The Concept of Neglecting the Qur'an
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His Eminence the Shaykh: If a person continues to memorize the Qur'an but stops reading it from a book, is he considered to be neglecting the Qur'an, and what is the concept of neglecting the Qur'an?
If Allah bestows upon a person the ability to memorize the Qur'an by heart and he limits his recitation to that, then that is better. In fact, most of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) relied on the memorization in their chests, because many of them did not write it down. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) himself relied on memorizing the Qur'an in his heart; he did not write it, nor did he read from a book.And for this reason we say: Whoever memorizes the Qur'an by heart and then recites it only from memory is not neglecting the Qur'an; rather, he is a memorizer of the Qur'an who is constant with it.
As for the concept of neglecting the Qur'an, it is of two types: 1- Neglecting its recitation.
2- Neglecting acting upon it.
The second is more severe and greater, because arrogance in not acting upon what is in the Qur'an may be disbelief. As for neglecting the recitation, it is not possible for any Muslim to ever neglect the recitation of the Qur'an. Even the elderly women in their homes do not neglect the Qur'an, because there is no Muslim who does not recite al-Fatihah and whatever is easy of the Book of Allah. And if he recites al-Fatihah—which is the Mother of the Qur'an—and whatever is easy, he is not neglecting the Qur'an.
And with this we say: Neglecting the Qur'an is of two types. The first is neglecting its recitation, and this is not conceivable from any Muslim, except for one who grew up in distant lands and came to know not even al-Fatihah. Otherwise, he will recite al-Fatihah and whatever is easy in the prayer.
The second: Neglecting acting upon it; and this is the dangerous one.For this reason, Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Furqan: 30] meaning: they recite it but do not act upon it. And this is the danger that is feared for the Ummah. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said in describing the Khawarij: "They recite the Qur'an, but it does not go beyond their throats"; because they do not act upon it. And even if they act upon it outwardly, their hearts are in ruins regarding it.
If Allah bestows upon a person the ability to memorize the Qur'an by heart and he limits his recitation to that, then that is better. In fact, most of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) relied on the memorization in their chests, because many of them did not write it down. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) himself relied on memorizing the Qur'an in his heart; he did not write it, nor did he read from a book.And for this reason we say: Whoever memorizes the Qur'an by heart and then recites it only from memory is not neglecting the Qur'an; rather, he is a memorizer of the Qur'an who is constant with it.
As for the concept of neglecting the Qur'an, it is of two types: 1- Neglecting its recitation.
2- Neglecting acting upon it.
The second is more severe and greater, because arrogance in not acting upon what is in the Qur'an may be disbelief. As for neglecting the recitation, it is not possible for any Muslim to ever neglect the recitation of the Qur'an. Even the elderly women in their homes do not neglect the Qur'an, because there is no Muslim who does not recite al-Fatihah and whatever is easy of the Book of Allah. And if he recites al-Fatihah—which is the Mother of the Qur'an—and whatever is easy, he is not neglecting the Qur'an.
And with this we say: Neglecting the Qur'an is of two types. The first is neglecting its recitation, and this is not conceivable from any Muslim, except for one who grew up in distant lands and came to know not even al-Fatihah. Otherwise, he will recite al-Fatihah and whatever is easy in the prayer.
The second: Neglecting acting upon it; and this is the dangerous one.For this reason, Allah the Exalted said: