Ramadhan Mubarak- The Month of Quran

Ramadhaan has a special relationship with the Quran, as Allah says in the interpretation of the meaning: "The month of Ramadhaan 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." [Quran 2:185)

The word 'so' in this ayah leads to the following paraphrase of one aspect of its meaning: "Fast this month because it is the one in which the Quran was sent down".

Ibn 'Abbaas narrates "that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was the most generous person, and he would be at his most generous in Ramadhaan because Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) would come to him every night and he would rehearse the Quran with him." [Al-Bukhaari]

This hadeeth contains the following recommendations that we can take heed from:

• Studying the Quran in Ramadhaan

• Coming together for this purpose

• Checking (one's memory/knowledge of) the Quran with someone who has preserved it better

• Increasing recitation of the Quran in Ramadhaan and

• That the night time is the best time to recite, when other preoccupations decrease and it is easier to concentrate, as in Soorah al-Muzzammil [73:6].

Further, Faatimah, may Allaah be pleased with her, narrated from her father the Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, who told her: Jibreel would rehearse the Quran with him (in Ramadhaan) once every year, and he did so twice in the year of his death. [Al-Bukhaari]

About the situation of the Salaf (our righteous predecessors) during Ramadhaan, Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali said:

"... Some of the Salaf would complete reciting the whole Quran during the night prayer of Ramadhaan every 3 days; others every 7 days (e.g. Qataadah) and others in 10 days (e.g. Abu Rajaa' al-Atardi).The Salaf would recite Quran in Ramadhaan in Prayer as well as outside it.

Al-Zuhri would say when Ramadhaan began, 'It is recitation of the Quran and feeding of people.'

Then Ramadhaan began, Imam Maalik would stop narrating Hadeeth and sitting with the people of knowledge, and stick to reciting the Quran from its pages, while Sufyaan al-Thawri would leave other acts of worship and stick to reciting the Quran.

'Aishah would recite from the pages of the Quran at the beginning of the day in Ramadhaan (i.e. after Dawn), until when the sun had risen, then she would sleep.

Zayd al-Yaami would bring copies of the Quran when Ramadhaan began and gather his companions around him. ..."

So let us turn to the Quran this Ramadhan and build a foundation for the rest of the coming year. Ameen..............“O mankind! There has come to you a good advice from your Lord (i.e. the Qur’aan, enjoining all that is good and forbidding all that is evil), and a healing for that which is in your hearts” [Yoonus 10:57]

Jazak Allahu Khair

Abu Affan