How Can Reading the Quran Impact Our Daily Lives?

Answered by Shaykh Anas Al-Musa

Question

How can reading the Quran impact our daily lives?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.

It is undoubtedly true that the Quran can impact our lives in many ways, but the foremost and most important is this: when we read from the Mushaf, we must know that we are reciting the words of Allah (Most High), Lord of mankind, King of mankind, and God of mankind. This awareness grants the Quran a unique influence and creates a direct spiritual connection between the servant and his Creator, enhancing the profound impact of the Quran.

Secondly, the Quran can influence our lives if we adopt the correct approach in reciting its chapters and verses. The best method of recitation that allows the Quran to affect us deeply is as follows:

1. Personal Divine Address

Read the words of our Lord as if we are the intended audience of the Divine message, as if Allah (Most High) is calling us and directing His commands to us, giving us glad tidings and warning us of His punishment and painful torment. A man once asked Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud for advice, to which he said:

“Whenever you hear Allah (Most High) say, ‘O you who have believed’ [Quran, 2:13], lend it your ear, for it is either a good He commands or an evil He prohibits.”

2. Reflective Recitation

If you feel that your heart is stirred upon reading a verse from the Book of Allah (Most High), pause at this verse and repeat it while pondering its meanings. Let your heart hear it repeatedly, and let it reach deep into your soul until it reaches its utmost extent. Know that remaining with this verse and benefiting from it is better for you than reading many other chapters, for the purpose of recitation is the rectification of the self. This pause and reflection could be the reason for your salvation. Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud said,

“Do not hastily recite the Quran like the recitation of poetry, and do not scatter it like the scattering of loose dates (daqal). Pause at its wonders, move hearts with it, and let not the concern of any of you be merely to reach the end of the sura.” [Ibn Abi Shayba, al-Musannaf; Bayhaqi, Shu‘ab al-Iman]

“Do not hastily recite the Quran” means do not rush in its recitation.

The term “Daqal” refers to dates. The scattering of dates, where most do not stick together, so when scattered, they quickly disperse, and each date separates from the others. He compared the recitation of the Quran to this for its heedless recitation. [Ibn Qutayba, Gharib al-Hadith]

Bishr Ibn al-Sari explains the effect of contemplating the words of Allah (Most High): “Indeed, a verse is like a date; the more you chew it, the more sweetness you extract.” [Zarkashi, al-Burhan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran]

3. Living the Revelation

Read the words of our Lord, Glorified and Exalted, as if they were just revealed, fresh and new, or as if we are hearing them from the mouth of the Chosen One, the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace), reciting them to us. Recall the state of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), surrounded by his Companions as the Quran was revealed to him, reciting it in their presence and during prayers. Feel their listening and their being affected by it, and remember how the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) repeated—throughout an entire night—the words of Allah (Most High), “If You punish them, they belong to You after all. But if You forgive them, You are surely the Almighty, All-Wise” [Quran, 5:118] throughout the night until dawn, repeating one verse all night. [Ahmad; Ibn Maja]

Remember and engage with the moment when the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) asked Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud to recite the Quran to him, saying: “Recite it to me.” Ibn Mas‘ud said, “Should I recite it to you when it was revealed to you?” He replied, “Indeed, I love to hear it from others.” So I recited until I reached: “So how will it be when We bring a witness from every faith community and bring you (O Prophet) as a witness against yours?” [Quran, 4:41] He said, “I saw his eyes overflowing with tears.” [Ahmad]

4. Melodic Recitation

Recite the words of Allah (Most High) melodiously as He commanded you by saying,

“And recite the Quran (properly) in a measured way.” [Quran, 73:4]

Recite it melodically and rhythmically, and remember how the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) listened to Abu Musa al-Ashari’s enchanting recitation, then said to him,

“Had you seen me while I was listening to your recitation last night, you have indeed been given one of the flutes of the family of David.”

Reflect on Abu Musa’s response to the Prophet’s (Allah bless him and give him peace) admiration of his recitation: “Had I known, I would have perfected it for you.” [Muslim; Bayhaqi, al-Sunan al-Kubra]

And remember the saying of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), “Beautify the Quran with your voices.” [Ahmad]

5. Verses of Promise

As you recite the words of Allah (Most High), pause and reflect, and let your heart be moved by the verses of His promise and warning; when you come across a verse with a promise from the Most Merciful of forgiveness, provision, and guidance, such as His saying,

“Allah has promised those who believe and do good (His) forgiveness and a great reward.” [Quran, 5:9]

Ask Him to make you among them and to guide you along their path.

6. Imagining Paradise

When you come across verses describing Paradise and its eternal bliss, live within them as if you have settled in your own garden, having cast off the burdens and hardships of this world, the severity of judgment, and its horrors. Imagine yourself truly living among the trees of Paradise and its shades, with rivers flowing before you, having attained its great pleasure. Remember this while you read the words of Allah (Most High),

“The description of the Paradise promised to the righteous is that under it rivers flow; eternal is its fruit as well as its shade. That is the (ultimate) outcome for the righteous. But the outcome for the disbelievers is the Fire!” [Quran, 13:35]

Ask your Lord to make you among the people of Paradise, about which Allah has said,

“The description of the Paradise promised to the righteous is that in it are rivers of fresh water, rivers of milk that never changes in taste, rivers of wine delicious to drink, and rivers of pure honey. There, they will (also) have all kinds of fruit and forgiveness from their Lord. (Can they be) like those who will stay in the Fire forever, left to drink boiling water that will tear apart their insides?” [Quran, 47:15]

7. Warnings of Hell

And when you come across verses of the Fire, threats, punishments, and the various types of torment in Hell, remember that this warning comes from the Almighty, who is capable of everything and has created Hell for the disobedient. Remember this as you read the words of Allah (Most High),

“On that Day, you will see the wicked bound together in chains, with garments of tar, and their faces covered with flames.” [Quran, 14:49-51]

And,

“Surely those who reject Our signs, We will cast them into the Fire. Whenever their skin is burnt completely, We will replace it so they will (constantly) taste the punishment. Indeed, Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.” [Quran, 4:56]

And while you read the words of the Truth, Glorified and Exalted,

“The residents of the Fire will then cry out to the residents of Paradise, ‘Aid us with some water or any provision Allah has granted you.’ They will reply, ‘Allah has forbidden both to the disbelievers, those who took this faith (of Islam) as mere amusement and play and were deluded by (their) worldly life.’ (Allah will say,) ‘Today, We will ignore them just as they ignored the coming of this Day of theirs and for rejecting Our revelations.’” [Quran, 7:50-51]

Contemplate as you read the cries of those in the Fire wishing for death to stop their torment,

“They will cry, ‘O Malik! Let your Lord finish us off.’ He will answer, ‘You are definitely here to stay.’” [Quran, 43:77]

And their pleas for Allah to lighten this enduring punishment, even for a day,

“And those in the Fire will cry out to the keepers of Hell, ‘Pray to your Lord to lighten the torment for us (even) for one day!’ The keepers will reply, ‘Did your messengers not (constantly) come to you with clear proofs?’ They will say, ‘Yes (they did).’ The keepers will say, ‘Then pray! Though the prayer of the disbelievers is only in vain.’” [Quran, 40:49-50]

Let your heart fear and tremble in awe, fearing you may be among its inhabitants, then rush to your Lord, asking for safety, weeping, imploring, and humbling yourself.

If your heart remains unmoved after all these horrors and hardships and the detailed descriptions of the types of punishment, then weep for yourself out of regret and sorrow.

8. Prophetic Stories

As you recite the Book of your Lord, pause and reflect deeply on the images depicted in the stories of the Quran, as it showcases the power of the Almighty, Glorified and Exalted, and His protection over His prophets and messengers. When you come across the story of Noah as he calls upon his Lord,

“So he cried out to his Lord, ‘I am helpless, so help (me)!’” [Quran, 54:10]

What was the result?

“So We opened the gates of the sky with pouring rain and caused the earth to burst with springs, so the waters met for a fate already set.” [Quran, 54:11-12]

With just three words (I am helpless, so help (me)!), the world is drowned, sparing only the believers.

Reflect on the scene of mercy emanating from Noah (Allah bless him), the compassionate father, as he calls to his son amid mountain-like waves,

“And (so) the Ark sailed with them through waves like mountains. Noah called out to his son, who stood apart, ‘O my dear son! Come aboard with us and do not be with the disbelievers.’” [Quran, 11:42]

Consider the arrogant and ignorant response of the son, which led to his doom,

“He replied, ‘I will take refuge on a mountain, which will protect me from the water.’ Noah cried, ‘Today no one is protected from Allah’s decree except those to whom He shows mercy!’ And the waves came between them, and his son was among the drowned.” [Quran, 11:43]

And when you reflect on the story of Moses (Allah bless him) in the Book of Allah, consider his argument with Pharaoh,

“And Moses said, ‘O Pharaoh! I am truly a messenger from the Lord of all worlds, obliged to say nothing about Allah except the truth. Indeed, I have come to you with clear proof from your Lord, so let the children of Israel go with me.’” [Quran, 7:104-105]

Reflect on the magicians’ feelings and faith touching their hearts upon seeing the truth manifest right before their eyes,

“Then We inspired Moses, ‘Throw down your staff,’ and—behold!—it devoured the objects of their illusion! So the truth prevailed, and their illusions failed. So Pharaoh and his people were defeated right there and put to shame. And the magicians fell down, prostrating.” [Quran, 7:117-120]

Reflect on the certainty in Allah (Most High) that Moses (Allah bless him) carried,

“When the two groups came face to face, the companions of Moses cried out, “‘We are overtaken for sure.’ Moses reassured (them), ‘Absolutely not! My Lord is certainly with me—He will guide me.’” [Quran, 26:61-62]

What was the fruit of this faith and its outcome?

“So We inspired Moses: ‘Strike the sea with your staff,’ and the sea was split, each part was like a huge mountain. We drew the pursuers to that place and delivered Moses and those with him all together. Then We drowned the others.” [Quran, 26:63-66]

Thus, do as you recite the Book of Allah with every scene, image, and story you encounter.

9. Comfort in Remembrance

As you recite the Book of your Lord, remember the rewards you will attain, the comfort you will feel, and the tranquility that will settle in your heart, fulfilling the words of Allah (Most High),

“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]

In truth, most verses of the Quran require us to pause and reflect thoughtfully, and what we have mentioned are merely examples and practical exercises to restore the Quran’s impact on our lives.

Insights Related to the Impact of the Quran

• When the heart is affected by the Quran, this influence is reflected in all aspects of a person’s life; therefore, it is essential to focus on how the Quran affects the human heart.
• Abandoning the Quran, neglecting its reading, and not engaging with its verses are among the major reasons that prevent the heart from being directly influenced by the Quran. Abandoning the Quran dulls the heart and makes it less prepared to receive guidance and be influenced.
• Returning to reading the Quran is foundational for interacting with it. We must reopen its pages and spend time reading its verses, as this allows the divine words the opportunity to influence our hearts.
• Sins, heedlessness, and drowning in worldly distractions are ailments that affect the healthy state of the heart. If the heart is polluted with these impurities, it becomes less capable of receiving divine messages and the positive influence of the Quran. Gathering the heart, deep concentration, and reflection during reading help the heart absorb the spiritual messages carried by the Quran.
• Ignorance of the meanings of Allah’s words, a shallow understanding of Quranic texts, and neglecting to study their interpretation pose significant barriers to the heart being affected by the Quran. How can the heart be influenced by words it does not understand? Therefore, pondering the Quran and understanding its meanings, lessons, and deep messages stimulate the heart to be moved by the Quran.
• Mind dispersion during reading makes us pass over lessons and morals without noticing them. This dispersion can be addressed by choosing times free from distractions to recite the Book of Allah (Most High), and reading aloud can enhance the impact of the Quran on the heart. The sound waves boost the emotional and spiritual strength of the Quranic texts, fostering a deeper connection with the content.

Summary

Finally, enhancing the positive impact of the Quran on our hearts, indeed in every aspect of our lives, and strengthening the spiritual connection with the words of the Creator, Glorified and Exalted, requires us to beseech Allah (Most High) to unlock our hearts to receive His guidance. It also demands that we return to reading it with reflection, cleanse our hearts from the filth of sins, improve our understanding of the Quranic meanings, and dedicate time to listening to and thinking about its verses.

The impact of the Quran on the hearts, its hidden spiritual authority over them, and its absolute governance over the perceptions of both humans and jinn alike, as well as its illuminating attraction to the hearts of both the guided and the deniers,, is but one of the signs of its greatness, its miraculous nature, and the truthfulness of Allah (Most High) when He says,

“(It is) Allah (Who) has sent down the best message—a Book of perfect consistency and repeated lessons—which causes the skin (and hearts) of those who fear their Lord to tremble, then their skin and hearts soften at the mention of (the mercy of) Allah. That is the guidance of Allah, through which He guides whoever He wills. But whoever Allah leaves to stray will be left with no guide.” [Quran, 39:23]

May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.

And Allah knows best.