The Manner of Reflecting on the Qur'an
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
He has a long question about reflecting on the Noble Qur'an, and his question began as follows: He says, Allah the Exalted said: [Muhammad:24], and He the Exalted said: [An-Nisa:82]. Then he asks: What is the manner of reflecting on the Qur'an in these two noble verses, and what is the meaning of the word "tadabbur" (reflection)? Is it reflection in the sense of correct understanding? Does reflection carry a reward? And does the one who reflects on the Noble Qur'an keep the fruits of his reflection on the Qur'an for personal benefit, without publishing them? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
Reflecting on the Qur'an is prescribed, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has made clear, and it is the intended purpose. It is the intended purpose of recitation: reflection, reasoning, understanding, and then action. He the Mighty and Majestic said: [Sad:29], so it was revealed for reflection. He the Exalted said: [Muhammad:24].
So what is prescribed for the believer when reciting, and likewise for the believing woman, is reflection, reasoning, and comprehension. Its meaning is: understanding the verse. To reflect on it means to reason about it: what is intended? To reason and comprehend what is intended by His saying: [Al-Baqarah:43], by His saying: [Al-Baqarah:238], by His saying: [At-Taghabun:16], by His saying: [An-Nur:56] ... and so on.
That is, he reflects on the meaning: what is the meaning? He comprehends it so that he acts upon it, and so that he advises people with it. The believer reflects and preserves [the knowledge], even by writing it down, preserving what becomes clear to him so that he acts upon it, and so that he advises his brothers with it if he has knowledge and understanding. He acts upon it and advises his brothers and his family with it. Thus, the believer should have care when he reads the Qur'an: he should reason and reflect so that he benefits and so that he acts. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good. So, does the one who reflects on the Qur'an and derives meanings not keep them for his personal life, as this questioner says, but rather publish them among his brothers?
Answer : If it is easy for him to preserve them and he is discerning, let him publish them. But if he has hesitation or ignorance, let him ask the scholars about them and present them to the scholars so that they clarify them for him and he understands what is intended, and so that he benefits others as well.
As for the student of knowledge who understands, he advises his brothers and his family with what he has understood from the Book of Allah and what he has learned from the Qur'an, so that he may be among the callers to guidance. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
He has a long question about reflecting on the Noble Qur'an, and his question began as follows: He says, Allah the Exalted said:
Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?
أَفَلا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَى قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَاThen do they not reflect upon the Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.
أَفَلا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِنْدِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلافًا كَثِيرًاAnswer:
Reflecting on the Qur'an is prescribed, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has made clear, and it is the intended purpose. It is the intended purpose of recitation: reflection, reasoning, understanding, and then action. He the Mighty and Majestic said:
[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.
كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُوْلُوا الأَلْبَابِThen do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?
أَفَلا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْْ عَلَى قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَاSo what is prescribed for the believer when reciting, and likewise for the believing woman, is reflection, reasoning, and comprehension. Its meaning is: understanding the verse. To reflect on it means to reason about it: what is intended? To reason and comprehend what is intended by His saying:
And establish prayer and give zakah
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَMaintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer
حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاةِ الْوُسْطَىSo fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْAnd establish prayer and give zakah and obey the Messenger - that you may receive mercy.
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْْ تُرْحَمُونَThat is, he reflects on the meaning: what is the meaning? He comprehends it so that he acts upon it, and so that he advises people with it. The believer reflects and preserves [the knowledge], even by writing it down, preserving what becomes clear to him so that he acts upon it, and so that he advises his brothers with it if he has knowledge and understanding. He acts upon it and advises his brothers and his family with it. Thus, the believer should have care when he reads the Qur'an: he should reason and reflect so that he benefits and so that he acts. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good. So, does the one who reflects on the Qur'an and derives meanings not keep them for his personal life, as this questioner says, but rather publish them among his brothers?
Answer : If it is easy for him to preserve them and he is discerning, let him publish them. But if he has hesitation or ignorance, let him ask the scholars about them and present them to the scholars so that they clarify them for him and he understands what is intended, and so that he benefits others as well.
As for the student of knowledge who understands, he advises his brothers and his family with what he has understood from the Book of Allah and what he has learned from the Qur'an, so that he may be among the callers to guidance. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.