Tips that can help you connect with the Qur’an

Itis recommended for every believing man and woman to recite the Book ofAllah, the Noble Qur’an, often, with due contemplation andunderstanding. This may be done by using a copy of the Qur’an or fromone’s memory. Allah - the Most High – Says (what means): “[This is] ablessed Book (the Qur’an) which We have revealed to you, (O Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), that they might reflect upon its versesand that those of understanding would be reminded.” [Qur’an 38:29]Areyou one of those people who rarely touch the Qur’an? Or do you read itdaily, but don’t find it is having the impact on you that it should?Whatever the case may be, these are some simple tips that can help youconnect with the Qur’an.1. Before you touch it, check your heartThekey to really benefiting from the Qur’an is to check your heart first,before you even touch Allah’s Book. Ask yourself, honestly, why you arereading it. Is it to just get some information and to let it drift awayfrom you later? Remember that the Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihiwa sallam, was described by his noble wife, ‘Aa’ishah, radhiallah ‘anha,as a “walking Qur’an”: in other words, he didn’t just read and recitethe Qur’an, he lived it.2. Before you touch it, do your Wudhoo’ (ablution)Doingyour Wudhoo’ is good physical and mental preparation to remind you thatyou are not reading just another book. You are about to interact withAllah, the Most Exalted, so being clean should be a priority whencommunicating with Him.3. Start with reading only five minutes everydayToooften, we think that we should read the Noble Qur’an for at least onewhole hour. If you are not in the habit of reading regularly, this istoo much. Start off with just five minutes daily. If you took care ofstep one, Insha Allah (Allah willing), you will notice that those fiveminutes will become 10, then half an hour, then an hour, and maybe evenmore!4. Make sure that you understand what you have readFiveminutes of reading the Qur’an in Arabic is good, but you need tounderstand what you are reading. If you are not Arabic, or you don’tunderstand the Arabic language, then make sure you have a goodtranslation of the Qur’an in the language you understand best. Alwaystry to read the translation of what you have read that day.Regardingthose who neglect the Glorious Qur’an by not reading or notunderstanding it, Allah Almighty Says (what means): “And the Messengerhas said, “O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur’an as [athing] abandoned.” [Qur’an: 25: 30]Allah Almighty informs us aboutHis Prophet and Messenger, Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, that he said: “My Lord my people have abandoned - acting or listening -to the Qur’an” and that is because the idol-worshippers did not payattention nor listen to the Qur’an, as Allah Says (what means): “Andthose who disbelieve say, “Do not listen to this Qur’an and speaknoisily during [the recitation of] it that perhaps you will overcome.”[Qur’an 41:26]5. Remember that the Noble Qur’an is far more interactive than a CDInan age of “interactive” CD-ROMs and computer programs, a number ofpeople think books are passive and boring. But the Qur’an is not likethat. Remember that when you read the Glorious Qur’an, you areinteracting with Almighty Allah. He Almighty is talking to you, so payattention. 6. Do not just read, you have to listen tooThereare now digital audio, CDs and audio cassettes of the Qur’an, a numberof them with translations as well. This is great to put on your mobile,Walkman or your car’s CD or stereo as you drive to and from work. Usethis in addition to your daily Qur’an reading, not as a replacement forit.7. Make Du’aa’ (supplication).Ask Allah, the MostExalted, to guide you when you read the Qur’an. Your aim is tosincerely, for the love of Allah, interact with Him by reading,understanding and applying His blessed words. Making Du’aa’ to Allah for help and guidance will be your best tool for doing this.Whenyou are making du’aa’, you have a direct connection with AllahAlmighty. So when you are saying your du’aa’, you shouldn’t bedistracted, but instead you should be fully concentrated. The Prophet,sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Make Du’aa’ and be assured of itbeing answered, and know that Allah, the Exalted, does not answer aDu’aa’ from a careless heart which is not concentrating.” [At-Tirmithi]Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/