How Can Reciting the Quran Refine One’s Behavior?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
How can the recitation of the Quran refine the behavior of a believer?
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.
There is no doubt about the profound impact of the Quran, both outwardly and inwardly, on its reader and listener alike. This effect varies depending on the subject of the verse and the level of readiness in the reader or listener. One verse may cause us to shed tears, another may make our hearts tremble, and another may cause our skins to shiver. This is in line with Allah’s (Most High) saying:
“(It is) Allah (Who) has sent down the best message—a Book of perfect consistency and repeated lessons—which causes the skin (and hearts) of those who fear their Lord to tremble, then their skin and hearts soften at the mention of (the mercy of) Allah. That is the guidance of Allah, through which He guides whoever He wills. But whoever Allah leaves to stray will be left with no guide.” [Quran, 39:23]
And His (Most High) saying:
“Had We sent down this Quran upon a mountain, you would have certainly seen it humbled and torn apart in awe of Allah. We set forth such comparisons for people, (so) perhaps they may reflect.” [Quran, 59:21]
If a mountain, in its solidity and hardness, understood this Quran, it would humble itself and split apart from the fear of Allah (Most High). How, then, would its impact be on humans if they understood it and received its messages properly?
Here are some points to guide you in receiving the messages of the Quran, which will reflect in good behavior in your life:
Revering the Words of the Creator (Most High)
Feel that you are the one being addressed in every verse you read or hear. If it is a command, hasten to fulfill it; if it is a prohibition, hurry to avoid it. This was the state of the Companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Anas Ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him) reported that when the verse, “O believers! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak loudly to him as you do to one another, or your deeds will become void while you are unaware.” [Quran, 49:2], was revealed, Thabit Ibn Qays sat in his house and said, “I am from the people of the Fire,” and refrained from coming to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) asked Sa‘d Ibn Mu‘adh, “O Abu ‘Amr, what is the matter with Thabit? Is he ill?” Sa‘d replied, “He is my neighbor, and I do not know of any illness he has.” So Sa‘d went to him and mentioned the words of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Thabit said, “This verse was revealed, and you know that I am the loudest of you in a voice above the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), so I am among the people of the Fire.” Sa‘d mentioned this to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and he said, “Rather, he is among the people of Paradise.” [Muslim]
Gathering the Heart During Recitation or Listening to the Quran
This involves clearing the mind of distractions that prevent it from being affected by what is being read or heard. This is a divine directive, as Allah (Most High) says:
“Surely in this is a reminder for whoever has a (mindful) heart and lends an attentive ear.” [Quran, 50:37]
Regular Recitation of the Quran
Persistently reading the Quran without abandoning it. If one keeps knocking on the door, it will be opened for him. The frequent recitation of the Quran to the heart is likely to open it and reveal its effects. Hence, it is preferred to recite the Quran aloud, as this helps in awakening the heart and thereby being affected by the Quran.
In contrast, silent reading is more likely to lead to a wandering mind and a distracted heart. Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him and his father) was asked about the Prophet’s (Allah bless him and give him peace) recitation at night, and he said:
“He would recite in his chamber, and those outside could hear his recitation.” [Bayhaqi, Shu‘ab al-Iman]
Contemplating the Quran and Understanding Its Meanings
By referring to simplified and concise books of tafsir (exegesis) that provide the general meaning of the verse. This is a divine directive, as Allah (Most High) says:
“(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]
The Quran Consists of Structures and Meanings
The structures are a means to understand the meanings. Therefore, one should not be completely preoccupied with the structures of the Quran at the expense of its meanings. It is not permissible to be so focused on applying the rules of tajwid or the linguistic rules of the verses that you leave no room for contemplation and understanding during the recitation.
Reciting the Quran During the Night While People Are Asleep
The night has a significant impact on the presence of the heart and its influence by the Quran. This is affirmed by Allah’s (Most High) saying:
“O you wrapped (in your clothes)! Stand all night (in prayer) except a little— (pray) half the night, or a little less, or a little more—and recite the Quran (properly) in a measured way. (For) We will soon send upon you a weighty revelation. Indeed, worship in the night (nashi’at al-layl) is more impactful and suitable for recitation.” [Quran, 73:1-6]
“Nashi’at al-Layl” refers to its moments and times, and each moment is called a nashi’a. The point is that standing in prayer at night brings the heart and tongue into greater alignment and is more conducive to recitation. This is why Allah says: “Indeed, worship in the night is more impactful and suitable for recitation.,” meaning it is more conducive to understanding and performing the recitation than during the day when people are active, voices are loud, and it is the time for earning livelihoods. [Ibn Kathir, Tafsir Ibn Kathir]
This Book Is Your Admonition and Happiness
It was revealed to bring people out of darkness into light, as Allah (Most High) says:
“Alif-Lãm-Ra. (This is) a Book which We have revealed to you (O Prophet) so that you may lead people out of darkness and into light, by the Will of their Lord, to the Path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy.” [Quran, 14:1]
And He (Most High) says:
“We have surely revealed to you a Book, in which there is glory for you. Will you not then understand?” [Quran, 21:10]
Summary
The reflection of the Quran in refining the behavior and morals of a Muslim is among the greatest fruits expected from its recitation. After understanding and contemplating the Quran, one should adopt its morals and be guided by its teachings, so that the believer’s state becomes like that of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). As was the case with the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), when Sa‘d Ibn Hisham Ibn ‘Amir asked ‘Aisha (Allah be pleased with them),
“O Mother of the Believers, tell me about the character of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace).” She said, “Do you not read the Quran?” I said, “Yes.” She said, “The character of the Prophet of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) was the Quran.” [Muslim]
May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.
He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.
He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.
Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.
