How Is Contemplating the Quran Different from Reading It?

Answered by Shaykh Anas Al-Musa

Question

What is the difference between reading the Quran and contemplating it?

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.

Recitation of the Quran

This means reading the words of the Quran correctly according to one of the narrations and applying the rules of Tajwid as stipulated by the scholars. This recitation may be accompanied by an understanding of some meanings, or it may not. Undoubtedly, if this recitation is accompanied by sincerity and seeking reward from Allah (Most High), then it earns reward and brings tranquility and mercy.

Contemplating the Quran

This means reflecting on its meanings, focusing thought on its principles and consequences, and its implications. It goes beyond the apparent meanings of the words and strives to understand the deep messages conveyed by the words and verses of the Quran, and it includes searching for wisdom and guidance within the folds of the verses.

Pondering the Quran stirs the hearts, removes veils from them, opens their windows, pours light into them, moves the feelings, purifies the conscience, and creates a life for the soul that pulsates, shines, and enlightens. [Sayyid Qutb, Fi Zilal al-Quran]

Pondering the Quran encourages the believer to reflect and think about the relationship between the verses and the believer’s daily life journey, which in turn reflects on the application of the principles of the Quran; the impact of the Quran is then evident in the behavior and actions of the Muslim.

Allah (Most High) explained the importance of pondering the Quran and the wisdom behind its revelation and that reading, which includes contemplation, is better than rapid reading, which does not achieve this purpose. He (Most High) said:

“(This is) a blessed Book which We have revealed to you (O Prophet) so that they may contemplate its verses, and people of reason may be mindful.” [Quran, 38:29]

Meaning that people may ponder its verses to extract their knowledge and contemplate their secrets and wisdom.

Imam Qurtubi said: This is evidence of the necessity to know the meanings of the Quran and an indication that recitation with tajwid is better than hurried reading, for proper contemplation is not possible with hastiness. Hasan al-Basri said: Pondering the verses of Allah means following them. [Qurtubi, al-Jami‘ li-Ahkam al-Quran]

Our Lord, exalted be He, has urged us to contemplate and understand the Quran, and He said:

“Do they not then reflect on the Quran? Or are there locks upon their hearts?” [Quran, 47:24]

Not Hurrying Up

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]

It was a trait of the Khawarij, whom the Chosen One, Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace), criticized:

“They recite the Quran, but it does not go beyond their throats; they exit the religion as an arrow exits the prey.” [Bukhari]

Imam Zarkashi said: It is disliked to read the Quran without contemplation. This is supported by the hadith of Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr, where the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

“He who recites the Quran in a period less than three days does not understand it.” [Abu Dawud; Zarkashi, al-Burhan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran; Muhammad Ali ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, Fath al-Rahman fi Bayan Hijr al-Quran; Ghanim Quduri, Muhadarat fi ‘Ulum al-Quran]

The danger of neglecting contemplation is emphasized in the statement of Allah (Most High):

“Do they not then reflect on the Quran? Or are there locks upon their hearts?” [Quran, 47:24]

This is for rebuke, meaning: Do they turn away from the Book of Allah and not contemplate the Quran? Thus, Allah (Most High) condemned their disregard for contemplating the Quran, using the rhetorical question as a tool of reproach, indicating that their hearts have locks that do not open to goodness or to understanding the Quran.

The reprimand and disapproval expressed in this verse are elaborated in many other verses, such as:

“Do they not then reflect on the Quran? Had it been from anyone other than Allah, they would have certainly found in it many inconsistencies.” [Quran, 4:82] and

“Is it because they have never contemplated the Word (of Allah)? Or (because) there has come to them something that did not come to their forefathers?” [Quran, 23:68] [Shinqiti, Adwa’ al-Bayan fi Idah al-Quran bi al-Quran]

The locks caused by the self, Satan, wealth, children, desires, and doubts prevent the hearts from accessing the Quran, from the light, and from Allah; for the closing of the hearts is like the locking of locks that allow neither air nor light.

Importance of contemplating the Quran:

1. Cure:

The Quran is a cure for bodies and hearts, and for them, it is like rain on parched land. Just as rain is the spring of the earth, so the Quran is the spring of the hearts of the faithful.

2. Life of the Heart:

The essence of worship and the life of the heart originate from the Book of Allah, which Allah has made a spirit, life, and light. He revealed,

“And so We have sent to you (O Prophet) a revelation by Our command. You did not know of (this) Book and faith (before). But We have made it a light, by which We guide whoever We will of Our servants. And you are truly leading (all) to the Straight Path.” [Quran, 42:52]

It is no wonder then that a believer finds the life of his heart in contemplating the Quran; for in its deliberate recitation, he tastes the sweetness of communing with the words of his Lord, living within the horizons of the verses whose spirit permeates the recesses of his heart, finding therein a new life for his heart and a pleasure indescribable by his tongue and unrecordable by his pens, due to the majesty of the divine discourse and the beauty of its splendor that captivates the mind of the contemplator, softening his soul, and enveloping it with tranquility and reverence, revealing to the heart meanings that shower light and rain, bestowing upon the reader both majesty and beauty. [‘Aql, Hinama Ya‘takif al-Qalb]

3. Reflection and Understanding:

If people knew what is in the contemplative reading of the Quran, they would engage in it to the exclusion of everything else. When one reads it thoughtfully and comes across a verse he needs for the healing of his heart, he may repeat it a hundred times or even throughout the night. Reading a verse with reflection and understanding is better than reciting the entire Quran without contemplation and understanding, more beneficial for the heart, and more conducive to attaining faith and tasting the sweetness of the Quran, for reading the Quran thoughtfully is the foundation of the heart’s rectitude.

4. Key to Righteousness:

Truly, living with the Quran and contemplating it is the key to the heart’s righteousness, and nothing equals living with the Quran in stabilizing and grounding the heart. This is not for every reader, but for one whose concern during the recitation of the sura is: When will I take heed by what I recite? Not aiming at: When will I finish it? His intention should be: When will I understand Allah’s discourse, when will I be admonished, when will I take heed? For reciting the Quran is an act of worship, and worship should not be performed heedlessly. [‘Aql, Hinama Ya‘takif al-Qalb; Ajurri, Akhlaq Hamalat al-Quran]

Bishr Ibn al-Sari said, “A verse is like a date; the more you chew it, the more sweetness you extract.” [Zarkashi, al-Burhan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran]

5. Joy:

Ahmad Ibn Abi al-Hawari said, “I read the Quran and ponder a verse so profoundly that it bewilders my mind. I am amazed at those who memorize the Quran! How can they sleep peacefully and occupy themselves with worldly matters when they speak the words of the Merciful? If only they understood what they recited, knew its right, savored it, and relished communing with it; their sleep would vanish out of joy for what they have been granted and blessed with.” [Sulami, Tabaqat al-Sufiyya]

Dhu al-Nun al-Misri versified:

مَنَعَ القُرَانُ بِوَعْدِه وَوَعِيدِهِ … مُقَلَ الْعُيُونِ بِلَيْلِهَا لَا تَهْجَعُ
فَهِمُوا عَنِ الْمَلِكِ الْعَظِيمِ كَلَامَهُ … فَهْمًا تَذِلُّ لَهُ الرِّقَابُ وَتَخْضَعُ

“The Quran, with its promises and warnings,
Prevents the eyes at night from resting.

They understood the words of the Almighty King,
An understanding before which necks bow and submit.”

6. Means of Aiding in Contemplating the Quran

Among the aids to pondering the Quran and living with it are a joy in it and reading it with a spirit of glad tidings and a sense of grace. Whoever aims to understand the Quran should read it with joy and cheerfulness; for this is one of the greatest motivators for contemplation. Allah (Most High) described His believing servants:

“Whenever a sura 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]

He (Most High) also said:

“O humanity! Indeed, there has come to you a warning from your Lord, a cure for what is in the hearts, a guide, and a mercy for the believers. Say, (O Prophet,) ‘In Allah’s grace and mercy let them rejoice. That is far better than whatever (wealth) they amass.’” [Quran, 10:57-58]

Among the most effective means of aiding in contemplating the Quran is the repetition of verses, as this is the way to derive the treasures and secrets of the Quran. The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) repeated the verse: “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.

Advice

Last but not least, the Quran is abundant with blessings and goodness. Engage as much as you can in its contemplation when you are energetic, contemplate its prohibitions and commands, the verses that Allah (Most High) causes to occur within the souls and on the horizons.

Organize your life around it, and you will see the difference yourself. Remember that the Companions (Allah be pleased with them) considered the Quran as messages from Allah (Most High), which they would read in their prayers at night and apply during the day. They would not go beyond ten verses until they had learned them, understood their meanings, and acted upon them, thus they were given knowledge and action together… and thus they became the best of nations.

Recommendation

For further reading on contemplating the Quran, I recommend the following books:

• “Al-Khulasa fi Tadabbur al-Quran” by Khalid Ibn ‘Usman al-Sabt,
• “Fath al-Rahman fi Bayan Hijr al-Quran” by Muhammad Ibn Fathi Ali ‘Abd al-Aziz,
• “Hina Yatikaf al-Qalb” by Abdul Rahman al-Aql, and
• “Tahqiq al-Wasal Bayna al-Qalb Wa al-Quran” by Majdi al-Hilali.

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

And Allah knows best.