated this Quran as a forsaken thing (1)”.
Based on the verses of the Holy Quran, this is how the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HP) will complain to Allah (SWT) about his nation. Since the Holy Quran is the manifest of personal and social life for all Muslims at all times, ignoring and abandoning it is a great oppression, the consequences of which affects the entire Islamic nation.
Although paying attention to the Holy Quran is necessary at all times, it is more emphasized at specific occasions, among which is the Holy Month of Ramadan. Imam Baqir (PBUH) has said, ”Everything has a (period of) spring, and the spring of the Quran is the month of Ramadan (2)”. Therefore, it is important that we expand our relation with the Holy Quran and strengthen it during this month, so that we will remain committed to it during the rest of the year.
The beginning point of establishing this relation is the recitation of the Holy Quran. Many Hadiths have been narrated mentioning the reward of reciting the Holy Quran. But what is exceptional is that the reward for reciting one single verse of the Holy Quran in the month of Ramadan is equal to reciting the entire Quran in other times (3). In fact, this is one of the unique merits of the month of Ramadan which the other eleven months do not have; hence, we can say the Holy Quran and the month of Ramadan have an extensive, unbreakable relation.
The second step, which is more important than recitation of the verses, is to understand and comprehend the meanings of the verses of the Holy Quran. We need to realize what the Holy Quran says and what it asks. If a person understands the meaning of one verse by reading or attending lectures of teaching the Holy Quran, he would receive a great reward which is due to the knowledge he has gained about that verse. Once he has achieved this understanding of the verse, he has reached a level which is superior and more valuable than just reciting the Holy Quran. The reward for a person who recites the verses of the Holy Quran with reflection and comprehension in the month of Ramadan is undoubtedly greater than one who recites as much but without comprehension. Besides that, considering the atmosphere of this Holy month which is the spring of the Holy Quran, reflecting and comprehending the verses of the Holy Quran is extremely more valuable and beneficial.
The third level, which is higher than the two previous ones, is to act based on the Holy Quran; recognize its prohibitions and refrain from them, and fulfill its orders. Although the Holy Quran cannot be compared to anything, in order to make it more sensible, we can compare to a medical prescription. For example, imagine a person goes to a doctor and gets a prescription. The person takes the prescription to a drugstore. Now the question is that would reading the prescription, understanding it, and knowing the effects of the medicine be sufficient to cure the disease? The answer is that these steps are just preliminary actions; in order to cure the disease, one has to act according to the prescription of the doctor. The Holy Quran is similar; one has to fulfill its commands, refrain from its prohibitions, and act according to its guidelines in order to achieve salvation in this world and the Hereafter. Therefore, acting according to the Holy Quran and applying it comes after its recitation and comprehension. In fact, the importance of allying the Holy Quran has been emphasized in the Hadiths of the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT) over and over (4).
Now that the spring of the Holy Quran is upon us, it is a good opportunity to benefit from every moment of this holy month. Let us gain nearness to our Lord (SWT) in this month not only through recitation and understanding the Holy Quran, but also by having a firm intention to apply the teachings of the Holy Quran in our daily life.
(The above is a selection taken from “Ramadan and the Way of Worship”, two lectures by Ayatullah Sayyid Sadiq Shiraazi (with some additions))
The Roshd Website congratulates all Muslims, especially you dear friend, upon the arrival of the month of worship and the spring of the Holy Quran, the Month of Ramdan.
Footnotes:
1. The Holy Quran, (25:30
2. Usul Kaafi, vol. 2, p. 630- Amaali of Saduq, p. 115
3. Amaali of Saduq, p. 155, Uyun Akhbar al-Reza, chapter 28, Hadith no. 53
4. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) has said, ”Whoever recites the Holy Quran but does not apply it, Allah (SWT) will resurrect him blind on the Day of Judgment. So he will say, ‘O Lord! Why have You resurrected me blind, while I had sight in the world?’ Allah (SWT) will say, ‘How is it that you read my verses but you neglected them; so you shall be forgotten this day.” (Thawaab al-A’maal, p. 286). Or Amir al-Mu’minin (PBUH) has said, ”Fear Allah in respect of the Holy Quran, lest others should excel and surpass you in acting according to its orders.” (Nahj al-Balaghah, Letter 47)