Edited from the work of Shaykh Muhammad Jameel Zeeno

Allaah the Most High says:

And the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) will say: “O my Lord! Verily, my people deserted this Qur’aan (neither listened to it, nor acted on its laws and orders). (Al-Furqaan 25:30)

So Allaah informs us about His Messenger and Prophet Muhammad, that he said: {My Lord my people have abandoned – acting or listening – to the Qur’aan.} and that is because the idol-worshippers did not pay attention nor listen to the Qur’aan, as Allaah says: {The ones who disbelieved said do not listen to this Qur’aan but make noise so that you may overcome it.}

Thus when the Qur’aan was being read to them they would make noise and futile speech so that they would not hear the Qur’aan. However, this is from the ways of abandoning the Qur’aan. Likewise not having faith and trust in it is also from the ways of abandoning the Qur’aan. Not pondering over it, nor trying to understand it, not acting by it, not obeying its orders and refraining from what it 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’aan are all from the ways of abandoning the Qur’aan.

We ask Allaah – the Beneficent Provider, the One who has Power to do what He wills – to distance us from that which He dislikes and to use us in that which He is pleased with, from memorising, understanding the Qur’aan and establishing that which it necessitates – throughout the day and night – in a manner that He loves and likes for indeed He is the Most Beneficent, and Bestower.

Shaykh-ul-Islaam Ibn al-Qayyim, rahimahullaah, explains this verse by saying:

There are various types of ‘abandonment’ of the Qur’aan:

1) To abandon listening to it and believing in it.
2) To abandon acting upon it, and ignoring its lawful and prohibited ordinances (Halaal and haraam), even if one believes in it and recites it.
3) To abandon judging by it, and resorting to it as a judge when there are differences in the essence of the religion or other matters.
4) To abandon pondering over it, and understanding it, and seeking the explanation of it.
5) To abandon using it as a cure in all types of diseases of the heart, and instead to seek to cure these diseases by other means.

And all of these categories are included in the statement of Allaah,

‘And the Messenger (will) say: “0 My Lord, indeed my people took this Qur’aan as something worthy of being abandoned!’’ [25:30]

even though some of these types of abandonment are worse than others.

Question: What is your advice – O Shaykh – for those who go without reading the Qur’aan for a month, or even many months, and who have no excuse for such behaviour? However, you will find some of them reading those magazines that contain no benefit for them, and following them up closely!

Answer: It is recommended for every Believing man and woman to recite the Book of Allah often, with due contemplation and understanding. This may be done by using a copy of the Qur’aan or from one’s memory. Allaah – the Most High – said:

كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُوْلُوا الْأَلْبَابِ

“This is a Book which We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that you may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember.” [Soorah Saad 38:29].

And:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً يَرْجُونَ تِجَارَةً لَّن تَبُورَ

لِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ إِنَّهُ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ

“Indeed those who recite the Book of Allaah and offer the Prayer perfectly and spend in charity out of what We have provided for them – secretly and openly – hope for a sure trade-gain that will never perish. That He may pay the their wages in full and give them even more out of His Grace. Indeed, He is Oft-Forgiving, ready to appreciate good deeds.” [Soorah Fatir 35:29-30]

The aforementioned recitation of the Qur’aan includes both reciting and acting upon it. The recitation is to be done with contemplation and understanding of it. Sincerity to Allaah is a means of complying with and acting upon the Qur’aan, and its recitation contains a great reward – as the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

“Recite the Qur’aan. For on the Day of Resurrection, it shall come as an intercessor for its companion.”

This was recorded by Muslim in his Saheeh (no. 804). The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam also said:

“The best of you is he who learns the Qur’aan and teaches it.”

This was recorded by al-Bukhaaree in his Saheeh (9/66). Another narration states:

“Whoever reads one harf (letter) of the Qur’aan shall receive a good deed and ten good deeds similar to it. I do not say that Alif Laam Meem is a harf, but Alif is a harf, Laam is a harf and Meem is a harf.” [Saheeh; Recorded by at-Tirmidhee (no. 2912), who authenticated it, from the hadeeth of `Abdullaah ibn Mas`ood, radhiallaahu `anhu].

The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam said to `Abdullaah ibn Amr ibn al-`Aas:

“Complete the recitation of the Qur’aan once a month.” He said: I am able to do more than that. So he said: “Then complete its recital once in seven days.” [al-Bukhaaree (no. 5054)]

The Companions used to complete the entire Qur’aan once every seven days.

So I advise all the readers of the Qur’aan to increase in their reading of it, with contemplation and understanding it, along with sincerity to Allaah in this – with the purpose of learning and benefiting from the Qur’aan. They should read the entire Qur’aan once a month. If, however, they are able to do more than this without any difficulty, then they should complete it in less than this time. However, it is best not o complete it in less than three days, since this is the least amount of time that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam mentioned to `Abdullaah ibn `Amr ibn al-`Aas. This is because if it is read in less than three days, the person becomes hasty and lacks thought and concentration…”

[Fataawaa al-Mar`ah (no. 294)]