The Quran is the Speech of Allah Almighty delivered to Muhammad, His Messenger, via Gabriel, the head of the angels. It was revealed over a period of twenty-three years and represents one of Allah Almighty’s attributes, Speech.
We aim to discuss what do Muslims believe about the Quran?, why is the Quran important to Muslims?, how does the Quran guide Muslims’ daily lives?, Why is the Quran sacred to Muslims?, How does the Quran help Muslims obey God?, and how do Muslims treat the Quran?
Here we will learn the following:
What Do Muslims Believe About the Quran
We, Muslims, believe that the Quran is a way to blessings and protection in this earthly life, a best friend in the afterlife (Barzakh), a rescue, a remedy and a guidance. We keep our tongues moist with the remembrance of Allah, and the Quran is the best way to achieve this.
1. Quran as a Blessing and Protector
The blessing and protection of the Quran should not be taken for granted. We are advised to utter our daily protection supplications and Verses to gain this divine protection. It is optional and not obligatory like the five prayers and other five pillars of Islam. Yet, who wants to miss this divine support?!
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever recites in the night the last two verses of the chapter of Surat al-Baqarah will be sufficed by them.”
[Al-Bukhari]
He (ﷺ) also said:
“No people gather to remember Allah Almighty but that the angels surround them, cover them with mercy, send tranquillity upon them, and mention them to Allah among those near to Him.”
[Muslim]
2. Quran as a Best Friend
Quran is the best friend in this earthy life and afterlife (Barzakh). Yet, this gift is granted only to those who are sincere in seeking its companionship.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:
“One who is skilled in the Quran is associated with the noble, upright recording angels; and he who falters when reciting the Quran and finds it difficult for him will have a double reward.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
3. Quran as a Rescue
The Quran can help you manage your feelings, purify your soul, make you recognize the reality of this life, and remind you of the Hereafter. It is a protection against the devil and his evil thoughts.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,
“Recite the Quran, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for its reciters.”
[Muslim]
4. Quran as a Remedy
The Quran is a remedy and cure for all physical and mental illnesses. If the sick person seeks treatment in the Quran in the proper manner as transmitted through the Sunnah, with sincerity, complete acceptance, and firm belief, the illness will never resist it.
Allah Almighty says: {And We send down of the Quran that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss.}
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite al-Mu‘awwidhat [Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas] and Al-Fatihah over himself and over any of his family during illness as a kind of Ruqyah.
5. Quran as a Book of Guidance
The Quran guides your soul, heart and body. It is not a Book sent to be read only but a lifestyle to be followed. If you are weak, you can seek strength through the Quran. If you are misguided, you can seek guidance from the Quran. It is a specific guidance and a general guidance to the pious and the entire humanity, respectively.
It was narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “I have left you with two matters which will never lead you astray, as long as you hold to them: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of his Prophet.”
[al-Muwaṭṭa’]
Why is the Quran Sacred to Muslims?
The sacredness of the Quran for Muslims came from its origin. Muslims do not believe that Muhammad wrote the Quran. Being the Speech of Allah Almighty delivered to Muhammad, His Messenger, via Gabriel, the head of the angels, it represents one of Allah Almighty’s attributes, Speech.
“This is the Book! There is no doubt about it—a guide for those mindful ˹of Allah˺”
The Quran is a sacred book for those who believe in the unseen.
It is not a book for mathematicians and scientists, but it is a guidance on a spiritual path, for those who have believed in the previous Revelations. Maurice Bucaille, a French doctor who converted to Islam, described the Quran as a book of religion not a book of science.
Why is the Quran Important to Muslims?
The Quran is important to Muslim beacuse it their sacred constitution, compass, a source of purification and a lifestlye. Through the Quran, the Speech of Allah, Muslims build a strong relationship with Allah Almighty by reflecting on His Words, following His commands and delivering His message.
1. The Quran is a Sacred Constitution for Muslims
The Quran and the Sunnah are the two primary sources of legislation in Islam. They are the inspiration and guidance for Muslims in their everyday lives. All Islamic legislations are derived from the Quran and Sunnah to form a sacred constitution, as Allah Almighty says:
“ Obey Allah and obey the Messenger…”
This constitution covers all the aspects of human life, including:
a. A guideline for a human’s relationship with Allah Almighty
It includes knowledge about Allah’s Attributes, and the unseen and draws a path to follow His commands and refrain from sins.
b. A guideline for a human’s relationship with himself
It raises awareness about human nature and the devil’s plots to persuade people to commit sins.
c. A guideline for a human’s relationship with others
It organizes people’s relationships through rulings of marriage and divorce and manages financial transactions through rulings of inheritance and purchasing.
2. The Quran is a Compass for Muslims
The Quran shapes our thoughts, ideas, speech and actions. humans were created to attain eternal life in the Hereafter. Every human lives in this earthly world to make it better by avoiding and combating corruption. Ultimately, he has to develop a hereafter-oriented thinking.
His perceptions, vision, and motivations should be oriented to the Hereafter. Allah Almighty says:
“And whoever turns a blind eye to the Reminder of the Most Compassionate, We place at the disposal of each a devilish one as their close associate,”
3. The Quran is a Source of Purification for Muslims
The Quran is a reminder for the pious and a warning for the sinful. Reciting the Quran is a way to gain a reward and purify your heart. The more you read the Quran and reflect on its Verses, the more your heart is purified and your soul is enlightened.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,
“Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah, he will receive one good deed as ten good deeds like it. I do not say that alif-lam-meem is one letter, but rather alif is a letter, lam is a letter, and meem is a letter.”
[Sunan At-Tirmidhi]
4. The Quran is a Lifestyle
Allah Almighty gives us a complete guide, through the Quran and Sunnah, for our major and minor issues. It includes the rulings on financial transactions, marriage and inheritance and even the rulings on body purification, etiquette of eating, bathroom etiquette beside other rulings. Thus, Quran for Muslims is a lifestyle, as The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:
“A believer who recites the Quran is like a citron whose fragrance is sweet and whose taste is sweet…”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
5. Believing in the Quran is among the six pillars of faith (Imaan)
The Belief in the Revealed Scriptures is one of the six pillars of faith in Islam. While Islam is the seal of all previous legislations, the Quran serves as the last sacred preserved Book and the Word of God on earth.
6. The Quran for Muslims is a Way to Renew their Prayer
One of my teachers told me that I could perfect my prayer (Salah) and reach tranquillity by reading different Ayat. One can reach this by regular memorization and revision of the Quran.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:
“There is no envy except in two cases: a man whom Allah has given this Book so he stands to recite it during the day and night, and a man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it during the day and night.”
[al-Bukhari]
How Does the Quran Guide Muslims’ Daily Lives?
The Quran guides Muslims to build a healthy lifestyle. It is a way to boost their skills, draw their character, purify their souls and build good habits.
1. Skills gained by befriending the Quran
Skills gained by befriending the Quran are consistency, time management, strong memorization and concentration. Through Quranic Memorization, one can gain and boost all these skills.
2. Drawing a Strong Character through the Quran
Through the Quran, one can reach a hereafter-oriented thinking. This can shape your ideas, choices and actions in life. This can strengthen your character. The Quran has this power because it includes facts about the Hereafter and introduces information about the unseen.
The Quran conveys informative stories of the Prophets and their manner of dealing with challenges, which serves as a lesson to place our trust solely in Allah.
3. Purifying Souls through the Quran
The Quran gives an awakened heart to its sincere seekers. This awakended heart helps the seekers purify their souls. The Quranic facts and morals can change the stone into a cloud. The power of the Speech of Allah can transfer a person from darkness into light and from the narrowness of the earth to the breadth of heaven.
3. Building Good Habits through the Quran
Every Muslim can build good habits by befriending the Quran in his daily life. Repeating daily supplications and recommended Quranic Surahs and Verses helps every person contemplate and remind himself of the reality of this earthly life and clarifies his purpose of life. Here are some recommended utterances classified by human’s daily routine.
a. Bedtime
It is recommended before bedtime to read Surat Al-Mulk. When getting ready for sleep, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would blow into his hands, recite the two chapters of Al-Mu’awidhaat (surat al-Falaq and surat an-Nas), and he would wipe his hands over his body.
b. After every prayer
After every prayer, it is recommended that some supplications be uttered.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) also said: “Whoever recites Ayat-ul-Kursi after every prescribed prayer, there will be nothing standing between him and entry into Paradise but his death.”
[al-Mu’jam al-Awsaṭ lil-Ṭabarānī 8068]
How Does the Quran Help Muslims Obey God?
Quran treats you as a human. It aims to change you and open your eyes towards the reality of life. One can be amazed by the steadfastness of some people in the Gaza strip during the war of 2023. The key is their companionship of the Quran, as most of them are Quran memorisers. They know the importance of the Quran and they are aware that it is their way to obey God. This is because the Quran contains morals,
1. Quranic Morals
Islam is not a religion of rituals only, but a lifestyle which should be applied in all aspects of our lives. Muslims are not allowed to pick up some rulings to follow. Yet, they are obliged to follow all the rulings and morals mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah. True belief is seen through deeds, as intentions are seen through deeds. Our actions and choices reflect our beliefs. Thus, it is not true to say that faith is inside my heart so I am free to do what I desire.
2. Quranic Facts and Stories
When you read the Quran, you will find a lot of stories about the previous nations and facts about the future. Through them, Muslims can reach a deep belief in the unseen through the Quranic Verses talking about Paradise and Hellfire for example.
A true believer sees what other people cannot see. All people are blind to the reality of this life except the one who chooses to befriend the Quran. This facts and stories motivate people to obey Allah to gain His reward in this earthly life and the Heareafter.
3. Divine Rulings
You are a different person by following the Quranic truths. Through the Quran, you believe that $1000 is more than $2000 gained from a usury transaction. Allah Almighty says:
“Allah has made interest fruitless and charity fruitful. And Allah does not like any ungrateful evildoer.”
You also believe that Allah is the All-Provider and that charity does not decrease wealth, as Allah Almighty says:
“Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Surely ˹it is˺ my Lord ˹Who˺ gives abundant or limited provisions to whoever He wills of His servants. And whatever you spend in charity, He will compensate ˹you˺ for it. For He is the Best Provider.”
How Do Muslims Treat the Quran?
For Muslims, the Quran is treated with immense respect because it is the inimitable speech of Allah Almighty sent down upon the heart of our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) , the seal of all prophets, by which worship is performed in reciting it, written down between the two covers conveyed to us through successions, and challenging with its shortest Surah.
1. Quranic Recitation is a Form of Worshipping
Reciting Quran is a form of worshipping. Any Muslim is rewarded for reciting the Quran if he followed the correct pronunciation and etiquette. Hanging up Quranic Verses for blessing is not appropriate.
In Islam, the form of worshipping in speaking about the Quran is through reading, reciting and listening to the Quran. Hanging it up or placing it on shelves or turning it into artwork and three-dimensional image is a bad innovation.
2. Muslims and the Quran: Guidance or Entertainment
Muslims seek the Quran for guidance and not for entertainment. Concentrating on the rhythm and intonation of the Quranic recitation and merging between the music and the Quran is forbidden.
The Quran is a book of guidance, so the listener to the Quran should reflect on the Quranic meanings. It is not appropriate to grasp people’s attention towards the Quran in a way that Allah detests. Allah Almighty says:
” Surely this Quran guides to what is most upright, and gives good news to the believers—who do good—that they will have a mighty reward.”
3. Muslims and their Regular Daily Quranic Portion
It is recommended to allocate time for Quran. It is better to read, memorize, revise, listen and reflect. This is a good way to befriend the Quran. Muslims use the Arabic word “Werd” to refer to their daily portion of Quran and Dhikr. In Arabic, “Werd” is used to describe a spring of water. This indicates that humans are thirsty and the Quran, which is the best Dhikr, is the water.
If your heart is not ready to receive the Quranic guidance, you won’t feel a change or taste the sweetnesٍs of the Quranic Verses. To have a ready heart and a concentrated mind, turn off your phones.
4. Muslims learn Arabic to understand the Quran
Quran is revealed in Arabic. Arabic also is the language of the paradise dwellers. Thus, it is recommended to be well-versed in Arabic language to strengthen our relationship with the Quran. Some Muslims also know the virtue of teaching others the Quran, as Our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:
“The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Conclusion
Without the Quran, humans are living in darkness. After discussing Muslims’ beliefs about the Quran, the importance of the Quran to Muslims, the Quranic guidance in Muslims’ daily lives, the sacredness of the Quran to Muslims, the Quranic path to help Muslims obey God, and Muslims’ hearts towards the Quran, I invite your to read the Quran as a whole unit and reflect on its chapters.
Check this link, if you need some tips on how to read the Quran if you are a non-Muslim. You can also read this article about some heart-touching Quranic verses. Quran is not a book sent to a certain group of people but to the whole world, yet to both the Jinns and humans.
May Allah write us among the Quran seekers. May Allah guide us in benefiting from the Quran. May Allah choose us to deliver His Speech to the whole world.
