How Does Regular Quran Recitation Purify the Soul?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
What is the impact of regular Quran recitation on purifying and refining the soul?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
The regular recitation of the Quran has profound effects on purifying the soul and nurturing it spiritually:
Deep Faith
One of the key effects of consistent Quranic recitation is the deepening of faith in the heart. As Allah (Most High) says:
“Whenever a sûrah is revealed, some of them ask (mockingly), ‘Which of you has this increased in faith?’ As for the believers, it has increased them in faith and they rejoice.” [Quran, 9:124]
Tranquility
Reciting the Quran instills tranquility and peace in the heart, bringing about psychological balance, encouraging positive thinking, and removing anxiety, worry, and distress from the heart. This is affirmed in Allah’s words:
“Those who believe and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort.” [Quran, 13:28]
Refinement of Character
Quranic recitation refines one’s character and improves behavior by cultivating virtues such as patience, modesty, and humility. Numerous verses emphasize the importance of these qualities. For example, the advice of Luqman to his son, which includes:
“O my dear son! Establish prayer, encourage what is good and forbid what is evil, and endure patiently whatever befalls you. Surely this is a resolve to aspire to. And do not turn your nose up to people, nor walk pridefully upon the earth. Surely Allah does not like whoever is arrogant, boastful. Be moderate in your pace. And lower your voice, for the ugliest of all voices is certainly the braying of donkeys.” [Quran, 31:17-19]
Lastly, I advise you to engage in reflective recitation of the Quran, as its impact on the soul’s purification and transformation is immense. Don’t settle for mere recitation, though it is certainly beneficial as well.
May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.
He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.
He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.
Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.
