The Art of Quranic Contemplation!

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Rafe Short
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1 #$%&' " ا The Art of Quranic Contemplation

2 Who will benefit from this booklet? ا'#.-', +*ه / '12 5 -رئ ' 89 #آن ا'< Kر و اHIJ #اح و ا' E9F و ا' D %ا>, و ا' AB -ة =>? :;&9< This booklet is for every reciter of the Quran who seeks from it the true life, the guidance, the knowledge, the comfort, the peace and the light

3 3 different types of Muslims (in relation to the Quran) ا' 8 #آن أ?, أKMال #$%R EQF? #AP? F #ض 5 -رئ $%ون 5 -رئ Those who recite and have the understanding of the Quran but without Tadabbur (contemplation). Hence, they don t * live* the Quran. Those who recite the Quran but without realizing its greatness and worth Those who have turned away and abandoned the Quran

4 اJ?,? T2Hت ا' EAQF ا' 8 #آن ' D *ا ا'&%$# و ا' XB ا' EDW V %م The problems of the ummah of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stem from the fact that they are away from the true understanding and true contemplation of the Quran#

5 Two Types of Understanding: ا' EDW VKI -ن The Understanding of the Quran with faith (in the heart) إ>;- YI ED" Y"#F? ED" The Understanding of the Quran with intellect,<-p The Goal و. 9A, The Means

6 Two types of Knowledge ا' E9F VKI -ن [9V ا' 9 \-ن "Y ا' 98 [ On the Tongue If the knowledge only reaches till the tongue (and doesn't t effect (reform) the heart), then this knowledge will be against the person on the Day of Judgment In the Heart This is the beneficial knowledge

7 اR _-ع ا' Ba -$, ا' EDW و ا' E9F "Y `D>?? %$ J We must follow the way of the Sahaba (Companions) in understanding and acquiring knowledge of the Quran. Their way of understanding and contemplating is in actuality - The Art of Tadabbur. # " ا'&%$#

8 The Art of Tadabbur consists of 5 stages " ا'&%$# #;<,\;b$?#ا 1M ا' e8a?c di-$ ا' 8 #آن YM %AW&\I ]&l I _%أ kal? kal ا 1fJ "Y hi -ب اI = ا' 8 #آن ا' 8 #ان 8I #ا ا' 8 #آن $-ي ا'& A\W # How do we benefit from the books of Tafseer? From which part of the Quran should we begin? How should we read the Quran? ]989' =jk? The certainty that the Quran gives us life The Quran addresses the heart

9 ef&\i ا>-ك و ا>-ك %_FI It is You we worship and You we ask for help (A Fatiha: verse 4)$

The 1 st stage: To have complete faith and certainty that the Quran gives

we are blind; The Quran is guidance and without it we are lost.

D &%ي و $%وI = p -ل ا' 8 #آن أV ;] YM?c? D &%ي ا' 8 #ان #a_? ا' 8 #ان c?

10 The 1 st stage: To have complete faith and certainty that the Quran gives life, and without it we are dead; The Quran gives insight and without it we are blind; The Quran is guidance and without it we are lost. ا/# 9M, و او'] :ا' e8a ا'&-م اdI?c $%وI =?_a# oa? و $%وI =? D &%ي و $%وI = p -ل ا' 8 #آن أV ;] YM?c? D &%ي ا' 8 #ان #a_? ا' 8 #ان c? YM ا' 8 #ان c? With the Quran, I am GUIDED With the Quran, I have INSIGHT With the Quran, I am ALIVE

11 ا' 8 #ان +K ا'#وح و $%وI = اoI oa? The Quran gives life and without it you are dead? ['-FR و 5 -ل أوAM <- اq روM - إ' da ا' KHرى: ٥٢ أ?# I - d'*l And thus We have revealed to you an inspiration of Our command. (42:52) #

12 ا' 8 #آن +K ا'< Kر و $%وI = اoI أV ;] The Quran is Light and without it you are blind ['-FR ا'<-س أ> D - اq 5 -ل $#+-ن? أwI '<- و رE2$ ->A_? Elء-j %5 ا' E2A KxxIرا ا'<\-ء: ١٧٤ O mankind, there has come to you a conclusive proof from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a clear light. (4:174) -<

13 The Quran is guidance and without it you are misguided ا' 8 #آن +K ا' D %ى و $%وI = p -ل ['-FR ا'<-س >-ا> D - اq 5 -ل رE2$ ا' XB ا+&%ى -DA9V ;" 1}<? -;I " 1p? Elء-j %5 و > D &%ي '<W\= ١٠٨::IK< -;I " Say, "O mankind, the truth has come to you from your Lord (10:108) 15

14 ا$*()'ن# The Clear Evidence (4:174) ا.#-,+# The Over Powering (5:148) ا$#"ى# The Guidance (7:152) ا #456$ The most High (43:4) ا'_# l, The Blessed (38:29) وKf "-ت ا' 8 #ان ا' E9F The Knowledge (2:120) The descriptions of the Quran (mentioned in the Quran) ا$( #2,3 The Mercy (16:89) ا$ 01 ر# The Light (4:174) ا' a %ق The Truth (39:33) ا' XB The Truth (35:31) ا' WH -ء The Cure (17:82) ا/ QVK, The Admonition (10:57)

15 #)B'CD The Clear Proofs (45:20) ا.?-"# Full of Majesty (85:21) ا$ A (@'ن# The Criterion (25:1) ا 6$ <><# The Mighty (41:41) وKf "-ت ا' 8 #آن ا$=(>;# The Most Honorable (56:77 The descriptions of the Quran (mentioned in the Quran) #;=EF Absolutely Clear (43:4) ا$: 89 (ة# The Reminder (77:49) #GCAF Detailed (41:3) KDغ# The Proclamation/ The Message (21:106) #H?I Amazing/ Full of Wonder (72:1) D -'ن و O *-'ن# Clear & explains clearly (16:89) #)<9N و )-LD Gives Glad tidings and warnings (41:4)

16 ا/# 9M, ا',AI- : ا 1fJ hi -ب "Y ا' 8 #آن اI = =jk? '989[ The 2nd Stage: The speech of the Quran is addressed to the Heart ا'<_ Y 9f] اq =A9V و.E9 : اJ و ان "Y ا' \%?{ƒ, اذا ob9f 9f ا' \% 9l= و اذا "\%ت "\% ا' \% 9l= اJ و +Y ا' 98 [ 5 -ل Surely there is in the body a small piece of flesh; if it is good, the whole body is good, and if it is corrupted, the whole body is corrupted, and that is surely the heart. Related by Imam Bukhārī in his sahih

17 ان ا'*ي ا/ b - [ +K ا' 98 [ >_e? How do we know that the Quran addresses the heart? ا' 8 #ان wiل اوJ 2R #ر 'W ا' 98 [ اEQV اˆ# ' 89 #ان اI ;- +K ا/ Ka8 د اEQVŠ? R%$# ا' 98 [ ا' 8 #ان "Y [9V ا' 98 [ Y" ا' 8 #ان ا' 98 [ '= The greatest goal of the Quran is to do Tadabbur (with the heart) The greatest impact of the Quran is on the heart The heart has been mentioned repeatedly in the Quran The Quran was revealed upon the heart

18 ا' 8 #ان wiل اوJ 9V] ا' 98 [ The Quran was revealed upon the heart اq 5 -ل ['-FR? d_95 [9V =$ اe?Š ا'#وح wiل ا' e/-f رب اI = و '&<w>1 '& K2 ن ا/<*ر> ا' FH #اء:- ١٩٤-١٩٢ And indeed, the Qur'an is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds. The Trustworthy Spirit (Jibreel) has brought it down Upon your heart, [O Muhammad] ( ) Another evidence is the incident of the opening of the Prophet s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) chest when he was only 4 years old. This happened as a preparation for his heart to receive and fully benefiting from the Quran.

19 'W 2R #ر ا' 98 [ "Y ا' 8 #ان The heart is repeatedly mentioned in the Quran. In the Quran, the words - ا' ŒWاد, refersا' ]98 ا' a %ر to the heart Y" ا' 8 #ان وWf - أر$ ef '989[ 40 descriptions of the heart in the Quran Examples of some descriptions: The heart has taqwa, the heart is guided, the heart has locks, the heart is blind, and sick etc

20 The greatest impact of the Quran is on the heart# اEQV اˆ# ' 89 #ان اI ;- +K "Y ا' 98 [ The Quran is the life of the heart. Without the Quran, the heart is hardened and dead, and is deprived from its light. اq 5 -ل ['-FR [9V >&%$#ون أ" T أD'-W5 - K95 ب ام ا' 8 #ان ٢٤:%;B? Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts? (47:24) ['-FR $ A <-ت آ>-ت اq 5 -ل ا' E9F اوKRا ا'*> ا' K_2>Fت ٤٩ "Y f %ور K+ 1$ Rather, the Qur'an is distinct verses [preserved] within the breasts of those who have been given knowledge. (29:49)

21 ا/ Ka8 د اEQVŠ? ا' 8 #ان R%$# ا' 98 [ '= The greatest goal of the Quran is to do Tadabbur (with the heart). This is the reason why the Quran was revealed. # آ>- R = أwI '<-ه l &-ب 5 -ل اq ['-FR?_-رك إ' da ' A %$#وا ص: ٢٩ (This is) a Book (the Quran) which We have sent down to you, fu$ of blessings that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember. (38:29) The Quran will not be blessed for the one who doesn t read it with Tadabbur. Our concern should NOT be to finish the whole Quran, but instead should be to do Tadabbur (Contemplate over it)

22 ا/# 9M, ا' -', : kal 8I #أ ا' 8 #ان 3 rd Stage: How should we read the Quran? اq 5 -ل ['-FR T<w>R 2? [9V [9V '& 8 #أه "# 5 <-ه 5 #آI - و ا'<-س wi '<-ه و ا.#اء: ١٠٦ And [it is] a Qur'an which We have separated [by intervals] that you might recite it to the people over a prolonged period. And We have sent it down progressively. (17:106)

23 ['-FR اq 5 -ل ['-FR اq 5 -ل =$ 1 F&' di-\' =$ J ا' 8 #ان ر 1R و TAR#R BR #ك ا' ١٦:,?-A8 ا/ 1?w :٤ Move not your tongue with it, [O Muhammad], to hasten with recitation of the Qur'an. (75:16) Or add to it, and recite the Qur'an with measured recitation. (73:4) Recite the Quran slowly in measured tones Do not be hasty when reading the Quran. Reflect and ponder upon on it Beautify your voice when reciting the Quran and read it with feelings. This is a tool to acquire the Art of Tadabbur

24 ا/# 9M, ا'#ا$ F, : $-ي ا' 8 #ان I _%أ 4 th Stage: Which section/juz of the Quran do we begin with? Important Rule: اJ >;-ن 5_1 ا' 8 #آن Learn the Faith before the Quran?- اJ >;-ن What is Faith? ا'_ F Faith in the Resurrection ='K.#$ Faith in His Messenger q-$ Faith in Allah

25 ا' <, X"->? =9i%< K+ 1$ اJ >;-ن $%ون 5 #اءة cw>< =_M-f و ا' 8 #اءة $%ون ا>;-ن =_M-f cw>< J To have faith (even without reading the Quran) may benefit the person and admit him to Paradise1 (1) However, reading the Quran without faith will not benefit the person. In fact, he will be considered a hypocrite 1 Footnote: This does not mean that one doesn t need to read the Quran. However, the statement simply shows the prime importance of learning and acquiring the faith

26 The sahaba learned the faith before they learned the Quran. And when they learned the Quran, this increased their faith. As a result, they had Light upon Light. KĨرK I [ 9 V ر (Nur:35) The First Light: Light of faith The Second Light: Light of the Quran

27 How do we learn the faith? =;9F&I kal ا'& #2W "Y اq ا>-ت ا/# A = ا'& #2W "Y اوا 1 -? wiل By reflecting upon the 1 st ayah that was revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) By reflecting upon the visible signs of Allah

28 Two different sequences of reading the Quran for Tadabbur: To follow the sequence of revela2on (i.e the order of the surahs revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) To begin with Juz al Mufassal

29 Why should we begin with Juz al Mufassal? ا/ 1aW $-' wء I _%أ /-ذا ا' EDW Y" أ>\# KD" E2B? > ƒ #س ا>;-ن l -' _-ل These verses are clear and easy to understand. They do not contain any differences of opinion These ayaat ingrain faith in the heart and make it grow and become firm like a mountain

30 ]&l? %AW&\I kal ا/# 9M, ا'#ا$ F, : ا'& A\W # 5 th Stage: How do we benefit from the books of Tafseer? Recommended books of Tafseer:

from your Creator طه Ta, Ha. 20:1

from your Creator طه Ta, Ha. 20:1 رسالة : ٢ إن ما أ ن ز ل الق ر آن ل سعادة اإلنسان رسائل رب انية MESSAGE 2: THE QURAN HAS BEEN REVEALED ONLY FOR Divine THE Messages HAPPINESS OF of HUMANITY nurturing from your Creator The way of the Quran