by Ibrahim Anankachi Rasoolmohideen
Human beings are splendid creations, but their lives should have a purpose. A life without purpose will end in utter humiliation, so our goal in life should be to learn, follow, and propagate the noble Quran, a continuing miracle that Allah (swt) has promised to save for eternity. Alhamdulillah, the Quran will have relevance until the last day.
People have gravitated towards the Quran for the last fourteen centuries. They’ve received guidance from it and as a result have brought positive changes to the societies in which they’ve lived.
But the greatest contemporary miracle is that the Quran continues to surprise its faithful audience with new insights. People with a natural affinity towards the Quran should think more about it, asking themselves what drew them to the Quran in the first place.
Learn the Quran
Hadhrat Uthman (ra) narrates that Rasoolullah (saws) said: The best amongst you is he who learns the Quran and teaches it.
We should all take more time to learn. Teaching can be done in a short time, it only takes a few teachers to educate many learners, but learning a thing demands time and complete dedication.
We should put our earnest individual efforts into learning the Quran, making use of the different resources available online and in books. We should also be consulting those scholars who are far ahead of us on this path. We should take lessons from them, because endeavoring to learn should not be a self-styled program but rather a concerted, monitored effort. We should crosscheck our progress frequently with those who’ve traveled long on this path.
Taking Lessons from Scholars
The Quran, from its very first page, inspires us to pray and live as a community with deep, loving bonds. Our meager understanding should not make us think that we’ve spirituality mastered what the Quran teaches. We’ve no sooner skimmed the surface but Shaitan will make waswasa that we’ve mastered all wisdom and need study no more, so beware of falling victim to arrogance or complacency. Having a scholar mentor you in your studies can be a good preventative.
The teacher should be respected and held in high esteem. Prophet Moosa (saws) had to make considerable effort and give complete obedience in order to learn from Hadhrat Khizr: You will find me, if Allah Wills, patient, and I will not disobey you in any order. [Quran, 18:69]
The skins shiver therefrom of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts relax at the remembrance of Allah. [Quran, 39:23] There are people whose hearts receive messages from the Quran. They see the beauty of the Quran, feel its majesty, and are overwhelmed by its power. We should go to them and gain from their understanding; this will keep us on the right track. When we go to them for the sake of learning, Allah (swt) will be pleased with us in many ways.
The Quran primarily targets spiritual purification, and this doesn’t happen overnight— it can take a lifetime! We should be prepared to spend enough time and effort and to submit to our teachers. Learning and following go together; one can’t exist without the other.
Ibrahim Anankachi Rasoolmohideen is an IT professional working in Hyderabad, India. He translates articles and speeches from Tamil and Urdu to English to bring them to a wider audience, focusing on writings that bring social and religious awareness. He posts articles at www.muslim-tamil.blogspot.in.
Jazak Allah Khair for the insights! I really liked this article and benefitted from it.
Jazaka Allahu khairan brother. I live in the west and find it hard to find a scholar. Can you direct me in the direction I need to go to find a scholar. I do download and listen to lectures from various sheikhs and find it very helpful and it supports my desire for knowledge and how to propagate the deen which starts with me and having the correct information. Will the information I receive from several lecurers (Sheikh), i.e. muslimcentral, understandingquranacedamy, Youtube, suffice until I can sit with a scholar in my locaton if one can be located? I am presently unemployed and just relocated to my present residence in the West, so travelling is not a option at this present time. I have read that learning on my own, I might be learning from the shaitan. I truly thank Allah everyday, for chosing me for this great Ummah of the greatest man who ever lived Prophet Muhammad (saw). I am so happy that your story was posted since we are so close to Ramadan, Alhamdulilah, Subhana Allah, La illaha Illah, Allahu Akbar.
Please help
Aishah Foreman
I am in need of authentic information so that I may gain more knowledge, obedience, sabr, taqwa, khushoo, faith, love for Allah and his Messenger (saw), and trust. I know this sounds like a tall order but I am truly thirsty and hungry to become obedient to my creator, and have a more stable foundation. Amin
Salams sister Aishah,
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