By Shaykh Jamal Abdinasir
21 February 2025

﷽

All praise is due to Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Wise. We thank Him for guiding us, for blessing us with life and faith, and for allowing us to witness these days leading up to Ramadan – the month in which the Qur’an was revealed. As we approach this blessed month, we must ask ourselves: What is our relationship with the Qur’an?

When Allah describes the honour of Ramadan in the Qur’an, He doesn’t begin with fasting or community gatherings. Instead, He speaks of the Qur’an itself, revealing to us the true essence of this month:

Ramadan is sacred because it was the month in which Allah choose to send down the Qur’an. The Qur’an is not only guidance for Muslims – it is for all of humanity, a beacon for anyone seeking truth and direction. Allah tells us:

The great scholar Ibn Al-Qayyim (d. 751 AH / 14th century CE) said something profound about Ramadan being key to becoming people of the Qur’an. He said that if a person perfects their Ramadan, doing everything the way Allah wants, remaining mindful throughout, they will find success for the entire year ahead. The way to achieve this success is through our connection with the Qur’an – because it is the Qur’an that transforms hearts, shapes character, and elevates our standing with Allah.

The Prophet ﷺ himself strengthened his relationship with the Qur’an in Ramadan, reviewing its verses with Jibreel (AS) every single year. The companions understood the significance of this, dedicating their time to recitation, reflection, and living by its guidance. Their lives revolved around the Qur’an, and they viewed Ramadan as an opportunity to immerse themselves in Allah’s words.

But what about us? Have we given the Qur’an the priority it deserves? Or do we allow distractions – work, social media, entertainment – to take its place? The scholars mention three ways to truly connect with the Qur’an: through recitation, reflection, and action.

The first is recitation. We all know that the reward for reading even a single letter of the Qur’an is immense. The Prophet ﷺ said:

For every single letter you read, Allah gives you ten good deeds.

Just think about that for a moment. Thousands of good deeds can be earned in mere minutes. You could be sitting in your car, at home, or on a lunch break at work, and within moments, you could be accumulating rewards that will weigh heavily on your scale on the Day of Judgment.

Yet, despite this, many of us struggle to make time for the Qur’an. We are busy, we have responsibilities, we have work and family commitments – but are these valid excuses for neglecting the words of our Creator? 

The second way to connect with the Qur’an is reflection. The Qur’an is not just to be recited, but understood. It is a Book of guidance meant to shape our thoughts, decisions, and priorities. Allah challenges us with this question:

This is something we must reflect on deeply. During Ramadan, we give up food and drink, things that are normally halal, but do we also strive to give up sins, things that are always haram? Some of us avoid food and drink in the day, yet still engage in backbiting, gossip, or sinful actions. The Qur’an reminds us not to trade what is superior for what is inferior—yet how often do we fall into this exact trap?

The third and most crucial step is action. The Qur’an is meant to shape our character and guide our actions. The Prophet ﷺ said:

The best among you is the one who learns the Qur’an and teaches it to others.

[Bukhari]

Learning the Qur’an is not just about memorising its words – it is about implementing its message. It is about becoming people of truth, justice, patience, and humility.

None of us are perfect. We all struggle in different ways. But Allah does not expect perfection – He expects effort. In a Hadith Qudsi, He gives us an incredible promise:

Whoever comes to Me walking, I go to him running.

[Bukhari and Muslim]

Some people may feel discouraged when they see others completing the Qur’an multiple times in Ramadan, while they themselves struggle to finish a few pages. But this is not a race against others – it is your personal journey with Allah’s Book. If last year you completed the Qur’an once, aim for twice this year. If you didn’t finish it last year, that’s okay – Allah saw your effort, and He has given you another opportunity.

The goal of Ramadan is not just hunger and thirst. It is to purify our hearts. It is to become more conscious of Allah. It is to emerge from this month closer to the Qur’an than before.

I ask Allah to make us among the people of the Qur’an – those who recite it, reflect upon it, and live by its guidance. May He open our hearts to its message, allow it to be our guiding light not just in Ramadan but throughout our lives, and raise us among those whom the Qur’an intercedes for on the Day of Judgment.

Ameen.

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