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

The Noble Qur’an is strongly related to our daily life

Dear brothers, there is a fairly big difference between believing that the Noble Qur’an is the Word of the Lord of the worlds, which was revealed to the heart of the Prophet PBUH, and feeling that this Noble Qur’an is intimately and strongly related to your daily life. It is just like believing that the Prophet PBUH was a great person who possessed a unique character and who reached the absolute human perfection, so you only believe in him as a historical personage, while you do not follow the teachings of the Prophet PBUH in your life to solve your problems. Thus, we will not get benefit from Islam unless we believe for sure that the teachings of the Prophet PBUH are solutions to our problems, and the teachings of the Noble Quran are instructions for our daily lives. So, unless Islam is turned from heritage into being applied in reality, and from historical heritage into instructions, we will not succeed.

The Noble Qur’an is a Divine legislation for all people

Dear brothers, it is a serious mistake to believe that Islam is just a heritage, a tradition of our nation, which is not related to our life, to our problems, to the challenges we face, and to the failure we suffer from. So, the solution is to understand that Islam is related to our daily lives, it is not only a historical heritage, and the strongest proof of this fact is that Allah left mentioning the small details in the stories of the Noble Quran. Some scholars said: If Allah mentioned the smallest and the most trivial details in the stories of the Noble Qur’an, we would have thought that they were historical events that will not occur anymore, also, Islam would have turned into heritage, and the Noble Qur’an would have turned into a history book.

1-The story of Prophet Yunus

Why did Allah the Almighty mention to us the story of Prophet Yunus when he cried through the darkness, Allah the Almighty says:

(But he cried through the darkness (saying): La ilaha illa Anta [none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah)], Glorified (and Exalted) are You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers.)

[Al-Anbya, 87]

Allah mentions to you this story, in which it was impossible for prophet Yunus PBUH to survive, and there was no hope at all, Allah the Almighty says:

(So We answered his call, and delivered him from the distress.)

[Al-Anbya, 88]

He was in the darkness of the belly of the whale, the darkness of the sea, and the darkness of the night. In fact, there is total darkness at a depth of 200m under the sea even if it is during the day, and there is no source of light in the belly of the whale, not to mention the darkness of the night
The most wonderful thing in the ayah is that Allah turns it into a law. Allah the Almighty says:

(And thus We do deliver the believers (who believe in the Oneness of Allah, abstain from evil and work righteousness).)

[Al-Anbya, 88]

This ayah is not about a story of a noble Prophet that took place and will not occur again. So, it is a serious mistake to understand the Noble Qur’an as a history book which mentions to us a story of a Prophet, of course not, it gives us vital instructions which are applicable and relevant for all times. So, if you, as a believer, fall in distress, you should behave like that noble Prophet:

Even though there was no hope to survive

(and delivered him from the distress.)

So that Allah the Almighty assures you that this story is for you and not only a historical story, He says:

(And thus We do deliver the believers (who believe in the Oneness of Allah, abstain from evil and work righteousness).)

[Al-Anbya, 88]

2-The story of Prophet Musa’s mother with him:

Consider the following noble ayah in which Allah the Almighty says:

(And We inspired the mother of Musa (Moses), (saying): “Suckle him [Musa (Moses)], but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily! We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Messengers.)

[Al-Qasas, 7]

Is it rational that when a mother fears for her baby to put him in a box and throw him in the river (indicating Moses’ mother PBUH)? What do we deduce from this? In Whose Hand is that box in the river? Who moved it? Who sent it to the beach of (Pharaoh) palace? Who made it stop in front of a stick of the branches of a tree on the river shore? Who inspired the wife of Pharaoh to come to the beach? Who cast the love for that baby in her heart? It is Allah the Almighty. Thus, when you believe that Allah is the Real Actor (everything is under His Power), then you understand this story as a contemporary instruction, it is a kind of guidance to the believer at any time. Hence, the most serious mistake is to turn Islam into heritage which you boast or which you are proud of, rather it is a dairy and contemporary guidance.

The story of Prophet Musa when Pharaoh pursued him:

Dear brothers, I hope to clarify to you in this lecture that the Noble Quran is not a history book, and when the Noble Qur’an mentioned to us the Prophet’s stories, it is not only to be stories, but to be reality which is applied among us. I mean, there are forces of oppression, there are armies who possess deadly weapons, there are air forces, there are rockets, there are atomic, bacterial, cluster, and nuclear bombs, there is an economic blockade and there are satellites which monitor every movement and stillness on the earth. Actually, when Pharaoh followed Prophet Moses (in oppression and enmity)- in every age there is oppressor like Pharaoh- he possessed deadly weapons, he was filled with violent hatred that is not known except by Allah the Almighty, he was arrogant and haughty, he followed that Noble Prophet who was with a small band of his weak, poor, and scared companions, while Pharaoh was following them with his weapons, he was filled with arrogance, haughtiness, dictatorship, hatred, superiority and conceitedness –like the arrogance of the oppressors nowadays- then they reached the sea which was in front of them while Pharaoh was behind them, it was impossible to survive and there was no hope at all. Consider a thousand unarmed people who were followed by an army, tanks, aircrafts, missiles, phosphorous bombs, and cluster bombs, which hit their targets exactly, and every human is watched:

(the companions of Musa (Moses) said: “We are sure to be overtaken.* ([Musa (Moses)] said: “Nay, verily! With me is my Lord, He will guide me.)

[Ash-Shuara]

If you believe that this story will not reoccur until the Day of Resurrection, then you are not a real believer in the Noble Quran. This story may repeat from now until the Day of Resurrection. You have heard from those who faced the mightiest army in the region how Allah the Almighty honored them, supported them, strengthened their wills, and filled their hearts with secure and tranquility. They faced the mightiest army in the region, By Allah, I hear some stories about them (how Allah supported them although they were few and weak). So, the Noble Qur’an is the book of your life, it is your daily book, and unless you believe that the Noble Quran’s stories may reoccur, you do not really recite the Noble Qur’an, you are just reading a history book.

We should seek solutions to our problems in the Qur’an

Dear brothers, unless the Noble Qur’an is our book at this time (unless we apply its verdicts in our life), and unless we look for solutions to our problems in it, we will be far away from its reality, as it is neither a history book, nor is it just a revelation sent down to the heart of the Prophet PBUH 1400 years ago, rather it is our daily book. Allah the Almighty has created the heavens and the earth, He has created the sun, and it is still shining, He has created the moon and it is still bright, he has created rain, sea, plains, deserts, mountains, plants, animals, and all these things are still effective; the sun shines, the moon reflects light, it rains, and the earth grows plants. Although these things were created in the past, it is still effective in our life, likewise the Noble Qur’an is the light of the universes, it illuminates them and it will remain the light of universes till the Day of Resurrection. Actually, you should believe that Allah has created the universes and has illustrated them by the Noble Qur’an. The most serious mistake is to think that the Noble Qur’an is only a heritage, or is only a book that was revealed in the past, or that the Prophet PBUH was a man of a great character, a great reformer, and a genius, rather we should follow the teachings of the Prophet PBUH in our lives to solve our problems, and we should seek these solutions in the Noble Qur’an. For example, Allah the Almighty says:

(And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). * And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine.)

[At-Talaq, 2-3]

This ayah means that the destruction of the whole universe is less important in the Sight of Allah than not to fulfill His Promises to His Servants. So, if you, as a believing young man, suffer from a problem, or you do not find a job to earn your living, or you do not find a righteous wife for you, or you do not find a way for you to get out from your problem, then you should fear Allah, and He will apply the verdict of this ayah to you, Allah the Almighty says:

(And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). * And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine.)

[At-Talaq, 2-3]

To be honest, if we seek solutions to all of our problems in the Noble Qur’an we will find the ideal solutions to them all. But our big mistake is that we consider the Noble Quran as a heritage book, we seek blessing from it, and we only recite it as an act of worship to Allah the Almighty. What should we do instead? We should consider its ayaat as solutions to our problems, this shows the size of our problem. Allah the Almighty says:

(Verily, therein is indeed a reminder for him who has a heart or gives ear while he is heedful.)

[Qaf, 37]

Salah (prayer) is a light, Sadaqah (charity) is a proof. Sabr (patience) is a shining glory. The Qur’an is an argument either for you or against you.

[Muslim]

Once, I visited a faraway country, people there are accustomed to eat the fruit before meals, they are used to offering fruit first then the food. I know for sure that the natural sugar; i.e. fructose is fast-digested, it passes from the mouth into the blood in ten minutes, so if you enter your house hungry and eat one or two dates, or one or two apples or any other fruit which contains natural sugar, then you perform Az-Zuhur (the midday) prayer, then you will eat your lunch without feeling very hungry, Allah the Almighty says:

(And fruit; that they may choose. *And the flesh of fowls that they desire.)

[Al-Waqiah, 20-21]

So, Allah mentioned the fruit first which is a sign (that we should start with eating it.)
Dear brothers, we can deduce thousands, or even tens thousands of instructions from the Noble Qur’an. For example, there are serious diseases which are caused by eating fruits before they are ripe, therefore Allah the Almighty says:

(Eat of their fruit when they ripen,)

[AL-An'am, 141]

The Noble Qur’an is a healing for souls

I want to affirm to you that the Noble Quran is the book of our life in which there is a solution to all our problems. For example, if you ask yourself: Why some countries are powerful, beautiful and green, they have plentiful sources of water, and enormous wealth, while their inhabitants are infidels, atheists, sinners, adulterers, and drinkers of wine? Why they have the upper hand, and everyone should obey them? If you ask yourself why does that happen? This doubt hinders your way to get closer to Allah. Consider the following noble ayah in which Allah the Almighty says:

(So, when they forgot (the warning) with which they had been reminded, We opened to them the gates of every (pleasant) thing, until in the midst of their enjoyment in that which they were given, all of a sudden, We took them to punishment,)

[Al-An'am, 44]

So, there is healing for people in the Noble Qur’an (it heals your soul from doubts). For example, you find some people who are weak, they are killed, their wealth is plundered, their countries are occupies, and their young men are killed, you ask yourself: What is the Wisdom of Allah behind that? Consider the noble ayah below in which Allah the Almighty says:

(Verily, Fir’aun (Pharaoh) exalted himself in the land and made its people sects, weakening (oppressing) a group (i.e. Children of Israel) among them, killing their sons, and letting their females live. Verily, he was of the Mufsidun (i.e. those who commit great sins and crimes, oppressors, tyrants, etc.). * And We wished to do a favour to those who were weak (and oppressed) in the land, and to make them rulers and to make them the inheritors, *And to establish them in the land, and We let Fir’aun (Pharaoh) and Haman and their hosts receive from them that which they feared.)

[Al-Qasas, 4-6]

Hence, there is healing for people in the Noble Qur’an

He who recites the Noble Qur’an never gets depressed

Dear brothers, it was mentioned in relic that the Prophet PBUH said:

He who recites the Noble Qur’an will never be sad

[Al-Jami As-Saghir]

How could the one who recites the Noble Quran get depressed while Allah the Almighty says:

(then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery.)

[Taha, 123]

(and whoever follows My Guidance, there shall be no fear on them, nor shall they grieve.)

[Al-Baqarah, 38]

Also, how could he get depressed while Allah the Almighty says:

(Certainly, you shall have no authority over My slaves,)

[Al-Hijr, 42]

(Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision),)

[An-Nahl, 97]

(Say: “Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Maula (Lord, Helper and Protector).)

[At-Tawbah, 51]

(Allah is the Wali (Protector or Guardian) of those who believe. He brings them out from darkness into light. But as for those who disbelieve, their Auliya (supporters and helpers) are Taghut [false deities and false leaders, etc.], they bring them out from light into darkness.)

[Al-Baqarah, 257]

You should not separate between the Noble Qur’an and your life

Unless this Noble Qur’an is the book of your life, whose instructions make you go along the path of peace with yourself, with those people around you, and with your Lord, you are not considered a real reciter of the Noble Qur’an. So, beware not to separate the teachings of the Noble Qur’an from your life.

1-Comparing our reality to the story of Prophet Ya’qub’s sons:

Once, an Arab country sent some hundreds of senior officers to get military training in new weapons in Western countries, the problem is that they all returned on the same plane, that plane was shot down, which means hundreds of military experts on the latest military weapons died in the shooting down of two planes. What did the Noble Quran mention?

(And he said: “O my sons! Do not enter by one gate, but enter by different gates,)

[Yusuf, 67]

They would have returned in different flight, if they had recited the Noble Qur’an. Thus, the Noble Qur’an is a daily book and the book of life. By Allah, dear brothers, I wish that when you read the Noble Quran, you compare it to your reality and apply its teachings in your life.

2-Comparing our reality to the ayah of reconciliation:

For example, if a dispute occurs between two believing parties, no party should call for foreign troops, as what happened recently when there was a dispute between two Islamic countries, which led western armies to come to this region, this is against the ruling of the following ayah in which Allah the Almighty says:

(And if two parties or groups among the believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them both,)

[Al-Hujurat, 9]

Why did not we applied the ruling of this ayah?

Applying the rulings of the Noble Qur’an leads us to Paradise

Ibn Masood, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

The Noble Qur’an will be brought on the Day of Judgment to intercede for its reader so that it will lead him to Paradise or to be an argument against him (because he did not apply its rulings) so that it will lead him to the Hellfire

[Ad-Darami]

Thus, if you apply the rulings of the Noble Qur’an it will lead you to Paradise, while if man neglects its teachings, it will lead him to the Hellfire. Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

This Quran is a reward for you or an argument against you, so follow its teaching and never let it behind you, as the one who follows its teaching will be sent to Paradise, while the one who neglects it will be cast in Hellfire

[Ad-Darami and Al-Bayhaqi]

Prophet PBUH said:

He never believes in the Noble Qur’an he who makes legal what is prohibited in it

[At-Tirmidhi]

A man might recite the noble Quran yet the noble Quran curses him

[Mentioned in relic]

Some of As-Salaf (“predecessors” or “ancestors”) said: Whoever recites the Noble Qur’an will never end with nothing; he will either win or lose, then he recited the noble ayah below:

(And We send down from the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism and act on it), and it increases the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers) nothing but loss.)

[Al-Isra, 82]

And the Prophet PBUH said:

Sadaqah (charity) is a proof. Sabr (patience) is a shining glory. The Qur’an is an argument either for you or against you.

[Muslim]

Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: Every letter in the Noble Qur’an calls: I am a message from Allah to you to apply me in your life and to learn lessons from exhortations.
Allah the Almighty says:

Do they not then think deeply in the Quran, or are their hearts locked up (from understanding it)?

[Muhammad, 24]

Considering the Ayaat of the Noble Qur’an

Actually, considering the Ayaat of the Noble Qur’an is totally different from understanding their meanings, and from the sound recitation which is according to the rules of Tajweed. Consideration is to reflect upon the ayah and to compare it with your situation, i.e. to ask yourself whether you apply it in your life or not. For example, Allah the Almighty says:

(The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts)

[Al-Anfal, 2]

Do you feel fear within when you read the Noble Qur’an? does your skin shiver? Do you feel an ecstasy of faith? If you feel nothing then you have a problem. So consideration is to compare your situation to the Ayaat you read in the Noble Qur’an. You should always ask yourself this exact question: Do I follow the teachings of this Ayah? Do I apply its ruling? Allah the Almighty says:

(Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.).)

[An-Nur, 30]

Ask yourself: do I apply this ruling? (do I lower my gaze?). Also, Allah the Almighty says:

(And those, who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but hold a medium (way) between those (extremes).)

[Al-Furqan, 67]

Do you apply this verdict? So whenever you read an Ayah, you should consider it then apply its ruling. So, you should consider the Ayaat; i.e. to compare it with your situation whether you follow its teaching or not, then you should apply its rulings in your life. Allah the Almighty says:

(“(This is) a Book (the Quran) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its Verses,)

[Al-Furqan, 29]

Which means: the reason behind sending down this Noble Qur’an is that people ponder over its ayaat. Some scholars said:

If you claim to love Me, so why do you abandon My Book?
Why do not you ponder over it to see the sweetness of My Speech

Reciting the Noble Qur’an as it should be recited

Dear brothers, we should recite the Noble Qur’an as it should be recited. When Allah describes the believers he says:

(recite it (i.e. obey its orders and follow its teachings) as it should be recited (i.e. followed),)

[Al-Baqarah, 121]

Some scholars said:

The Noble Qur’an should be recited

according to the sound grammar of the Arabic language, and according to the rules of Tajweed, then you should understand it’s meaning. Allah the Almighty says in another ayah:

(It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah.)

[Fatir, 28]

The transliteration of this ayah is: “innama yakhsha Allaha min AAibadihi alAAulamao” A Fat-ha( an accent mark which is put over a letter when a short sound of “A” is supposed to be pronounced after the letter) was added over Allah’s Name to show that it is an object, while alAAulamao (those who have knowledge) is the subject because Ad-Dhamma (a small letter “Waw” over a letter which is put over a letter when a short sound of “U” is supposed to be pronounced after the letter) was added over it to show that it is a subject. If you read it as the following: “innama yakhsha Allahu” adding Ad-Damma to Allah’s Name, this is a terrible mistake (because you turn it into a subject), because you make a severe distortion of the meaning. So, you should follow the rules of the Arabic grammar in reciting the Noble Qur’an, then you should learn Tajweed (the knowledge and application of the rules of recitation so the reading of the Qur’an is as the Prophet PBUH recited), then you should understand it. Sometimes man may listen to the Noble Qur’an without paying attention to what he hears, like when someone heard the ayah: “And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups” he said: O Allah, made us among them! As he did not listen attentively. To summarize, you should recite the Noble Qur’an according to the Arabic language grammar, according to the rules of Tajweed, and you should understand its meaning.

Islam is a great method that everyone is in need of

Dear brothers, I want to clarify to you in this blessed meeting that the Noble Qur’an is not a history book, and Islam is not heritage, rather it is a method that we all need at any year, we need it in managing our affairs, in our families, in choosing our jobs, in times of prosperity and distress, in health and sickness, and in wealth and poverty. Also, we all in need of it, whether we are old or young, whether we are male or female, so every human being needs it. Thus, when you understand the Noble Qur’an as a method for you in your life, you turn away from the bad traditional understanding of the Noble Qur’an that it is only a Holy historical book, this is definitely wrong, you should seek solutions for your problems in it.
By Allah, all of you can follow the teachings of Allah’s Words as a method in all aspects of your life, in the management of your home, in your relationship with your wives, in your jobs, with those who are above you, with those who are below you, with those who are around you, by then the Words of Allah (the Noble Qur’an) become a method, not a history book, and Islam becomes a solution to our problems, not a heritage which we are proud of.