By Hafiy Adam Johannes Bin Jasno Johannes 

Reading the Quran. Despite being born Muslim, for the bulk of our life, the Quran was not given the proper attention it truly deserves.

It was reserved only for the weekly reading sessions with a teacher, who would listen to our recitation and correct our mistakes.

We were not fluent by any means, and it became a source of shame that the ego could not deal with, tricking us into abandoning daily recitation.

We did not know the virtues of struggling to read the Quran.

‘Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The one who is proficient in the recitation of the Qur’an will be with the honourable and obedient scribes (angels) and he who recites the Qur’an and finds it difficult to recite, doing his best to recite it in the best way possible, will have two rewards.”

Reference: Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim (Recorded in Riyad as-Salihin, Hadith 994)

This Hadith was shared in one of Ustaz Sameer’s knowledge circles to encourage the reverts and returning Muslims to strive in making the Quran a regular part of daily life.

We then started with one page a day with the intention to complete the Quran in two years.

But as Ramadhan approached, we were tasked to complete a few chapters of the Quran to contribute to a communal completion, as well as individually finish the Quran.

This felt like a huge undertaking, but we took it day by day, reading a little more each day.

ALLAH SWT HELPED US BY SURROUNDING US WITH GOOD COMPANY, STRIVING TOWARD THE SAME GOAL AS US – A BLESSING THAT EASED OVERCOMING THE BARRIER TO EVEN OPENING THE QURAN.

Soon, we were clearing a chapter of the Quran a day, but we were reading without paying attention to what was being said to us.

Ustaz Sameer reminded us that reading the Quran is not merely an exercise of the tongue, but one that should awaken our hearts.

He also reminded us that reading the Quran is how Allah (SWT) communicates with us.

The glad tidings and the admonishments from Allah (SWT) did not enter our hearts, as we were reading solely for the sake of completing the Quran.

‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“In the end of time there will come a people young in years, foolish in minds, reciting the Qur’an which will not go beyond their throats, uttering sayings from the best of creatures, going through the religion as an arrow goes through the target.” –

Reference: Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 2188

Thus, we made an effort to scan through the translation of the Quran to keep the message in mind while we read.

While there are vast fields of knowledge dedicated to understanding the Quran, what little we got from the translation was enough to kickstart the heart and mind to reflect upon the divine verses.

Towards the end of Ramadhan, we were tasked to keep the Quran alive in the months preceding it by reading two pages with the explanation of the verses everyday, not just mere translation, such that we get a glimpse at the subtleties weaved within the divine message.

May Allah (SWT) ease our affairs in understanding His divine message, so that His Book is never left unopened, and our hearts are never left unmoved.

May He make us steadfast in this endeavour and not turn our backs away from Him and His divine message.

Do You Believe in One God
& Ready to [Re]start your Journey of Faith & Gratitude as a Muslim?