…so start with yourself before the members of your family and look at what is lacking in you in order that you may start treating it.
So if there is a common deficiency amongst you and one of your companions or family members then join him with you in resolving this problem because the Messenger of Allâh [sall-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam] said:
“Whoever from amongst you sees an evil he should change it with his hand and if he is not able to then with his tongue and if he is not able to, then (he should hate it) in his heart and that is the weakest level of faith.” [1]
Likewise before you think about spending time amongst your companions either for the sake of knowledge, action or inviting to Allâh, contemplate and think:
- How is your relationship with Allâh [subhâna wa ta’âlâ]?
- How is your humbleness in prayer?
- Read about that which will better your condition and that of your prayer, increase your humbleness in it and soften your heart.
- Are you one whose supplications are answered or do you notice that most of your supplications not being answered?
- Look into your ‘aqîdah and the level of your certainty and reliance upon Allâh [subhâna wa ta’âlâ] and observe closely your food and drink – are they from that which is halâl or harâm, or is there some doubt about their source?
- If the situation was one that requires enjoining the good and forbidding evil, what would you do? [2]
…all that to solve the reason why our supplications are not being answered.
Allâh the Most High says:
“And the Messenger said: ‘O my Lord my people have abandoned – acting or listening – to the Qur’ân.” [Al-Furqân 25:30]
So Allâh informs us about His Messenger and Prophet Muhammad, that he said: “My Lord my people have abandoned acting or listening to the Qur’ân,” and that is because the idol worshippers did not pay attention not listen to the Qur’ân, as Allâh says: “The ones who disbelieved said do not listen to this Qur’ân but make noise so that you may overcome it.”
Thus when the Qur’ân was being read to them they would make noise and futile speech so that they would not hear the Qur’ân. However this is from the ways of abandoning the Qur’ân. Likewise not having faith and trust in it is also from the ways of abandoning the Qur’ân. Not pondering over it, not trying to understand it, not acting by it, not obeying its orders and refraining from what if forbids, turning to something other than it – whether poetry, opinions or music, amusement, or other forms of speech and taking a path that is derived from other than the Qur’ân are all from the ways of abandoning the Qur’ân.
When a person spends his entire day with no other concern but Allâh alone:
- Allâh [subhâna wa ta’âlâ] will take care of all his needs and take care of all that is worrying him.
- He will empty his heart so that it will be filled only with love for Him, free his tongue so that it will speak only in remembrance of Him [dhikr], and cause all his faculties to work only in obedience to Him.
But when a person spends his entire day with no other concern than this world:
- Allâh will make him bear its distress, anxiety and pain.
- He will leave him to sort himself out, and cause his heart to be distracted from the love of Allâh towards the love of some created being.
- He will cause his tongue to speak only in remembering people instead of remembering Allâh.
- He will cause him to use his talents and energy in obeying and serving the people.
- This person will strive hard, labouring like some work-animal, to serve something other than Allâh.
Everyone who turns away from being a true slave of Allâh by obeying and loving Him will be burdened with servitude to some created being.
Allâh says in the Qur’an [interpretation of the meaning]:
“And whosoever turns away [blinds himself] from the remembrance of the Most Beneficent, We appoint for him a Shaytân to be his Qarîn [intimate companion].” [Az-Zukhruf 43:36]
Allâh the Most High says:
“Indeed in this is a remembrance for those who have a living heart, listen attentively and are awake to taking heed.” [Qâf 50:37]
Therefore, if you desire to benefit from the Qur’ân, gather your heart when reciting it, focus your attention to it and focus as if you are the one being directly addressed by it. For indeed it is an address from Allâh via the path of the Messenger [sall-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam].
This is because gaining complete benefit from the Qur’ân is dependent upon the object providing the benefit, the place by which it is to be received, the conditions related to attaining the benefit and the non-existence of anything that may hinder the benefit from occurring. Hence the verse contains the explanation of all of these points, with the shortest and clearest words, and those that best prove the above point.
Thus the saying of Allâh: “Indeed in this there is a remembrance” has an inference to what has preceded the verse from the beginning of Sûrah Qâf up to this verse and this is what is causing the benefit.
Whilst the saying of Allâh: “…who have a living heart,” then this refers to the place that receives the benefit and this is the heart that has life and comprehends what Allâh has sent, as Allâh the Most High says:
“Indeed this is only a clear reminder and a Qur’ân so as to warn those who have a living heart.” [Yasîn 36:69-70]
And His saying: “…listen attentively,” i.e. who turns his attention to it and listens mindfully to what is being said. This is the condition that is placed so that one can be benefitted by it. And His saying: “…are awake to taking heed,” i.e. that the heart is attentive to it.
