Ruling on Reciting the Qur'an for One Who Does Not Know Its Meaning

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Question:
A female listener from Algeria says: We recite the Qur'an and memorize a portion of it, but we do not know its interpretation or its rulings, except for a little. Is this permissible, and what is your guidance? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
It is prescribed for the believer to increase in reciting the Qur'an, to strive to memorize it, to reflect upon it, and to understand it so that he benefits, because the Qur'an is clear Arabic. Allah the Exalted 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 الأَلْبَابِ

[Surah Sad: 29] And He said (Exalted and Majestic is He):

⁽¹⁹³⁾ The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down ⁽¹⁹⁴⁾ Upon your heart, [O Muhammad] - that you may be of the warners - ⁽¹⁹⁵⁾ In a clear Arabic language.

نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الأَمِينُ ۝ عَلَى قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُنذِرِينَ ۝ بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِيٍّ مُبِينٍ

[Surah al-Shu'ara: 193-195].
And He said (Exalted and Majestic is He):

Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?

أَفَلا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَى قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا

[Surah Muhammad: 24] So the reciter should reflect and understand, whether he is a man or a woman, and he should ask the scholars about what is difficult for him. He should ask the scholars, in writing or orally, about what is difficult for him so that he benefits. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

He upon whom Allah intends to bestow goodness, He confers upon him an insight in religion

من يرد الله به خيرًا يفقهه في الدين

Sahih Muslim 1037a

And he should not speak about the Qur'an based on his own opinion while he is without knowledge, but he should ask the scholars. However, when he reflects and understands, many of the meanings are clear and do not require asking the scholars. When he reflects and understands, he knows many of the meanings, such as His saying (peace and blessings be upon him) :

And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality

وَلا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَى إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً

[Surah al-Isra: 32] This is a clear command known by the young and the old, and by males and females. And the saying of Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He):

O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالأَنصَابُ وَالأَزْلامُ رِجْسٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ

[Surah al-Ma'idah: 90]

Intoxicants

الْخَمْرُ

intoxicants,

And gambling

وَالْمَيْسِرُ

gambling, this is well known.
And His saying (Exalted and Majestic is He):

Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer

حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاةِ الْوُسْطَى

[Surah al-Baqarah: 238]

And establish prayer and give zakah

وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ

[Surah al-Baqarah: 43] His saying:

fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest

اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا

[Surah al-Baqarah: 278], ... is well known. And the one who is ignorant asks; he asks the scholars. 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.

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