Building a Relationship with the Quran

“[This is] a blessed Book that We have sent down to you, so that they may contemplate
its signs, and that those who possess intellect may take admonition.” (38:29)

Our relationship with the Qur’ān is one of the most important relationships that every Muslim seeks to foster. The Qur’ān enlivens the heart, guides towards what is best, warns against undesirable actions, attitudes and outcomes; and gives good news to those who believe and do good deeds of a good reward that they will eternally enjoy. Humans are essentially poor and in need of guidance, rendering Qur’ānic guidance relevant to each individual and every community in all eras and circumstances. The Qur’ān has the answers to the most pressing human concerns. Its expression is eloquent and its meanings are deep. Its various facets have occupied the brightest minds who are astonished at its depth and admit their inability to fully comprehend all of its wonders. No human can produce the like of a single chapter from the Qur’ān, as such eloquence and depth of meaning requires knowledge that is beyond human capability. It is like an ocean in which numerous pearls are for the taking, while its vastness ensures that it never runs out of wonders.

Like all relationships, time needs to be spent together with the Qur’ān in order to nurture good experiences and happy memories, which in turn build true companionship based on a deep connection and an emotional attachment. We can only get to know the Qur’ān through reciting, thinking and learning about it regularly as part of the lifestyle we choose. Our choice to build a relationship with the Qur’ān as part of a spiritually orientated holistic lifestyle will take its natural course, resulting in a relationship gradually built over the course of our interaction with a treasure of guidance, whose message needs to deeply affect our lives. Reflecting on its message during times of difficulty and confusion can be life altering. It is as though the Qur’ān speaks to each of us individually, aware of our circumstances and is a clear guide. The Prophet (saw) is reported to have said:

“When one of you would like to converse with his Lord, he should read the Qur’ān.”
(Al-Hindi, Kanz al-ʿummāl, hadith no. 2257).

It will break through our heedlessness, deeply affecting our hearts and take us to a natural, peaceful state in the remembrance of God, thereby opening the paths of spiritual attainment. The journey to the softening of the heart through the Qur’ān is expressed in the following verse:

“Allah has sent down the best of discourses, a scripture [composed] of similar motifs, whereat shiver the skins of those who fear their Lord, then their skins and hearts relax at Allah’s remembrance. That is Allah’s guidance, by which He guides whomever He wishes; and whomever Allah leads astray, has no guide.” (39:23)

When such a relationship with the Qur’ān is fostered, it is a companion such that a person doesn’t feel lonely as long as they have the Qur’ān.
Doesn’t feel needy, as with the Qur’ān there is no poverty. Is satisfied, as nobody has been given more than the treasure of the Qur’ān. Is continually cured from their spiritual ailments and so doesn’t feel spiritually sick. Is enlivened by its freshness, as there are multiple layers to its message and so is engaged. Finds it to be multifaceted and so appreciates its nuances and complexities and is occupied with studying and repeating it. The more they reflect on the Qur’ān the vaster the meanings they find in it. They live life with the Qur’ān as their anchor. They find vision of the Prophet (saw) and the Infallibles (as) through the lens of the Qur’ān. They act according to it and so can look forward to a beautiful reward with Allah as their lives are filled with the light of the Qur’ān.

The purpose of this Qur’ān journal is to be part of that journey. A space in which you choose how you want to develop. Whether it is noting down important points that you find in the exegetical literature, writing your innermost thoughts and questions, reflecting on Qur’ānic expressions and its choice of words, diagramming verses, or sketching how a verse makes you feel. There are no rules to how you process the guidance of the Qur’ān as each person’s journey with the Qur’ān is individual. Use this journal as your personal development space, and leave its definitive interpretation to the specialists in order to steer clear of interpreting the Qur’ān according to your whims. Interpreting the Qur’ān according to your own opinions is heavily disparaged, while thinking about the verses of the Qur’ān is recommended and indeed essential to progression. The middle line is to think over the verses and how they have been interpreted rather than claiming that your thought is the purport of a verse. Let the verses guide your thought, rather than allowing preconceived notions speak over the Qur’ān. The Qur’ān is the guide and we are the wayfarers.

Practical Tips

A number of practical tips have been mentioned to aid reflection on the Qur’ān. The first is to think about Who is speaking to you through the Qur’ān. Interact with the message as one that is personally for you and which applies directly to you. The words which have been preserved are from the Divine. Considering the Qur’ān as the words of God will breed the right etiquette when sitting with the Qur’ān, and among those etiquettes is to reflect upon its meanings. Since the message is addressed to you, it can be directly applied in your life. Interact with it by praying for mercy if the verse is about mercy, ask not to be included amongst the wretched when you come across verses describing them and to be included amongst the successful when reading verses describing the successful. Every verse or group of verses can be followed by a supplication. Pausing between verses or groups of verses gives you the time you need to reflect. Allow it to shape your worldview and relate its meanings to your own life and experiences.

When a question that seems to cause a dilemma to your web of belief arises, look for an answer. Visualising the descriptions of the afterlife and putting yourself in the shoes of the characters in the stories are powerful ways to bring the narrative alive. Feel the emotions expressed and consider the way the verses are framed. Visualise the context in which the verses were revealed and the concerns and emotions of the people who witnessed its revelation.

Connecting to the emotions expressed in the Qur’ān will help foster an emotional attachment to it as well as an appreciation of its way of expression. If the emotions are not felt immediately, give it some time and think over the verse more. Sometimes we need to give ourselves time to be affected. Repeating the verse you are thinking of a number of times enables you to think better over the wording and having a verse in mind to think over gives you time to consider the aspects of its meaning. Relate verses to others that come before and after them as well as other verses that are connected in meaning. If you are able to memorise the verses you might decide to include them in your prayers or repeat them in the state of prayer.

The objective is not to complete the chapter, but to understand something from the message and to be effected. If the Qur’ān is not a source of development then we need to think of why that is the case? As you develop in your Qur’ānic journey, studying Arabic will greatly enable you to gain an appreciation of the Qur’ān in its original language.

This definitely needs effort, but those efforts are also certainly worth the time. Many of works of exegesis are written in Arabic as well as the traditions narrated from the Infallibles (as) and modern discussions pertaining to the exegesis of specific verses and Qur’ānic linguistics. If you are unable to learn Arabic, seek out classes and literature in your own language and find knowledgeable company with whom you can clarify what you have understood. Perhaps even seek a class in which you go through works of exegesis that you cannot access in their original language. There is a wealth of scholarship on the Qur’ān in English which you can read independently or in study groups. It is advisable to seek help in navigating this literature as there are different perspectives in how the meanings of the Qur’ān should be approached. In studying the Qur’ān, try to make the process as active as possible through note taking, discussion, questions, writing down relationships and ideas and revisiting what you have already learnt.

My Qur’ān Study Journal makes use of the translation of the Qur’ān into English by Ali Quli Qara’i. May Allah grant us all a beautiful relationship with the Qur’ān and thank you for letting us be part of your Qur’ānic journey.