Respect for and the rights of the Noble Qur’an

Respect for and the rights of the Noble Qur’an

Now that we know that the Holy Qur’an is not an ordinary book, but a divine book God has sent for the guidance of all people, we must show respect for it. Here are some points to remember.

1. A portion of the Qur'an carries the same respect as the entire Qur’an. Allah says:

When the Quran is recited, listen to it (7: 204).

We know that when recitation occurs, it is always part of the Quran. Until then, God uses the word Qur’an for the recited portion. Therefore, if you have a blackboard, notary, or booklet that contains surahs and passages of the Qur’an, you treat them as a Qur’an.

2. The Holy Qur’an must be memorized carefully. When your school bag contains the Qur’an, or part of it, take care of the bag. Keep the bag slowly on the desk or the floor instead of letting it fall on its own. Use both hands to remove the Qur'an from your bag, kiss the cover of the Qur'an and slowly put it on a desk (or on a wooden stand specially designed to hold the Qur'an) and gently open the pages.

3. When the Quran is recited, listen to it and pay attention (7: 204). If you are busy with something else, at least do not disturb the recitation by speaking, for example, or making noise. There is a reward for listening to the Quran. Imam Ali Zain Al-Abidin (A) said: Whoever listens to a book from the Book of God, Glory be to Him, even without reading it, God will write to him one good deed, forgive sin, and raise his degree.

The practice of the infidels in Mecca was to make a lot of noise so that others would not be able to listen to the Qur’an (41:26). Don't be like them, instead give your ears to the Quran and give it respect. We often hope that God will speak to us. One way to do this is to read the Qur’an. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): He said: Lu! Everyone who yearns for God must listen to the word of God! Also, if you want to speak to God then do Tilaawa. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: Whenever one of you wants to speak to his Lord, he should read the Qur’an.

4. The Quran should be recited regularly. Without respect, keep the Holy Quran illegible. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: Brighten your homes by reciting the Qur’an; do not turn them into graves. Sure, the house where a lot of recitation takes place has many blessings and members benefit from it. This family lights up for the inhabitants of the sky while the stars shine on the inhabitants of the earth. On Judgment Day, the Prophet will complain to God of some Muslims who deserted the Qur'an (25:30).

Another hadith from the Prophet (PBUH) says: Indeed rust hearts are the same way as rust iron. He was asked: "What will the hearts shine?" The Prophet replied: Reading the Qur’an. The more we read the Quran, the better. We must set ourselves up to read a good portion of the Noble Qur’an daily. Imam Ali (A) said: Whoever reads 100 verses a day from the book according to its order, then God writes to him a reward equal to all good deeds for everyone on this earth. Satan wants us not to read, understand, and learn the Quran. Let us fight him with all our strength and faith. Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq (A) said: There is nothing more unpleasant to Satan than seeing a man reading the Qur’an to gain insight.

5. Children should be introduced to the Qur’an early in their lives. Imam Al-Sadiq (PBUH) said: Whoever recites the Qur’an when he is young, the Qur’an mixes with his body and blood, and God places it between the righteous and the chosen. On Judgment Day, the Qur’an becomes his defender and [we pray for him a good reward.]

6. The Qur’an has the right and respect to follow. Imam Ja`far Sadiq said: One, who learns the Qur’an, teaches and practices it according to him, will direct him and lead him to Paradise.

7. It is a right and respect for the Qur’an also that those who have knowledge of the Qur’an teach it to others. This is among the noblest verbs. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The best thing in you is the one who learns and teaches the Qur’an.

8. Take interpretations of the Qur’an from the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and imams from his family, i.e. Ahl al-Bayt (A). Imam Hassan al-Askari said, quoting the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him): He read it (meaning the Qur’an) because God gives you ten rewards for every letter you recite from him. Then Imam (a) said: Do you know who really stands up to this honor and reward? He is the one who takes the Qur’an and its interpretation from us Ahl al-Bayt (a) or from the deputies we send to our followers, and does not (the interpretation) take from the opinions of those who argue (in God’s speech) and does not resemble those who compare (different parts of God’s speech).

9. Once you have finished reading the lesson or referring to the Quran, gently close it instead of leaving it open.

10. Do not put another boo