By Nur Aaila Ayesha Sim

Two years ago, I picked up the Qur’an for the first time even before I converted.

I didn’t know Arabic. I didn’t know how to pray. I barely knew anything beyond “there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger.”

But I was certain of one thing: I had found the truth.

And the Qur’an was at the center of it.

At first, it felt distant — like I was standing on the outside of something vast and ancient, struggling to find the door.

But slowly, one verse at a time, the Qur’an began to speak to me.

Not in dramatic miracles or visions — just quietly, persistently, changing how I saw myself, the world, and Allah.

I began reaching out to a dear friend whose father teaches Iqra at home.

Even though there was an initial hesitation to take on more students, especially with the language barrier, Uncle Kamal welcomed me with open arms and was ready to introduce me to the words of Allah.

That was also when I was given my first Muslim name “Nur”.

When I first stepped into the house, he immediately asked if I had a muslim name and asked if he could call me “Nur”.

Still yet to take my shahadah and proclaim my faith, but Allah was already welcoming me and showing me that this is where I belong, this is where His love is, through the actions of another person. 

The Qur’an Doesn’t Ask You to Be Perfect — It Calls You to Try

In Surah Az-Zumar (39:53), Allah says: “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.’”

As I began reading, Alhamdulillah Allah made it easy for me.

Slow and steady I was able to clear line by line, page by page.

But as we progress, ego slowly creeps on.

Difficulty increases, more stammers, more errors, less lines and pages covered. 

Nonetheless, Uncle would patiently guide and correct me along the way. 1 huruf at a time.

We shouldn’t feel shameful as grown adults who struggle with reading. The Qur’an isn’t here to shame us. It’s here to lift us. Allah isn’t asking for perfection — He’s asking for sincerity. Sincerity that stems from the bottom of our heart to want to get closer to Him, to understand Him, to know Him.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The one who is proficient in the Qur’an is with the noble, righteous scribes, and the one who reads the Qur’an and stumbles through it, finding it difficult, will have two rewards.”

Bukhari and Muslim

So even your struggle is worship. Your confusion is worship. That moment when you recite an iqra line for five times to perfect it — that’s counted.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The best of you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.”

Bukhari

You Don’t Need to Understand Everything — Just Start

In the beginning, I relied a lot on transliteration. But with frequent practices and slowly I could recognise the hurufs more easily.

Furthermore, on top of the regular Tuesday and Friday Circles Ustaz Sameer has been conducting, he started another Saturday Circle for Iqra & Quran reading.

Alhamdulillah, even though I was already reading with Uncle, I signed up for the class anyway. It was another opportunity to practice more.

However, as always, Ustaz Sameer is never kanjus (Tamil word for stingy) with sharing his wealth of knowledge.

Beside reading Iqra, he also brought to us the study of Quran Etiquette, Science of the Quran & Tajweed.

Most importantly, he never fails to link our learning back to Tauhid, Kalimah Toyyibah La Illaha IllAllah.

So much knowledge packed in a 2 hour learning session, where else will we find such classes/courses outside of this circle?

Honestly, we frequently ask if we deserve all this, but it is Allah who brings us to Ustaz Sameer, to Him where His knowledge resides and dwells at, for us to draw from. SubhanAllah. 

If You’ve Been Distant from the Qur’an, Come Back

You don’t have to read the Quran or the Iqra books all at once. You don’t need perfect Arabic.

You just need a heart that’s willing to listen. Allah already knows where you’re starting from — He’s waiting for you to take the next step. And all it takes is just that 1 step towards Him, He will run to you. 

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah says: ‘I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able todo for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me inhimself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in agroup that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.’ ” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

Whether you’re a born Muslim, a new Muslim, or someone still figuring it out — open the Qur’an. Let it speak. Let it guide. Let it comfort. You don’t need to be ready. You just need to begin.

Because Allah says:

“And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy to remember. So is there anyone who will be mindful?” (Surah Al-Qamar, 54:17)

Be that one.

Even if you only read one verse a day, read it. Let it sit with you. That one verse could be the answer to something you’re carrying silently inside.

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