From Heavens to Our Hands, How Quran Reached Us
And thus, We have sent to you O Muhammad a revelation, and a mercy of Our Command.
Revealed In Bits – This is How Quran Was Compiled
You knew not what the Book is, nor what is Faith. But We have made it (this Quran) a light wherewith We guide whosoever of Our slaves We will.
And verily, you O Muhammad are indeed guiding (humankind) to the Straight Path. (Quran 42:52)
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the final Messenger from God, received the Quran in two stages.
These perfect words of God were sent down to guide humankind out of the darkness and into the light; they are guidance and a mercy. The Quran – the words of God are perfect words, from a perfect God, to His Creation.
From the Heavens to the Earth
On the night known as the ‘Night of Decree’, in the Islamic month of Ramadan, the Quran descended, from the Preserved Tablet to the Lowest Heaven. It then descended from the heavens to the earth in small stages.
The revelation was delivered to Prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel. When Prophet Muhammad was around forty years of age he started to spend time in deep reflection.
According to his beloved wife Aisha:
The love of seclusion was bestowed upon him via vivid good dreams. (Al-Bukhari)
He would go to the cave known as Hira to worship the One God and contemplate life, the universe, and his place in the world.
One night during Ramadan an angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet, who was unable to read or write, replied:
‘I do not know how to read’.
The angel then held him forcibly and pressed his chest so hard that he could not bear the pressure. The angel then released Muhammad and asked him once more to read. Again he replied
But I do not know how to read.
The angel held him forcibly three times and Muhammad responded each time that he did not know how to read (or asked what shall I read). The angel then related to him the first words of Quran.
Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists). He has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who has taught by the pen, He has taught man that which he knew not. (96:1-5)
Was The Quran Revealed In 7 Different Ways?
After this first revelation, which Muhammad found frightening; he was not visited by the angel Gabriel again for an undetermined amount of time.
The next time he encountered him (the angel) he was walking alone. Prophet Muhammad heard a voice from the heavens. When he looked up he saw the angel sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth.
Muhammad was afraid and ran home seeking comfort and asking to be wrapped in blankets. The second revelation occurred at this time.
O you covered in garments arise and warn the people of a severe punishment… (74:1-5)
Revealed in Stages
Over the next 23 years until shortly before Prophet Muhammad’s death, the Quran was revealed in stages. Several reasons have been suggested for this. Some say that it was revealed slowly to offer Prophet Muhammad support and address issues as they arose.
Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, narrates that when asked about how the divine inspiration was revealed Prophet Muhammad replied:
Sometimes it is like the ringing of a bell, this form of inspiration is the hardest of all and then this state passes after I have grasped what is inspired. Sometimes the Angel comes in the form of a man and talks to me and I grasp whatever he says. (Al-Bukhari)
Ibn Abbas described Prophet Muhammad as bearing the revelation “with great trouble and moving his lips quickly”.
Preserved and Guarded
As the words of Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad he began to commit them to memory.
Memorization was considered important and was widely practiced even in the early years of Islam. Prophet Muhammad requested that his companions memorize Quran and used various measures to assure that the revelation was preserved in their memories.
6 Proofs that Muhammad Couldn't Have Authored the Quran
According to Ibn Ishaq, compiler of one of the first biographies of Prophet Muhammad, Abdullah ibn Mas’ud was the first man, after Muhammad, to recite the Quran publicly and on this occasion was severely beaten. Prophet Muhammad’s closest companion Abu Bakr was also known to recite Quran outside his home in Makkah.
Quran was memorized by the companions during Prophet Muhammad’s lifetime and this tradition has continued through the following generations.
Even today Muslims unable to read Arabic memorize the exact same words that were memorized by the Arabs of the 7th century CE. The majority of the Arabs were unlettered, including Prophet Muhammad; however the importance of the written word was well understood.
Preserving the divine revelation was paramount; therefore trustworthy and knowledgeable people memorized and wrote down the words of Quran.
These included the four men destined to follow Muhammad as leaders of the Muslim nation and a man named Zaid ibn Thabit, who would be instrumental in the preservation of Quran for the many generations to follow.
Writing materials were difficult to obtain and in these very early days portions of Quran were written onto animal skins, thin light colored stones, bones, and even bars.
The companions would write down the words of revelation and Prophet Muhammad would listen to the men recite from the written word to make sure there were no mistakes. It could be said that the Quran was written down under the direct supervision of Prophet Muhammad.
The Quran was not revealed in order, however the Angel Gabriel instructed Prophet Muhammad on how to compile the Quran in the divinely inspired correct sequence.
Source: Islam Religion.
Why Do You Read the Quran? Here Are Some Precautions
Khurram Murad
14 August, 2020
To attain a faithful relation with the Quran, you need to read it with no purpose other than to receive guidance from your Lord, to come nearer to Him, and to seek His good pleasure.
What you get from the Quran depends on what you come to it for. Your niyyah (intention and purpose) is crucial. Certainly the Quran has come to guide you, but you may also go astray by reading it should you approach it for impure purposes and wrong motives.
{Thereby He causes many to go astray, and thereby He guides many; but thereby He causes none to go astray save the iniquitous} (Al-Baqarah 2:26)
The Word of Allah
Quran: Definition and Relation to Previous Scriptures
The Quran is the word of Allah. Therefore, it requires as much exclusiveness of intention and purity of purpose as does worshiping and serving Him.
Do not read it merely for intellectual pursuit and pleasure; even though you must apply your intellect to the full to the task of understanding the Quran.
So many people spend a lifetime in studying the language, style, history, geography, law and ethics of the Quran, and yet their lives remain untouched by its message. The Quran frequently refers to people who have knowledge but do not derive benefit from it.
Seeking Support for Your Views?
📚 Read Also: 7 Ways to Enrich Your Life with the Quran
Nor should you come to the Quran with the fixed intention of finding support for your own views, notions and doctrines. For if you do, you may, then, hear an echo of your own voice in it, and not that of God.
It is this approach to the understanding and interpreting of the Quran that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has condemned: “Whoever interprets the Quran by his personal opinion shall take his place in the Fire.” (At-Tirmidhi)
Worldly Gains
7 Steps for an Interactive Quran Recitation
Nothing could be more unfortunate than to use the Quran to secure, for your own person, worldly things such as name, esteem, status, fame or money.
You may get them, but you will surely be bartering away a priceless treasure for nothing, indeed even incurring eternal loss and ruin.
Indeed, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said that one who learns, recites and teaches the Quran for worldly acclaim will be thrown into the Fire (Muslim).
You may also derive other lesser benefits, from the words of the Quran, such as the healing of bodily afflictions, psychological peace, and deliverance from poverty.
There is no bar to having these, but, again, they should not become the be all and end all that you seek from the Quran nor the goal of your niyyah.
For in achieving these you may lose a whole ocean that could have been yours.
Every Letter Counts
📚 Read Also: 9 Tips to Reap Utmost Benefits of the Quran
Reading every single letter of the Quran carries with it great rewards. Remain conscious of all the rewards, and make them an objective of your niyyah, for they will provide you with those strong incentives required to spend your life with the Quran.
But never forget that on understanding, absorbing and following the Quran you have been promised much larger rewards, in this-world and in the Hereafter. It is these which you must aim for.
Not only should your purpose be pure, but you should also, once you have the Quran with you—both the text and its living embodiment in the Sunnah—never go to any other source for guidance. For that would be like running after mirages. It would mean a lack of confidence, a denigration of the Quran. It would amount to divided loyalties.
Get Closer to Your Lord
Memorize or Understand the Quran?
Nothing brings you nearer to your Lord than the moments you spend with His words. For it is only in the Quran that you enjoy the unique blessing of hearing His ‘voice’ addressing you. So let an intense desire to come nearer to Allah be your one overwhelming motive while reading the Quran.
Finally, your niyyah should be directed to seeking only your Lord’s pleasure by devoting your heart, mind and time to the guidance that He has sent to you. That is what you barter when you surrender yourself to Allah: {And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah.} (Al-Baqarah 2:207)
Purpose and intentions are like the soul of a body, the inner capability of a seed. Many seeds look alike, but as they begin to grow and bear fruits, their differences become manifest. The purer and higher the motive, the greater the value and yield of your efforts are.
So always ask yourself: Why am I reading the Quran? Tell yourself constantly why you should. This may be the best way to ensure the purity and exclusiveness of purpose and intention.
Something as simple as taking a leisurely walk outside, for example, can be a form of worship if we do it in Allah’s name and if it is good according to Islam.
Exercise is a requirement in Islam because we have to protect the body that Allah gave us. The entire time we spend on our walk is now considered an act of worship because we did something good and we did it in Allah’s name.
If a person is interested in other activities, it is easy; find good activities that can be worship at the same time, so long as the good activity is done with the intention of pleasing Allah.
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Asalamu Alaikum Fatima,
Thank you for putting confidence in us to help you with your problem.
Decrease in our Level of Faith
It is common for all of us to go through times of what seems to be a decrease in our level of faith. You are not alone in feeling this way.
True believers always have this concern that they are not living up to Allah’s expectations. They always feel like there is room for improvement in their deeds and intentions.
Sometimes, they even feel that they may be becoming hypocrites because they know the importance of pure intentions and right actions in everything they do so that Allah will accept them and reward them.
It is obvious that you are feeling down at this point in your life, but you do not have to feel that way.
Your crying is proof of your strong faith!
If a person’s heart had truly dried up, do you think they would feel bad about it?
Does the person with a hard heart cry because of it? Crying because of a desire to be close to Allah and to have stronger faith is not something that they would be concerned about.
Crying for fear of having weak faith is actually the best sign that you have strong faith. These are some very good signs that your faith is strong.
The problem I see from what you have shared about your habits is that you may be overexposing yourself to the formal methods of worshiping Allah (prayer, Quran, and so on) and not spending enough time on other things in life that are also beneficial and enjoyable.
You are quite young to be spending most of your free time in the mosque. Although, I am not trying to discourage you from visiting the house of Allah, or attending classes. But there are other ways to worship Allah that may feel as rewarding as reading the Quran.
You mentioned your wish to be a strong person who is humble and always in worship. The way to do that is quite simple. Anything we do in this life can become an act of worship if we stick to two simple rules: it must be intended to please Allah and it must be a good action.
The Diversity of Islamic Worship
Something as simple as taking a leisurely walk outside, for example, can be a form of worship if we do it in Allah’s name and if it is good according to Islam.
Exercise is a requirement in Islam because we have to protect the body that Allah gave us. The entire time we spend on our walk is now considered an act of worship because we did something good and we did it in Allah’s name.
If a person is interested in other activities, it is easy; find good activities that can be worship at the same time, so long as the good activity is done with the intention of pleasing Allah.
If you can find and spend time laughing and sharing happiness with a good Muslim friend who has the same goals to be close to Allah, this can be an even greater way to enjoy life and worship Allah.
The Pillars of a House
Allah created us with many needs and interests. He has commanded us to do what is beneficial to us, and has forbidden us from what is harmful to us. Islam recognizes that all of His creation is good and there are only a few things that have been forbidden.
So, really there are many, many ways to worship Allah and do good deeds outside of the five pillars that we all know about. Prayer, fasting, zakah and Hajj are called pillars because they are the framework or supports of our lives as Muslims.
But we all know that a house has more than just pillars in it to make it livable and beautiful.
A house has walls, windows, doors, floors, furniture, decorations, etc. that make it an enjoyable place to live. If the house we live in only had pillars and a roof, what kind of house would it be?
If our life in Islam is only prayer, fasting, etc.; and we have no time for the other necessities of life, what kind of Islam would that be? Is that what Allah has commanded?
In the Quran, we find guidance in every aspect of life because there are many important things outside of formal worship that we need to dedicate our time and attention to.
How Can I Enjoy Worship?
Allah wants us to enjoy the life of this world as much as possible. But the only way to do that is to follow His guidance. He knows us better than we know ourselves and knows what in His creation will be good for us and what will be harmful.
That is why He sent Islam to mankind. Out of His infinite mercy; He shows us how to have the best of this life, the best of the Hereafter, and how to be saved from the Hellfire.
{And there are men who say: “Our Lord! give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.} (Al-Baqarah 2:201)
This verse in the Quran teaches us that there is much goodness in this world and it is for us to enjoy within the generous limits that Allah has set for us. He loves the believers and only wants them to be happy and successful in this life and the next.
It also teaches us one of the best supplications that we can make on a regular basis. If we are granted this request, the best of this life and the next, what more could a person ask for?
I hope this has been helpful to you. You are on the right track, sister Fatima. I think you just need to make that track a little wider so that you enjoy the journey a bit more. I ask Allah to give you strength and enjoyment.
