Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Allah Ta‘ala has blessed the Ummah of Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with an ocean that has no shores. This ocean is filled with pearls, emeralds, rubies and every form of priceless treasure. The more one draws from this ocean, the more one will benefit. This ocean will never deplete but will continue to bless one in this world and the next. This shoreless ocean is the Quraan Majeed.
The Quraan Majeed is the greatest bounty of Allah Ta‘ala on this Ummah. It is the Divine speech of Allah Ta‘ala to His creation and there is no bounty in the world that can equal it.
As long as the Ummah firmly holds onto the Quraan Majeed and fulfill its rights, it will be a source of light for them in this world and in the grave. Furthermore, on the Day of Qiyaamah, it will accompany them on the plains of Resurrection until it enters them into Paradise.
The Home wherein the Quraan Majeed is Recited
In the Mubaarak Hadith, it is mentioned that the home wherein the Quraan Majeed is recited contains such blessings that the angels throng to it and the special mercies of Allah Ta‘ala descend upon it.
وإن البيت الذي يقرأ فيه القرآن عليه خيمة من نور يهتدي بها أهل السماء كما يهتدى بالكوكب الدري في لجج البحار وفي الأرض القفر (الترغيب والترهيب للمنذري ١/٢٤٤)[1]
It is reported in the narration of Hazrat Ubaadah Bin Saamit (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “The house in which the Quraan is recited is enveloped in a canopy of noor through which the angels in the heavens seek direction and light just as a ship sailing in the middle of the ocean or a traveller in a barren land seek direction and light through a shining star.”
حدثني حفص بن عنان الحنفي أن أبا هريرة كان يقول: إن البيت ليتسع على أهله وتحضره الملائكة وتهجره الشياطين ويكثر خيره أن يقرأ فيه القرآن وإن البيت ليضيق على أهله وتهجره الملائكة وتحضره الشياطين ويقل خيره أن لا يقرأ فيه القرآن (سنن الدارمي، الرقم: ٣٣٥٢)[2]
In another Hadith, it is reported that the home wherein the Quraan Majeed is recited is such that it causes blessings to enter the family, causes the angels to descend upon them and the shayaateen to leave the home, and causes goodness to increase in the home, but the house wherein the Quraan Majeed is not recited, is such that life therein becomes constrained, the angels leave the home and the shayaateen take up residence in it and such a home is void of goodness.”
The Night Waiting for the Special Moments of Recitation
وما من رجل تعلم كتاب الله ثم صلى ساعة من ليل إلا أوصت به تلك الليلة الماضية الليلة المستأنفة أن تنبهه لساعته وأن تكون عليه خفيفة (الترغيب والترهيب للمنذري ١/٢٤٤)[1]
In one narration, it is reported that whenever a person who learnt the Quraan Majeed (or a portion of it) stands up in salaah for a portion of the night, in order to recite it, then the night informs the following night of these special moments that it had enjoyed. The night encourages the following night to eagerly await those special moments wherein he will stand up to recite the Quraan in salaah. The night also requests the following night to be pleasant towards him.
The Blessings of the Quraan Majeed Flowing After One’s Demise
Just as the the blessings of the Quraan Majeed are enjoyed in this world, similarly the blessings of the Quraan Majeed continue to flow to the next life. The Quraan Majeed benefits one in the grave and in the Hereafter, until it eventually enters him into Paradise.
فإذا مات صاحب القرآن رفعت تلك الخيمة فتنظر الملائكة من السماء فلا يرون ذلك النور فتلقاه الملائكة من سماء إلى سماء فتصلي الملائكة على روحه في الأرواح ثم تستقبل الملائكة الحافظين الذين كانوا معه ثم تستغفر له الملائكة إلى يوم يبعث (الترغيب والترهيب للمنذري ١/٢٤٤)[1]
It is reported in a narration that the person who remained devoted to the Quraan Majeed during his lifetime, when he passes away, then the canopy of noor which used to envelope his house during his lifetime is lifted from the earth. Thus, the angels gaze from the sky but do not see the light.
“After passing away, as his soul transcends through the skies (to meet Allah Ta‘ala), the angels of each sky meet him, and from all the souls, they become pleased with him and make special dua for him. He then meets those angels who would remain with him throughout his life, safeguarding him from harm, and they together with other angels seek forgiveness for him until the Day of Qiyaamah.
Protection in the Grave
فإذا مات وكان أهله في جهازه جاء القرآن في صورة حسنة جميلة فوقف عند رأسه حتى يدرج في أكفانه فيكون القرآن على صدره دون الكفن فإذا وضع في قبره وسوي وتفرق عنه أصحابه أتاه منكر ونكير عليهما السلام فيجلسانه في قبره فيجيء القرآن حتى يكون بينه وبينهما فيقولان له إليك حتى نسأله فيقول لا ورب الكعبة إنه لصاحبي وخليلي ولست أخذله على حال فإن كنتما أمرتما بشيء فامضيا لما أمرتما ودعاني مكاني فإني لست أفارقه حتى أدخله الجنة (الترغيب والترهيب للمنذري ١/٢٤٤)[1]
Furthermore, it is reported that when a person who holds firmly onto the Quraan Majeed passes away, then before being buried, while his family are still engaged in attending to his funeral rites, the Quraan Majeed comes to him in a beautiful form and stands at his head side, protecting him and comforting him until he is wrapped in his kafan (shroud). The Quraan Majeed then enters the kafan and rests on his chest.
When he is placed in the grave, and the soil is placed over him, and all his friends depart, then the angels, Munkar and Nakeer, come to him and make him sit up in his grave. The Quraan Majeed then comes between him and the angels.
The angels address the Quraan Majeed saying, “Move away so that we may question him.” However, the Quraan Majeed replies, “Never will I move away! By the Rabb of the Ka’bah, he remained my companion and friend in the world! Therefore, I will never abandon him in any situation! If you have been instructed to carry out any task (i.e. question him), then you may do so, but leave me to remain here with him, for I will not leave him until I enter him into Jannah.
[1] ورواه ابن أبي الدنيا وغيره عن عبادة بن الصامت موقوفا عليه ولعله أشبه كذا في الترغيب والترهيب للمنذري ١/٢٤٤
[2] سنن الدارمي، الرقم: ٣٣٥٢، ورجاله رجال البخاري إلا معاذ بن هانئ وحفص بن عنان وكلاهما ثقة
