To reflect upon the verses of Allah (Quran) is a form of worship

Recitation of Quran helps purify the heart and cleans it from impurities and diseases.

If there is one miracle of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that is to be named and regarded superior to all the other miracles, then that miracle will undoubtedly be of the Holy Quran.

This Book of Divine and Heavenly knowledge was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) about fourteen centuries ago and since then it has been a beacon of hope towards which Muslims turn for guidance.

Quran being a heavenly book is not merely words, it directly affects the heart of the reader or listener and purifies it.

Allah Almighty says in the Quran: “O mankind! There hath come to you an admonition from your Lord and a healing for the (diseases) in your hearts and for those who believe, a Guidance and Mercy.” (Holy Quran 10:57)

Thus, it is evident that one of the objectives of the recitation of this holy book is to help purify the heart and clean it from impurities and diseases of all sorts.

If a Muslim does not read the Holy Quran daily, he is likely to forget the guidelines required to become a good Musilim and may go astray from the path of righteousness. When we read this holy book daily, our faith gets refreshed and the way to the right path becomes easy.

In a nutshell, besides the fact that daily recitation of Quran brings reward from Allah, it can also bring other benefits in the form of cleansing of heart, guidance to stay on the right path, a chance of conversing with Allah and becoming a better Muslim.

During the month of Ramadan, we should establish an even closer relationship with the Quran as Allah says: The month of Ramadan (is that) in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs of guidance and criterion (between right and wrong) (Holy Quran 2:185)

Faith and sincerity are the prerequisites of understanding the Holy Quran and following the message of God in practical life, which can turn him into a man of excellent character. The recitation of the holy Quran in the month of Ramadan — which is also known as the month of Quran — is a source of infinite blessings.

No doubt, it is the duty of every Muslim, man, woman, or child, to read the Quran and understand it according to his own capacity. If anyone of us attains some knowledge or understanding of it by dwelling upon and it and by contemplation, then it is our duty to share with others the joy and peace (inward and outward) we experienced by this contact with the spiritual world.

Every earnest and reverent student of the Quran, as he proceeds with his study, will find an indescribable inward joy. The more one understands this holy book, the wider his horizons will get. It is like a traveller climbing a mountain; the higher he goes, the further he sees. Every time we read the Holy Quran, the meaning expands, newer worlds open up, the miracle deepens and completely absorbs us.

To reflect upon the verses of Allah is a form of worship; it is something that will draw one closer to Allah. Allah says in the Quran: “Then do they not reflect upon the Quran? If it had been from (any) other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.” (Holy Quran: 4:82)

The book of Allah is unlike any other; it is the speech of Allah, and not a created thing. It is a guidebook for life, death, and what follows. Therefore, it deserves a far more careful study than anyone else’s speech. It necessitates that its reader return to the

early narrations of those who witnessed its revelation and heard its explanation by the one deputed by Allah to explain His Words to humanity, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

(The writer is a former Khaleej Times staffer)

• UAE