It is recommended for every believing man and woman to recite the Book of Allah, the Noble Qur’an, often, with due contemplation and understanding. This may be done by using a copy of the Qur’an or from one’s memory. Allah - the Most High – Says (what means): “[This is] a blessed Book (the Qur’an) which We have revealed to you, (O Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.” [Qur’an 38:29]
Are you one of those people who rarely touch the Qur’an? Or do you read it daily, 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 you connect with the Qur’an.
1. Before you touch it, check your heart
The key 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 are reading it. Is it to just get some information and to let it drift away from you later? Remember that the Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was described by his noble wife, ‘Aa’ishah as a “walking Qur’an”: in other words, he didn’t just read and recite the Qur’an, he lived it.
2. Before you touch it, do your Wudhoo’ (ablution)
Doing your Wudhoo’ is good physical and mental preparation to remind you that you are not reading just another book. You are about to interact with Allah, the Most Exalted, so being clean should be a priority when communicating with Him.
3. Start with reading only five minutes everyday
Too often, we think that we should read the Noble Qur’an for at least one whole hour. If you are not in the habit of reading regularly, this is too much. Start off with just five minutes daily. If you took care of step one, Insha Allah (Allah willing), you will notice that those five minutes will become 10, then half an hour, then an hour, and maybe even more!
4. Make sure that you understand what you have read
Five minutes of reading the Qur’an in Arabic is good, but you need to understand what you are reading. If you are not Arabic, or you don’t understand the Arabic language, then make sure you have a good translation of the Qur’an in the language you understand best. Always try to read the translation of what you have read that day.
Regarding those who neglect the Glorious Qur’an by not reading or not understanding it, Allah Almighty Says (what means):”And the Messenger has said, “O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur’an as [a thing] abandoned.” [Qur’an: 25: 30]
Alaah Almighty informs us about His 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 pay attention nor listen to the Qur’an, as Allah Says (what means): “And those who disbelieve say, “Do not listen to this Quran and speak noisily 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 CD
In an age of “interactive” CD-ROMs and computer programs, a number of people think books are passive and boring. But the Qur’an is not like that. Remember that when you read the Glorious Qur’an, you are interacting with Almighty Allah. He Almighty is talking to you, so pay attention.
6. Do not just read, you have to listen too
There are now many audio cassettes and CDs of the Qur’an, a number of them with translations as well. This is great to put on your Walkman or your car’s CD or stereo as you drive to and from work. Use this in addition to your daily Qur’an reading, not as a replacement for it.
7. Make Du’aa’ (supplication)
Ask Allah, the Most Exalted, to guide you when you read the Qur’an. Your aim is to sincerely, 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.
When you are making du’aa’, you have a direct connection with Allah Almighty. So when you are saying your du’aa’, you shouldn’t be distracted, but instead you should be fully concentrated. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Make Du’aa’ and be assured of it being answered, and know that Allah, the Exalted, does not answer a Du’aa’ from a careless heart which is not concentrating.” [At-Tirmithi]
Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/
Webinar on ‘Innovation in Zakat: an obligation and an economy’
The Qatar Finance and Business Academy has conducted a webinar titled ‘Innovation in Zakat: an obligation and an economy’, which is part of its Ramadan initiative to maintain and continue the academy’s mission in learning and training during the holy month.
These learning and cultural activities come after the ‘Azm’ initiative to enable businesses in times of crisis launched by the academy, in conjunction with the current novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The hour-long webinar was held to enable professionals and the academy’s public audience to continue distance learning during Ramadan and to raise community awareness on the importance of Zakat obligation and its objectives of keeping up with latest standards and practices.
In addition, this seeks to support QFBA’s efforts centred on human capital building and on refining the skills of professionals, as well as those interested in this topic, especially in light of the current health crisis.
To provide a high calibre of experts and specialists in the Zakat field, the webinar was delivered by Dr Osama Abu Bakr and Dr Riyad Mansour al-Khulaifi who offered an extensive discussion on topics, such as Shariah and accounting principles of contemporary Zakat.
The webinar coincided with the academy’s latest Zakat Accounting Certificate Programme, aimed at providing professionals with a framework of knowledge in the foundations of modern Zakat combining both theoretical and practical case studies.
Abdallah al-Jumaily, head of Professional Development, said: “During these unprecedented and challenging times with the Covid-19 outbreak, QFBA sought to embrace ‘distance online training’ experience where it announced the launch of this mechanism through its various online platforms.
“It is our responsibility to do our best to enable and help the community to continue building upon their professional skills and learning despite the nature and challenges of the current situation. In line with Qatar National Vision 2030, our aim is to rise above challenges that have become a reality today and continue building upon the human development pillar.”
He added: “In the giving spirit and persistence that we learn from the holy month of Ramadan, the academy chose to invest in remote training opportunities to give working professionals and the community a chance to continue their development journey. During this time, we extend our sincerest wishes of health to those affected by the pandemic, hoping for safety of our beloved nation and the world.”
