How Does the Quran Purify the Heart and Soul from Bad Morals?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
How does the Noble Quran contribute to purifying the heart and soul from bad morals?
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.
The Noble Quran is the constitution of the Umma in which the reasons for its happiness in this world and the Hereafter are outlined. The Quran undeniably has a significant impact on purifying the heart and soul from bad morals because it contains many verses that encourage virtues and warn against vices. For example, Allah (Most High) says:
“Honor (your) pledges, for you will surely be accountable for them.” [Quran, 17:34]
He (Most High) says:
“Indeed, Allah commands you to return trusts to their rightful owners; and when you judge between people, judge with fairness. What a noble commandment from Allah to you! Surely Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” [Quran, 4:58]
And He (Most High) says:
“And do not turn your nose up to people, nor walk pridefully upon the earth. Surely Allah does not like whoever is arrogant, boastful.” [Quran, 31:18]
Also, He (Most High) says:
“That is so. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah, it is certainly out of the piety of the heart.” [Quran, 22:32]
Here are some ways in which the Quran contributes to purifying the heart and soul from bad morals:
Awareness While Reading
When you read from the Mushaf, you are reciting the words of Allah, the King of mankind, the God of mankind. This awareness grants the Quran a unique impact, creating a direct spiritual connection between the servant and their Creator, and enhances the deep influence of the Quran in purifying the soul and heart from bad morals.
Correct Recitation Method
Follow the proper method of recitation by reading the words of your Lord as if you are the one being addressed by the divine speech. It is as if Allah is calling you, directing His commands to you, giving you glad tidings, and warning you of His punishment and severe torment. A man once asked Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud and said:
“Advise me.” He replied: “If you are able to be the one being addressed, and when you hear Allah (Most High) saying: ‘O you who have believed,’ then pay close attention, for it is either a good that He is commanding or an evil that He is forbidding.” [Asbahani, Hilyat al-Awliya’]
Reflecting on Impactful Verses
Pause at the verse that has a significant impact on your heart and mind, and repeat it while pondering its meanings. Let your heart hear it repeatedly, and let it penetrate your heart until it reaches its utmost. Be certain that if you stay with this verse, benefiting from it, it is better for you than reading many other chapters. The goal of recitation is the rectification of the soul, and this pause and contemplation might be the reason for your salvation. Abdullah ibn Mas’ud said:
“Do not recite the Quran hastily as if it were poetry, and do not spread it like unripe dates falling from a tree (daqal). Pause at its wonders and move hearts with it, and let not your concern be the end of the sura.” [Ibn Abi Shayba, Musannaf; Bayhaqi, Shu‘ab al-Iman]
“Do not hastily recite the Quran” means do not rush in recitation. “Daqal” refers to unripe dates, which, when spread, fall quickly and scatter, each date separating from the others. He likened reading the Quran hastily to that scattering of dates. [Ibn Qutayba, Gharib al-Hadith]
Bishr Ibn al-Sari explained the impact of reflection on the words of Allah (Most High) by saying: “The verse is like a date; the more you chew it, the more sweetness you extract from it.” [Zarkashi, al-Burhan]
Reading as If It Were Newly Revealed
Read the words of your Lord (Most High) as if they were freshly revealed, or as if you were hearing them from the mouth of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), reciting to you. Remember the state of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) surrounded by his companions as the Quran was being revealed to him, reciting it in their presence and during prayers.
Reflect on how the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) repeated throughout an entire night the saying of Allah (Most High): “If You punish them, they belong to You after all. But if You forgive them, You are surely the Almighty, All-Wise.” [Quran, 5:118] until morning. [Ahmad; Ibn Maja]
Engage with the moment when the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) asked Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud to recite the Quran to him. He said: “Recite to me.” I said: “Shall I recite it to you while it was revealed to you?” He said: “I like to hear it from others.” So I recited until I reached the verse: “So how will it be when We bring a witness from every faith-community and bring you (O Prophet) as a witness against yours?” [Quran, 4:41] He said: “I saw his eyes overflowing with tears.” [Ahmad]
Reflect Deeply While Reciting
Pause and reflect as you recite the words of Allah (Most High), and stir your heart at the verses of promise and warning. When you come across a verse where Allah (Most High) promises forgiveness, provision, and guidance, like His saying: “Allah has promised those who believe and do good (His) forgiveness and a great reward.” [Quran, 5:9], ask Him to make you among them and to include you in their ranks.
When you encounter the verses about paradise and eternal bliss, live with them as if you have set foot in your paradise, relieved from the toil and hardship of the world and the severity of the reckoning and its horrors. Imagine yourself truly living among the trees and shades of paradise, with its rivers flowing before you, and the great bliss you have achieved. Remember this as you read the words of Allah (Most High):
“The description of the Paradise promised to the righteous is that under it rivers flow; eternal is its fruit as well as its shade. That is the (ultimate) outcome for the righteous. But the outcome for the disbelievers is the Fire!” [Quran, 13:35]
Ask your Lord to make you among the people of paradise about which Allah (Most High) said:
“The description of the Paradise promised to the righteous is that in it are rivers of fresh water, rivers of milk that never changes in taste, rivers of wine delicious to drink, and rivers of pure honey. There they will (also) have all kinds of fruit, and forgiveness from their Lord. (Can they be) like those who will stay in the Fire forever, left to drink boiling water that will tear apart their insides?” [Quran, 47:15]
Reflect on the Verses about Hellfire and Punishment
When you come across verses about the fire, threats, and the types of torment in Hell, remember that this threat is from the Almighty, capable of all things, who created the fire for the disobedient. Reflect on this as you read the words of Allah (Most High):
“On that Day, you will see the wicked bound together in chains, with garments of tar, and their faces covered with flames. As such, Allah will reward every soul for what it has committed. Surely Allah is swift in reckoning.” [Quran, 14:49-51]
And:
“Surely those who reject Our signs, We will cast them into the Fire. Whenever their skin is burnt completely, We will replace it so they will (constantly) taste the punishment. Indeed, Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.” [Quran, 4:56]
Reflect on the pleas of those in the fire, wishing for death to end their torment:
“They will cry, ‘O Malik! Let your Lord finish us off.’ He will answer, ‘You are definitely here to stay.’” [Quran, 43:77]
And their cries for the reduction of their continuous torment, even if just for one day:
“And those in the Fire will cry out to the keepers of Hell, ‘Pray to your Lord to lighten the torment for us (even) for one day!’ The keepers will reply, ‘Did your messengers not (constantly) come to you with clear proofs?’ They will say, ‘Yes (they did).’ The keepers will say, ‘Then pray! Though the prayer of the disbelievers is only in vain.’” [Quran, 40:49-50]
Your heart will fear, and your soul will tremble, fearing that you might be among its inhabitants. You will rush to your Lord, asking Him for protection, crying, pleading, and humbling yourself.
If your heart does not move after all these horrors and severe descriptions of punishment, then weep for yourself out of regret and sorrow.
Impact of the Quran in Purifying the Soul and Heart
Abandoning the Quran: Neglecting the Quran, not reading it, and not interacting with its verses is one of the biggest barriers that prevent the heart from being directly affected by the Quran. Abandoning the Quran dulls the heart and makes it less receptive to guidance and its impact. Returning to reading the Quran is fundamental to engaging with it. Open its pages again and spend time reading its verses; this will give the divine words an opportunity to impact your heart.
Ignorance of the meanings of Allah’s words: Not caring about the interpretation of the verses is a major obstacle for the heart in being affected by the Quran. How can the heart be affected by words it does not understand? Reflecting on the Quran, understanding its meanings, and the deep messages it carries stimulate the heart to be affected by it.
Distraction during reading: Being distracted during reading can make you pass over lessons and insights without noticing them. This distraction can be addressed by choosing times free of distractions to recite the Book of Allah (Most High). Reading aloud can also increase the impact of the Quran on the heart, as the sound waves enhance the emotional and spiritual power of the Quranic texts, creating a deeper connection with the content.
Finally, enhancing the positive impact of the Quran in purifying our hearts and souls requires us to turn to Allah (Most High) to open the locks of these hearts to receive His guidance. It also requires us to return to reading it with contemplation, cleansing our hearts from the stain of sins, improving our understanding of the Quranic meanings, and dedicating time to listen to and reflect on its verses.
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.
