The importance of Quran

Allah says in Quran:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُمْ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا هُوَ خَيْرٌمِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ

“O People, there had come to you a warning from your Lord, a cure for what is in the hearts and minds, a guidance and a mercy for the believers. Say: ‘Only by the bounty of Allah and His grace.’ Therefore for this, let them rejoice. It (The Quran) is better than all that they amass.” (Quran: 10:57-58)

It is clear from these verses that the greatest gift of Allah is the Quran. It then becomes imperative upon us that we read the Quran, listen to it being read, study it, ponder upon it, learn the lessons and verdicts from it and attempt with the help of Allah to live according to it and pass it on to others.

THE VIRTUES OF MEMORIZING QUR’AN 

It is our duty towards the Book of Allah that we should memorize it properly, accept and follow its guidance, and make it the constitution of our lives, the light of our hearts, the comfort of our souls. Hopefully these points will form a good foundation for those who sincerely want to memorize the Book of Allah properly:

1.     The status of the one who memorizes Qur’an will be commensurate with the last ayah he memorized. It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “It will be said to the companion of the Qur’an (i.e., the one who memorized and studied it): ‘Read, advance in status and recite as you used to do in the world, for your status will be commensurate with the last ayah that you recite.’” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2914; he said this is a Saheeh Hasan Hadeeth. Al-Albaani said in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, no. 2329, it is Hasan Saheeh. Also narrated by Abu Dawood, 1464). What is meant by reciting here is memorizing.

2.     He will be with the angels, accompanying them. It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The one who recites the Qur’an and learns it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven) and the one who exerts himself to learn the Qur’an by heart and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4653; Muslim, 798).

3.     He will be given a crown of honor and a garment of honor to wear. It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The Qur’an will come on the Day of Resurrection and will say, ‘O Lord, adorn him.’ So he will be given a crown of honor to wear. Then it will say, ‘O Lord, give him more.’ So he will be given a garment of honor.’ Then it will say, ‘O Lord, be pleased with him.’ So Allah will be pleased with him. Then it will be said to him, ‘Recite and advance in status, and for each verse you will gain one more Hasanah (reward for good deed).” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2915. He said, this is a Saheeh Hasan Hadeeth. Al-Albaani said in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 2328, this is Hasan).

4.     The Qur’an will intercede for him with his Lord. It was narrated that Abu Umaamah al-Baahili said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say, ‘Recite the Qur’an, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection to intercede for its companions. Recite the two bright ones, al-Baqarah and Soorat Aal ‘Imraan, for they will come on the Day of Resurrection like two clouds or two shades or two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading for those who recite them. Recite Soorat al-Baqarah for to take recourse to it is a blessing and to give it up is a cause of grief, and the magicians cannot confront it” (Narrated by Muslim, 804, and by al-Bukhaari in a mu’allaq report).

5.     With regard to his relatives and descendents, there is evidence concerning his parents that they will be clothed with garments which far surpass everything to be found in this world, and that will only be because they took care of and taught their child. Even if they themselves were ignorant, Allah will honor them because of their child. But the one who prevented his child from learning the Qur’an; he will be one of those who are deprived. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘The Qur’an will come on the Day of Resurrection like a pale man saying to its companion, “Do you recognize me? I am the one who made you stay up at night and made you thirsty during the day…” Then he will be given dominion in his right hand and eternity in his left and a crown of dignity will be placed upon his head, and his parents will be clothed with garments which far surpass everything to be found in this world. They will say, “O Lord, how did we earn this.” It will be said to them, “Because you taught your child the Qur’an.”’” (Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Awsat, 6/51). It was narrated that Buraydah said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘Whoever reads the Qur’an, learns it and acts in accordance with it, on the Day of Resurrection his parents will be given a crown to wear whose light will be like the light of the sun, and his parents will be given garments which far surpass everything to be found in this world. They will say, “Why have we been given this to wear?” It will be said, “Because your child learned the Qur’an.”’” (Narrated by al-Haakim, 1/756), these two hadeeth support one another. See al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 2829.