My Quran has been with me for the past 34 years. When I say “my” Quran, I mean the one I bought when I had completed my first recitation. I remember the day— I was so proud when I bought it from what was then one of the few halal shops in our area in the UK. I was twelve before I had finished reading it for the first time.
At times I thought I would never be able to finish it; at first I couldn’t recognise the letters, and then I couldn’t remember how to join them. I had to start off by trying to memorisie the ayahths (verses), which was hard for me, but slowly it began to make sense and I started recognising how to bring the words together.
My struggle took even longer because like most girls at that time I went to someone’s house to learn how to read Quran and for some reason unknown to me my teachers stopped being able to teach me. So you can understand why I thought I would never complete the Quran. I was on to my seventh teacher (may Allah swt give her much reward for her patience ameen) and alhamdulilah I finally completed my recitation.
My father (may Allah swt grant him Jannathul firdous ameen) sewed the green covering for my Quran that it wears to this day. My Quran went everywhere with me— it went with me when I got married and moved to every house that I moved to. Even when I went to stay in Pakistan with my family for two years in 2002 it went with me and when I came back I left many things there but my Quran came back with me.
For 32 years I kissed and opened my Quran from time to time and recited its ayaths (verses). For 32 years I thought that this was what the Quran was for, to recite and to gain the ajr. Like most non-Arab Muslims my concept of Quran was that I would not say wrong as inshAllah we do get the ajr for reading it. But I was confused, wrapped in darkness. Why darkness ? Because until you don’t see the light you don’t understand what darkness is. As Allah swt says in the Quran:
Alif, Lam, Ra. [This is] a Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that you might bring mankind out of darkness into the light by permission of their Lord – to the path of the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy. – Surah Al Ibrahim 14:1
Now you’re probably wondering why I said 32 years and not 34 but that’s just how long I had had my Quran. The answer is quite simply that I truly believe that Allah swt guided me in the year 2010. I truly believe HE swt brought me out of the darkness into the light. It was the blessed month of Ramadan, August 2010, and by chance my daughter mentioned something about a sister’s circle that was being held each Wednesday at one of the universities.
The teacher (may Allah swt grant her success in the dunya and akhira for all her efforts ameen) was going to do the explanation of the Quran in revelation order. For some reason I asked if anyone could go or if it was only open to university students. I was told anyone I could attend, so with my notebook and pencil in hand I went to the first lesson.
The first lesson explained how and when the Quran was first revealed, something I had vaguely known about, but now I could imagine that scene that took place inside the cave of Hira, the scene that brought us that very first revelation. When our teacher told us that Allah swt guides people to what they are seeking and that the very fact that we were sitting there listening to her was testimony to this, I couldn’t hold back my tears.
Around this time I had started watching a programme on Peace TV called “Understand Quran”. It was in Urdu, and although English was my first language I had a good understanding of Urdu, so I started watching it. I was amazed and shocked as it suddenly dawned on me that although I had read the Quran in Arabic many times, and had even read the English translation maybe once or twice, I had never understood it!
SubhanAllah! The more I watched Dr. Abdulazeez Abdulraheem (may Allah swt reward him and Peace TV for all their efforts) the more I realised that I had never reflected upon its verses because I hadn’t understood the Arabic language and had not bothered to read any translation alongside the Arabic.
Allah swt says in the Quran:
[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. Surah Sad 38:29
Where was my reflecting? Where was my understanding? How can a person be reminded if he or she doesn’t understand what they are being reminded of? So I watched those programmes and by the end I at least knew what I was reading in my Salah five times a day, things that had never occurred to me. By the end of the programme I knew more than I imagined in a short space of time. I now knew what the opening chapter of the Quran Surah Fatiha was telling me, this same Surah I had been reading in my Salah. I had never known that all along I had been asking Allah swt to guide me.
Once I knew what I was asking for, the words came from my heart and not just from my mouth. Doors began opening for me quickly when I started learning the meaning of the Quran in revelation order in the blessed month of Ramadan, August 2010.
In November 2010 Allah swt granted me the honour of performing the Haj. What more could a slave of Allah swt want?
So whoever Allah wants to guide – He expands his breast to [contain] Islam . . .
Surah Al Anam 6:125
SubhanAllah! very nicely put.
Very nice true story, it really opens new doors of thinking in me. InshaAllah I will also try to develop understanding of the Holy Quran and mould my life accordingly. May Allah Almighty guide all of us towards the righteous path and help us understanding and adopting the teachings of Quran and Sunnah.
Alhamdulillah! Very nice. I had almost same story..Alhamdulilah I was guided by Allah Swt as well in August 2010 too. May Allah help us all. Ameen.
Assalamu`alaykm
Subhannallah!
Another nice story to emphasise on what Allah SWT promised us all. We can feel the excitement and the passion behind the words… the sweetness within can never be experienced by others unless efforts are made and Allah SWT, being the As Shakoor and al Rahman & Al Raheem and al Waddud and… Allah is waiting for this effort from us to make us feel really good (which nobody can help us achieve except Allah) in this world and in the hereafter… insha Allah.
Jazak Allah Sister for the nice story. May we all meet in Jannah. ameen.
Assalamu alaikum,
May Allah reward profusely all those who are spreading the true message of the quran. Wonderful article. Knowing quran will channge our Lives.
Assalamu alaikum..
Jazakallah khairan sister for sharing the true inspiration lines…
Actually i came to know with this question many times..
i saw many peoples reading Quran but not undertsanding or not looking at transaltion of it..
If you had nice fruit in your hand and you dont taste ir or open it to taste how you knwo what is inside for you..?
Whenever i meet people i say the same thing read it with transaltion and understand it..
What a imapct it will make on your life..
Sister you once again pproved that Quran is not only for Ajr.. its for leadig our daily life and to succeed to Jannah…
keep motivating.. add us in your prayers..
wassalam,
Your Brother in Islam..
Ansar
Subhan Allah
We have all had similar experiences with Qur’an. Alhamdulillah.
Surely
So whoever Allah wants to guide – He expands his breast to [contain] Islam . . .
The difference I saw in Gulf countries and Asia is people in Arab countries treat Quran with less formalities and more practical approach whereas in Asia people out of respect to the Quran approach it at only selected times and it is not common to read it whenever they have some leisure time…. I saw Arab and African people take the Quran in hand even if 2 mins are left for salah and will read atleast some verses from it whereas Asians in general dont do it … Lets be more practical and approach the Quran more often…….May Allah make Quran the noor for leading our life day and night under its shade….Ameen.
May Allah increase our knowledge of the Quran.
Alhamdu lil Laah,
We are taking inspiration from these wonderful stories and in shaa Allah we will achieve our goals.Jazaa’ake Laahu khair Sister.I have set my goal to become a haafiz in the next three years.Hope you will emulate and also remember me in your prayers
Salaamalaykum!
Alhumdulillah! We are all being blessed by the hidayat of Allah (swt) – not only to recite our Holy Quran but also understand it and inshallah implement it. All thanks to Islamic Scholars and Teachers like Dr. Abdul Raheem and several authentic websites helping us to be guided by Allah (swt) on the straight path.
As kids from a typical muslim family from the sub-continent, we are being brought-up with an objective that one day in our life, we should finish Quran and ironically, there used to be celebrations among families and relatives for any child who completes reading Quran, irrespective of the number of months/years he must have taken to read Quran only once.
I am glad for the generation of today for there are so many sources for learning to read Quran, understand Quran and receive enlightenment to the truth of Islam.
We got the hidaya from Allah (swt) and we should maintain it and encourage others to recite and understand Quran and be guided.
JazakAllah khair
Laik
Assalamualeikum!
Reading Quran and understanding the meaning as you read the Glorious Quran makes you think and ponder on the words of Allah and surely, there are changes in people’s personalities for the better.Let us try to make people understand teh importanceof lrarning Quran with the meaning.
Very Respected Truthfull daughter,
As-Salamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,
When you have enjoyed understanding the speech of ALLAH AZ-ZAWWAJJAL, please keep on sharing it with every one you come in contact with. You assign not more than 5 minutes for this topic. Keep changing your topic. This is the very purpose of our living. We all beg, YA ALLAH, always YOU guide us, aameeen. Thank you very much. Uncle Ahsan.
Subhanallah,Mashallah
Very touching story, but you know a good teacher always makes a thirsty student benefits, specially the Qur’an . I started learning the Arabic languages with the 3 Medina’s book and CD’s, I’v been surfing the net to find always some Arabic courses, by the way I am a Muslim born from Senegal west Africa but didn’t have the chance to learn properly Arabic, so throughout my daily surfing I find this web Understand Qur’an and Salat the easy way I thing Dr Abdulazeez Abdoul Rahim he is so far the best teacher because for me teaching is the method use and well explain and you are doing all that well ,my Allah grant you health and long life Amine
Sister Salam to you,
this is great effort from your side i hope you continue your in the same wasy and please pray for us that ALLHA SWT bless us with same blessing. Ameen Suma Ameen.
regard
Shaukat
Subhanllah. True and natural story by our respected sister.I can serve a best and ideal example for all brothers and sisters.Everyone of us may follow this path and understand HOLY QURN. The only way for the success of UMMAH.jAZAKALLAH.
is it bida’ah to kiss the Holy Quran?
Thanks Nahid u gave us another turning moment to look back n analyze what “haq” we have paid to quran as asked by us ???…. may allah mould us to be true quran reader and follower ..aameen. i ve attended Dr. Abdul Aziz’s many lectures and realized that we all must incur true efforts to spread teachings of quran….aameen!!
excellent story of experience . now in swat mingora i will be in the position to know the hardships my students may face inthe light of your undergone hardships and the love of the Quraan al Aziz till the love of Allah Mawlana.
Subhan Allah,
Even am interested to learn quran in tat way n have a pleasure while reading n reciting the verses.
plz do remember me in yo duva. I should also get tat Hidayath from Allah (SWT) am very much behind in this plz do pray for that kind of Hidayah from Allah SWT to me. Ameen In Sha Allah.
Subhanallah!!!! that was amazzzing!!! May Allah help us all to understand really what His beautiful words are telling us. Ameen.
Ace article thanks a bunch!
inshallah Allah help us to understand Quran and read with tajweed
Inshaallah, Allah atuwezeshe kuisoma, kuelewa na kufanyia kazi