The Holy Qur’an is the book of Almighty Allah divinely revealed (Quran 15:9) through the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) for the benefit of, and as guidance to all mankind (Quran 3:19; 3:85; 5:3; 6:90; 7:158; 25:1; 33:40; 57:25). Muslims are instructed to follow its guidance (Quran 6:92; 6:155).
The Qur’an is “a scripture whereof the verses are expounded, a Qur’an, in Arabic for people who have knowledge” (Qur’an 41:3). That the words of Almighty Allah are expressed in this language is significant, in particular from the vibrations that emanate from recitation of these words. Almighty Allah tells us “had We sent down this Qur’an on a mountain, surely, you would have seen it humble itself and cleave asunder, for fear of Allah” (Qur’an 59:21).
As Muslims we are required to memorize the Qur’an in the performance of the five daily salaat (worship), in which they recite verses from the Qur’an in prayer. Beyond this, there is great merit in memorization of the Qur’an, physically from health benefits to spiritually an abundance of blessings and numerous rewards in the afterlife.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) is reported to have said, “Recitation of the Qur’an is the best divine service of my followers.” As Muslims, we are encouraged to recite the Holy Qur’an, and there is a lot of merit in doing so – its virtues cannot be overstated, as reflected in the following ahadith:
- Recite the Quran, for it will come on the Day of Judgement as an intercessor for its companions. (Muslim)
- Brighten your homes with Salaah and the recitation of the Quran (Baihaqi)
- The best among you are those who learn the Quran and teach it. (Bukhari)
- Whoever reads a letter from the book of Allah, gets one virtue in its place; and one virtue had got ten rewards like it. I don’t say that Alif Laam Meem is a letter, but Alif is a letter, Laam is a letter and Meem is a letter (Tirmidhi)
- He who recites the Quran expertly will be with the noble scribes and he who recites the Quran and finds difficulty in pronouncing the words will have a double reward. (Bukhari and Muslim)
To be able to read the Quran, there are some significant challenges any beginner would face. These include:
- Learning to read a new (non-latinized) language
- Learning the science of correct pronunciation of the Quran
- Memorization of selected chapters of the Quran
- Learning to Read the Arabic Language
Arabic is often listed as a notoriously difficult language to learn. Being nested in Afroasiatic family of languages, it is different from much of the popular Indo-European languages that dominate the Western world today. The very fact that it is written from right to left is an example of this difficulty. The British Foreign Service Institute estimates one requires 2200 hours of study time to achieve general proficiency.
Arabic is an important language.
Apart from being the liturgical language for approximately 2 billion Muslims globally, Arabic is one of six official languages of the United Nations, the official language of 26 states and a regional / minority language in several others. Arabic has an estimated 400-500 million native speakers located throughout the Middle and Near East and North Africa – the hub of global trade and travel.
As a language, Arabic is unique and bears a special significance in world history. The Qur’anic form and structure of language presented a new way of writing to the world, and Classical Arabic (of the Qur’an) is still widely regarded as the preferred language of poetry and literature for Arabic speakers.
- Tajweed - The Science of Proper Pronunciation
Tajweed is the science of recitation of the Holy Qur’an, according to specific rules which define the correct pronunciation and intonation of every letter of the Holy Qur’an. Accuracy of recitation of the Qur’an is essential in its recitation.
The Qur’an, as the direct words of Almighty Allah revealed to the Holy Prophet (peace be on him), in its written form is with us today. Accurate recitation preserves not only the meaning of the Holy book but the legacy of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him).
To learn Tajweed and be able to apply it effectively and consistently in practice, one must first understand the rules – in this case the rules that apply to the letters and words as they appear in the Quranic text. This requires practice in each rule, and exposure to the rules as they appear in the text, in order to master each rule. The upside is that many textual presentations of the Quran have indicators where the various rules apply, so that on recognition of those signs, the appropriate rule can be applied. With sufficient practice and exposure, mastery will come. AND, the great consolation is that the struggle to get to that point earns double rewards.
- Memorization (Hifz)
Memorization of the Quran is typically not an easy feat – especially for more mature individuals. The Quran is divided into 114 surahs (chapters), containing 6,236 ayah (verses), comprising approximately 80,000 words. To memorize the Quran in 1 year, a person would have to memorize 20 ayah (verses) each day. Even then, to ensure full recall, the Quran must be constantly revised. Notwithstanding the volume of text, in some Muslim countries thousands of children graduate as Hafiz-e-Quran annually. To date the Quran is one of a few, if not the only book – religious or secular – that is memorized by millions of people throughout the world.
There are different techniques used in memorization, which vary depending on individual and teacher propensities and preferences. Some persons prefer to hear the recitation aloud, others to read the script, and yet others to do both. Whatever the method, the expectations are complete and accurate memorization of the verses and chapters being learnt.
The challenges faced by a beginner do not come without accompanying benefits, however. The ability to read a language offers students the ability to expand and understand their grammar and vocabulary, different language structures and forms of expression. Facilitated by visual cues, reading aids in recall, and helps the student accelerate the learning and understanding once literacy skills are mastered.
Key to overcoming these challenges is the ability to access a competent guide from the start – no one wants to expend double effort in learning a skill – the costs of time, effort and motivation can be significant.
With the right guide, sufficient effort in learning and practice, you can unlock the code we as Muslims are given to build a closer, stronger relationship with the Almighty, and earn bonus rewards to help us live the best life for this world, and the next.
Access Free Self-Study Courses
Check out the free courses and materials available to you on demand.