Allah, the Exalted, revealed the Quran, to be a beacon of light that cannot be extinguished. It is a methodology and way of life that is perfect in all respects. In it is strength that cannot be equaled or repelled. It is the foundation of Eemaan (Faith) and the spring of knowledge. Allah willed that the Quran be what quenches the thirst for knowledge. It is the delight of the people of wisdom. The Quran is the greatest cure for all ailments. It is Allah's Rope that cannot be severed. It is the Wise Reminder and the true Straight Path.

In the Quran are the parables of those who were before us, a prophesy of that which will be after us and a criterion to judge between us. It is Truth with certainty that was revealed to us. The one who lives according to its dictations will be rewarded. The one who judges according to it will be just. The one who calls to it is on the Straight Path. Allah raises and lowers people's status based on their adherence to it. The Quran, on the Day of Judgment, will intercede on behalf of those who recited it.

The Prophet Muhammad  said: "The one who reads a single letter from the Book of Allah will be rewarded with one good deed. (Know that) A good deed is multiplied ten times over. I do not say Alif Laam Meem is one letter. Verily, Alif is one letter, Laam is one letter, Meem is one letter." [At-Tirmithi]

The Book of Allah for the guidance of mankind is like the soul in relation to the body. Therefore, he who abandons its recitation and does not act in accordance to its laws is in a state of spiritual death. Allah Almighty Says (what means): "And is one who was dead and We gave him life and made for him light by which to walk among the people like one who is in darkness, never to emerge there from?" [Quran 6:122]


A person without Quran is like a person without water, air and medicine. Allah, the Most Exalted, Says (what means): "And We send down of the Quran, that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss." [Quran 17:82]

The Quran is a healing for the body and the soul. Whenever life becomes hard and complicated, the Light of the Quran will always brighten the way. It will be a source of solace and tranquility. It will be a defender to you when you are powerless and in need. When the Muslim recites the Quran, he will feel matchless tranquility in his heart and being. This causes him only to fear Allah alone.


Allah Almighty Says (what means): "Those to whom people [i.e. hypocrites] said, 'Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them.' But it [merely] increased them in faith, and they said, 'Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs.' So they returned with favor from Allah and bounty, no harm having touched them. And they pursued the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is the Possessor of great bounty. That is only Satan who frightens [you] of his supporters. So fear them not, but fear Me, if you are [indeed] believers." [Quran 3:173-175]

Sadly, many have not taken this Quran into consideration and have neglected its recitation and implementation. They sought the worldly life and neglected the Hereafter. Allah Says (what means): "And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah. They follow not except assumption, and they are not but falsifying." [Quran 6:116]

Tragically, there are those who recite the Quran in its entirety and finish with little more than with what they began with in terms of contemplation and action. Some are so concerned with how they sound, they beautify their voice without ever listening to what is being ordered or prohibited. Truly, there are many reciters of the Quran that the Quran is free from them and their evil. They recite the Quran and are oppressive to themselves and others by not following its orders or forbidding its prohibitions.

Nothing is more valuable to a Muslim in his worldly life and in the Hereafter than reciting the Quran and reflecting and trying to comprehend its meaning. In doing so, an individual will become acquainted with what is good and what is evil. He will see the effects of disobedience of Allah and its punishment in the parables of those who have come before us. An example of such a punishment is the flood that was sent upon the people of Nooh (Noah) may Allah exalt his mention and others similar to it. It is a source of inspiration and it strengthens one's belief in Allah. For this reason, Allah Says (what means): "…And when His (Allah's) verses (Quran) are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely." [Quran 8:2]


This Book was sent and revealed from above the seven Heavens so that it could be comprehended and implemented; it is not just to be recited while the heart is pre-occupied. Allah, Almighty, Says (what means):


"This is a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad, sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded." [Quran 38:29]

What has happened to our hearts? Why are our hearts locked out and unresponsive to the Quran? Why do the words of the Quran enter from one ear and exit from the other ear? Why have our hearts hardened? Let us comprehend the Quran and implement it in our lives. Let us be from those who implement the Quran in our days and recite it during our nights.

 

It is recommended for every believing man and woman to recite the Book of Allah, the Noble Quran, often, with due contemplation and understanding. This may be done by using a copy of the Quran or from one's memory. Allah - the Most High – Says (what means): "[This is] a blessed Book (the Quran) which We have revealed to you [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded." [Quran 38:29] And:

"Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allah (the Quran) and establish prayer and spend [in His cause] out of what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, [can] expect a transaction [i.e. profit] that will never perish. That He may give them in full their rewards and increase for them of His bounty. Indeed, He is Forgiving and Appreciative."[Quran 35:29-30]

The aforementioned recitation of the Quran includes both reciting and acting upon it (abiding by what Almighty Allah enjoins in it and refraining from what He forbids in it). The recitation is to be done with contemplation and understanding of it. Sincerity to Allah is a means of complying with and acting upon the Quran, and its recitation contains a great reward - as the Prophet  said: "Recite the Quran, for on the Day of Resurrection, it shall come as an intercessor for its companion (one who recites and complies by its teachings)." [Muslim]

The Prophet  also said: "The best of you is he who learns the Quran and teaches it."[Al-Bukhari]

Another narration states: "Whoever reads one letter of the Quran shall receive a good deed and ten good deeds similar to it. I do not say that Alif Laam Meem is one letter, but Alif is a letter, Laam is a letter and Meem is a letter." [At-Tirmithi]

The Prophet  said to Abdullaah Ibn 'Amr Ibn Al-`Aas, may Allah be pleased with him: "Complete the recitation of the Quran once a month." He ('Abdullaah) said: "I am able to do more than that, O Messenger of Allah." So he  said: "Then complete its recitation once in seven days." [Al-Bukhari]

The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, used to complete the entire Quran once every seven days.

So, it is recommended that the readers of the Quran increase their reading of it, with contemplation and understanding it, along with sincerity to Allah - with the purpose of learning and benefiting from it. They should read the entire Quran once a month. If, however, they are able to do more than this without any difficulty, then they should complete it in less than this time.

However, it is best not to complete it in less than three days, since this is the least amount of time that the Prophet  mentioned to 'Abdullaah Ibn `Amr Ibn Al-`Aas, may Allah be pleased with him. This is because if it is read in less than three days, the person becomes hasty and lacks thought and concentration while reading it.


Allah, the Most High, Says in the Glorious Quran (what means): "And the Messenger has said, “O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Quran as [a thing] abandoned." [Quran: 25: 30]

So, Allah Almighty informs us about His Messenger Muhammad  that he said: "My Lord my people have abandoned - acting or listening - to the Quran." and that is because the idol-worshippers did not pay attention nor listen to the Quran, as Allah Says (what means): "And those who disbelieve say, “Do not listen to this Quran and speak noisily during [the recitation of] it that perhaps you will overcome.” [Quran 41:26]

Thus, when the Quran was being read to them, they would deliberately make noise and futile speech so that they would not hear the Quran. However, this is from the ways of abandoning the Quran. Likewise, not having faith and trust in it is also from the ways of abandoning the Quran. Not pondering over it, nor trying to understand it, not acting by it, not obeying its orders and refraining from what it forbids, turning to something other than it - whether poetry, music, amusement, or other forms of vain speech and taking a path that is derived from other than the Quran are all from the ways of abandoning the Quran, of which we were strictly warned by Allah, the Most Exalted, and His Messenger .