Conditions You Must Meet to Benefit from the Qur’an

اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُّتَشَابِهًا مَّثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ

“Allah has sent down the best statement, a Book (this Qur’an), its parts resembling each other in goodness and truth, oft-repeated. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it (when they recite it or hear it). Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah. He Guides therewith whom He pleases and whomever Allah sends astray, for him there is no guide. [Soorah Az-Zumar, v: 23]

Al-Hasan Al-Basree said: "O son of Aadam, how is your heart ever going to be softened by the recitation of Qur’an when all you read for is to reach the end of the soorah"

If you want to benefit from the Qur’an:

1.You must concentrate and devote your heart solely when reciting and listening to it.

2.You must pay attention, and try to comprehend the fact that what you are reading is the word of Allah.

3.  As you read you must know that Allah is addressing you in and through His Qur’an. Indeed it is the words of Allah to you through the tongue of His Messenger صلّی اللہ علیه وسلّم

Allah says:

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِمَن كَانَ لَهُ قَلْبٌ أَوْ أَلْقَى السَّمْعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ

which means: “Verily, therein is a reminder for him who has a heart and gives ear while he is heedful.” [soorah Qaf, v:37]

Obtaining the perfect effect depends upon the stimulus, the place of the receiver, the condition for the effect to occur, and the absence of any obstacle that may obstruct the effect. The above verse explains all that in the most precise and clear words.

Allah says, which means: “Verily, therein is a reminder” it is a sign for what has passed from the beginning of the chapter until this verse.

His saying, “for him who has a heart” refers to the place of the receiver and it means the living heart, which comprehends what Allah says.

For example when Allah says:

إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ وَقُرْآنٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٦٩﴾ لِّيُنذِرَ مَن كَانَ حَيًّا

which means: “This is only a Reminder and a Plain Qur’an . That he or it (Muhammed salallaahu alayhi wasalam or the Qur’an) may give warning to him who is living ( a healthy minded believer.)”[soorah Yaa-seen, v:69-70]

“who is living” means the one who has a living heart.

And when Allah says, which means,“and gives ear” means the person listens to what is being said to him.

And this is the condition to be truly affected by the words.

And His saying “while he is heedful” means to be aware; that his heart is conscious and not distracted by any worldly matter.

Ibn Qutaibah said, “He is listening to the Book of Allah while his heart is present and understands; not being inattentive or unaware. If the heart is inattentive; lacking understanding concerning what is being said, as well as failing to see or meditate on it, then there is an obstruction. If however, the Qur’an produced an effect on the receiver, which is the living heart and the condition of listening was fulfilled, and the heart is not engaged with something other than the meaning of the speech, the desired effect will occur, which is obtaining benefit from the Qur’an and remembrance.”

by Ibn al Qayyim.

Al- Fawaid – A collection of wise sayings