OBLIGATIONS TO QUR’AAN

1) To believe that Qur’aan is an oration of Allah (swt)

2) To regularly recite Qur’aan (with slow thoughtful & correct pronunciation)
3) To understand the Qur’aan
4) To act upon the Guidance of Qur’aan
5) To convey the Message of Qur’aan

Importance of the Subject

“Indeed! This (the Qur’aan) is the decisive Word and it is not something purposeless.”
(At’taariq-86: 13, 14)
For Muslims to stand high in this world and be successful in hereafter is
dependent upon fulfilling the obligation to Qur’aan.
Glory in this World:
Saying of the Prophet (saw) : “Verily! Allah (swt) will glorify nations if they abided by the
Book and disgrace them on account of avoiding it.” (Muslim)
Success in hereafter:
Saying of the Prophet (saw) “Qur’aan will be an argument in your favor or plead against you in
hereafter.” (Muslim)
1st Obligation:
To believe that Qur’aan is an oration of Allah (swt)
There are two aspects of belief:

i. Verbal Affirmation: This is a word of God, descended on the last of the

prophets (saw) through Hazrat Jibraeel (as).

ii. Heart felt Testification: Testification with the heart that Qur’aan is an
oration of Allah (swt), (the King of the kings) and he brought it down on the Prophet
(saw). Instead of taking Qur’aan as a sacred book or an ancestral dogma, we should
have firm conviction that Qur’aan is a divine book of guidance which relates to all
spheres of daily life.
 The Practical portrayal of Heart felt belief: The Prophet (saw) and his
companions had deep love with Qur’aan. The Holy Prophet (saw) used to recite lengthy Surahs
of Qur’aan during the midnight prayers. His companions would try to complete the recitation of
whole Qur’aan within three days, so that Prophet (saw) had to stop them from doing so. He
(saw) advised them to complete the recitation of Qur’aan in a week.
 Glimpse of our situation:
1. A big majority of us, does not even read Qur’aan.
2. Most of the readers just read it with the intention to seek benevolence or reward,
without exactly paying attention to its message.
3. Guidance cannot be obtained without understanding the Qur’aan.
 4. We are ready to invest our time and money in acquiring other sciences, when it comes
to Qur’aan our unwillingness is very obvious.
 How to attain heartfelt conviction:
1. Company of believers.
2. Pondering over the Qur’aan as a seeker of guidance.

 The extract of heartfelt conviction: The sign of heartfelt conviction is, when we
begin to have the notion that nothing is more valuable than Qur’aan between earth and the sky.
This belief forms the basis of fulfilling other obligations to Qur’aan. Now learning, teaching,
conveying its message and acting upon its guidance will become the greatest honor for us.

2nd Obligation:
To regularly recite Qur’aan
 When heartfelt conviction permeates deeply, one starts valuing the Qur’aan in its
utmost. Now the process of regular reading and recitation is initiated; about which Qur’aan
says:
“Those to whom we have delivered the book, recite it as it ought to be recited.
They are those who believe in the Book.” (Albaqarah: 121)
 For reciting the holy book term ‘Tilaawat’ is used. Tilaawat refers to, following
something out of reverence; hence it means to read with the same intention.
 A regular ‘tilaawat’ of Qur’aan is necessary because:
• It nurtures our ‘Eemaan’ (heartfelt conviction)
• It satisfies the need of our soul. Our soul needs nourishment just like our earthly
body. All the needs of earthly body are fulfilled from earth. Soul is the spirit of Allah
and satisfaction of its need comes from Allah i.e., Qur’aan.
• Tilaawat of Qur’aan leans on during hard times and is effective for the contentment
of heart.
“Be notified! Hearts attain contentment only through the remembrance of Allah
(swt)” (ArRaad: 13: 28)
The biggest mode of remembrance of Allah is Qur’aan.
Some important considerations for ‘Tilaawat’ of Qur’aan:
i. Correct Pronunciation (Tajweed):
It means knowing the Arabic words with their actual phonetic sounds, uttering them properly
and to be aware of the basic rules of recitation.
ii. Apparent Etiquettes:
A prior ablution, dressed in clean & ‘Pak’ clothes, sitting at a clean spot, facing towards Qibla,
and to initiate recitation with:
• Ta’awwuz: “I seek refuge of Allah (swt) from the Satan, the rejected and stoned one.”
• Tasmea: “In the name of Allah, the most benevolent and merciful.”
iii. Implied Etiquettes:
Realization of supremacy of Allah (swt) and of His Divine revelation, fear of his
accountability, his reverence, intent to seek his guidance, and intention of acting on the
requisites of the Qur’aan.
iv. Daily Routine:
 We should include recitation of Qur’aan in our daily routine.
v. Harmonic Accent:
Recite Qur’aan in an attractive accent; which is pleasing to the ear. A saying of Prophet (saw)
is: “Ornate Qur’aan with your beautiful voices” (Abu Dawood)
vi. Memorization (Hifz):
All of us should try to memorize most of the Qur’aan so that we could recite most of it during
discretionary (‘Nafil’) prayers.
vii. Slow & Thoughtful Reading (Tarteel):
In prayers Qur’aan should be read with thoughtfulness, stopping at each ayah, in order to
comprehend the meanings, and feel its effects on heart and soul.

3rd Obligation:
To Understand the Qur’aan
 Qur’aan is a guiding manual for humans; guidance will take effect when the manual is
understood properly.
 Qur’aan is read the most but is understood the little. There is no other book, which is
read without understanding. This injustice is done only with the Book of Allah.
 As far as we do not learn Arabic, we should recite Qur’aan with translation.
 We should try to learn Arabic so that we can directly understand the Qur’aan. Direct
understanding of Qur’aan creates more impact on the hearts as compared to reading
translations.
 For those of us who have acquired fluency in foreign languages, mastery in high-tech worldly
skills, will have no excuse in front of Almighty Allah on the Day of Judgment, for not
learning Arabic language to directly understand the Qur’aan.
Two levels of understanding Qur’aan
i. Tazakkur
Tazakkur is to know the central idea of guidance from a section of Qur’aan through a quick
overview.
• Regarding Tazakkur Allah (swt) has made Qur’aan a clear book which is very
easy to understand. Allah says: “Hence we have made Qur’aan an easy to understand
book:
Is there some one who gets admonished?” (Alqamar: 17, 22, 32, 40)
For ‘Tazakkur’ all we need is, just a little effort to learn only that much of Arabic so that we
can get the meanings of Qur’aan without looking at its translation.
ii. Tadabbur
Tadabbur refers to deeply pondering over a section of Qur’aan to understand the underlying
wisdom or philosophy of the subject.
• Regarding Tadabbur, Qur’aan is very vast and profound. A whole lifespan and very
high scholastic aptitude is required of a person to be indulging in such an activity. In
spite of this Qur’aan emphasizes on Tadabbur by saying:
“So why don’t they ponder over the Qur’aan or if their hearts are sealed”
(Mohammad: 47: 24)
• The real essence of Tadabbur is:
i) To dig out pearls of knowledge and wisdom of Qur’aan
 ii) Through this process one acquires such a conviction that the greatness of
Qur’aan gets deeply embedded in his heart.
iii) To deduce the solutions of various problems from Qur’aan
iv) One can easily sort out right from wrong when faced with the modern
doctrines.

4th Obligation:
To act upon the Guidance of Qur’aan
 Reading and understanding Qur’aan can only be of some use and its
benefits of a guiding manual can only be reaped when the objective is to act upon the guidance
of Qur’aan.
 A faith without practice of Qur’aanic principles is not trustworthy,
“Whosoever makes legal what is forbidden in Qur’aan does not believe in Qur’aan.” (Tirmizi)

i. Acting upon Qur’aan in Individual Affairs:

Certain Qur’aanic commandments such as observing prayers, giving regular charity,
performing Hajj, speaking the truth, and fulfilling what has been committed; pertain to the
individual affairs of a person, they have to be observed regardlessly.
“O you who believe! Why must you say, that does not relate to your actions?
This is of great annoyance to Allah (swt) that you say something and do not act
upon.” (As’Saff: 2-3)
ii. Acting upon Qur’aan in Collective Affairs:
Commandments which are mainly for the affairs of the public or society as a whole; for
instance, chopping off limbs of a thief, beheading a killer, recovery of the regular charity,
instituting Baitul Maal to provide a just social system, and making sure that interest, usury,
gambling are not in practice. These commandments can only be enforced when Deen of Allah
is empowered by a government established on Islamic principles. Hence it is incumbent upon
Muslims to strive for empowerment of Allah’s Deen and establish an Islamic government.
Otherwise observing all of the commandments of Qur’aan will remain an illusion.

“And whoever does not make decisions by (the book) what Allah has revealed
then surely those are non-believers” (Al-Maidah: 44)
Practicing a division in Qur’aanic commandments regarding the affairs of life will result in
condemnation in this world and severe punishment in hereafter.(Al-Baqarah:85)

5th Obligation:
To Convey the Message to Others
 Mohammad (saw) is the last of the prophets, institution of prophethood ended with him
and he has brought the Message in its entirety.
 Carrying the message of Allah (swt) to the rest of the mankind is obligatory on all
Muslims.
“You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind, you enjoin what is right and
forbid the wrong and believe in Allah.” (Ale-Imran: 110)
 Over a continuous period of 23 years Mohammed (saw) carried out the task of calling
towards and spreading the message of same Qur’aan. In his last sermon during Hajjatul Widda
he asked Sahaba and all who were present at the time to be witness of the fact that he has
conveyed the Message of Allah and he (saw) said:
“Now for those of you, who are present here should carry the message to those, who
are not here.” (Musnad Ahmad)
 The individuals of Muslim Ummah are duty bound to this responsibility according to
their respective skills. Mohammad (saw) at the time had included every individual of his
Ummah in this assignment. He (saw) said: “Convey from me even if it be a single Ayah”
(Bukhari)