Lesson 18 – Provisions For The Hereafter

Summary notes of a student

Session 18: 13/2/16

Part 1

 

Assalaamu alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu,

The Sheikh begins by praising Allah and sending blessings upon the final messenger Muhammad (s) (Khutbatul Haajah).

 

• The Sunnah of Rasulullah (s) is very rich with different etiquettes relating to the book of Allah.
• We should have a daily relationship with the Qur’an irrespective of our circumstance – whether we are a student, scholar, layman etc.
• The relationship should be based on listening, reading, memorizing, pondering and understanding the Qur’an.
• The extent of relationship depends on level of knowledge of sources of shariah.
• The basis of all sciences in Shariah is the book of Allah.

• Allah says: “Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an and indeed, We will be its guardian.” (15:7) The Qur’an is the most protected and authentic book ever to be revealed.
• “Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?” (47:24)
• Ibn Qayyim says that one way to abandon the Qur’an is to avoid pondering over the meanings of the ayahs.
• It is better to use the term ‘ayah’ than verse. The meaning of ‘ayah’ is ‘sign’ and is far deeper than verse.
• The Qur’an talks to us irrespective of our circumstances. It speaks to us. We could recite one ayah and it gives you certain lessons and feelings during ease or hardship.
• Allah says, “Or add to it, and recite the Qur’an with measured recitation.” (72:4) These are direct instructions regarding etiquettes of the Qur’an.

 

• Our Shariah teaches us well what, why and how.
• The Prophet (s) said: “The person who is excellent with the Qur’an this person is raised with the messengers, angels, those who are close to Allah and those who are obedient to Him.” Close here refers to place and position.
• “Verily the one who recites the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have TWICE that reward.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
• Reward is proportional to effort.

 

• How do we become better with the Qur’an?
• Learning about the etiquettes

 

Etiquettes of the Qur’an

 

1. Sincerity – the Qur’an and its recitation is Ibaadah. There are acts which are not acts of worship in of itself such as feeding ones family. However others are acts of worship in of itself, such as reciting Qur’an. The Qur’an will develop you based on the strength of your sincerity. This is because in everything you do in life, success is proportional to the strength of your sincerity. The Prophet (s) narrated in a hadith that the first person to be judged on DOJ is a man who was martyred, he will be brought forward and the blessings He ws given will be known to him, he will acknowledge them, then Allah will say… what did you do with these blessings? Note, how they are mentioned as ‘blessings’? This is because even our acts of worship are gifts from Allah. Only He grants us the tawfique to do it. So this person will say, “I strived in your path till I was martyred.” Allah will say, you are wrong! There is no better way to thank Allah than to make your purpose Allah. So why was this man wrong? Because he did it so people would say, he is a brave man or skilled man. Then Allah will command that this person is to be thrown into the hellfire. Another person is a man who learnt and taught the Qur’an, again he will acknowledge the blessings and asked about what he did with the blessings. The man will say, “I learnt the Qur’an and taught it.” Allah will says, “You have lied. Instead you learnt knowledge so people would say you are a scholar and you recited Qur’an so people would say you recited.”

 

2. Apply teachings of the Qur’an. Everything you learn from the Qur’an will be evidence for you or against you.

 

3. The easiest routine to lose in the routine of the Qur’an. Always keep consistent. Recite a little everyday and stick to it. Don’t let the push of shaytaan become stronger.

 

4. Contemplating over the Qur’an. Tadabbur (contemplation) comes after Tafseer. Tafseer comes with understanding the ayah. Hence it is important to have a teacher to teach you the knowledge.