Ramadan... The Month of the Quran

Ramadan has a special relationship with the Qur'an and Allah mentions this relationship: “The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Quran was sent down, a guidance for mankind, clear proofs for the guidance, the Criterion; so whoever amongst you witnesses this month, let him fast it." (Surah al-Baqarah 2:185)

From the sunnah concerning this month: Ibn 'Abbas narrates that the Messenger of Allah was the most generous person, and he would be at his most generous in Ramadan because Jibril would come to him every night and he would rehearse the Qur'an with him. (Sahih al-Bukhari)‏

The fact that Jabreel met with the prophet during this month teaches us to: Study the Qur'an in Ramadan Check your knowledge and memory the Qur'an with someone who has preserved it better Increase your recitation of the Qur'an Night time is the best time to recite, when other preoccupations decrease and it is easier to concentrate, as Allah says in Surah al-Muzzammil 73:6.

Another good thing to note concerning this month: Jibril would rehearse the Quran with the Prophet (sa) in Ramadan once every year, and he did so twice in the year of his death. (Bukhari)‏

The Companions and Ramadan

Look at how some of the companions treated the Quran during Ramadan: Some would complete reciting the whole Quran during the night prayer of Ramadan every 3 days, others every 7 days When Ramadan began, Imam Malik would cease narrating Hadith and sitting with the people of knowledge, and stick to reciting the Quran from its pages, Sufyan al-Thawri would leave other acts of worship and stick to only reciting the Quran. 'Aishah would recite from the pages of the Quran at the beginning of the day in Ramadan (i.e. after Dawn), until when the sun had risen, she would sleep

When reading the Quran try to keep the following in mind: It is forbidden to make it a regular practice to complete the entire Quran in less than 3 days The best time to read the Quran is during the Last 10 days of Ramadan The best place to recite it is Mecca

Failure to recite can result as it did for the People before us: Although reading the Quran while fasting is not an obligation – we do so because Reciting the Quran keeps our hearts straight: Failure to recite can result as it did for the People before us: "We took a covenant from those who said: we are Christians, but they forgot part of the message with which they had been reminded, so we ingrained amongst them enmity and hatred until the Day of Judgment..." (Surah al-Ma'idah 5:14)

Our Prophet(sa) advises us : "Recite the Quran as long as your hearts agree on it; if you disagree about it, stop reciting it" (Muslim) This means when you start questioning, doubting or challenging what Allah says to put the Book down Also it means when studying in a group the Quran should bring people together not tear them apart

ot reciting or listening to it; Also on the Day of Judgement the prophet will complain to Allah of those who neglected the Quran. Neglect consist of: ot reciting or listening to it; ot studying and understanding it; ot conveying its message; ot judging by it in personal and communal matters, at all levels of society; ot believing in it.

How to benefit from Reading the Quran

Allah Says: "Indeed in this there is a remembrance for those who have a living heart, listen attentively and are awake to taking heed." [Qaaf: 37]

Allah says: "Indeed this is only a clear reminder and a Qur'aan so as to warn those who have a living heart." [Yaaseen: 69-70]

Thus the way to benefit from the Quran is by: Listening Attentively to it Ponder its meaning Have a sincere heart and open mind