The Qur’ān is Allah’s greatest gift to humanity—an eternal book of guidance and a complete way of life. It is a cure for every disease, whether spiritual or physical, and a light that illuminates the path of truth amidst the darkness of falsehood. It highlights the journey toward becoming true servants of Allah. It is a book of blessings and eternal wisdom, a warner and a bearer of glad tidings.
The Qur’an: The Blueprint for Life and Beyond
The Qur’ān is the manual which Allah sent down to guide us to Him. Allah tells us in His own words who He is—in the most profound manner possible. The Qur’ān unveils the secrets of human existence and the universe. It reveals who we are, where we came from, our purpose, and our ultimate destination, reminding us of the One who brought us into being and to Whom we will return.
The Qur’ān narrates the stories of the Prophets—their worship, servitude to Allah, their daʿwah efforts, the challenges they faced from their people, and their steadfastness. These accounts strengthen our īmān, instil courage to endure hardships, and motivate us to spread the word of Allah with sacrifice and dedication.
The Qur’ān highlights our ultimate destination. It vividly describes the moment of death, the terrors of the Day of Judgement, the horrors of Jahannam and the eternal bliss of Jannah. Every other page in the Qur’ān reminds us of our ultimate end. Reflecting on these verses strengthens our īmān in the hereafter and helps us stay focused, undistracted by the illusions of this world.
The Qur’an Is the Ultimate Guide
The primary goal of reciting the Qur’ān is to seek guidance and live by its teachings. Our recitation should strengthen our īmān and deepen our love and awe of Allah. He (ʿazza wa jall) says, “…And when His āyāt are recited to them, it increases them in īmān” (8:2).
To achieve this, we must recite the Qur’ān with tadabbur (deep reflection), engaging our hearts, minds, and tongues together. We should approach it as a personal message from Allah, a mirror to our shortcomings and a diagnosis of our weaknesses. The Qur’ān is our roadmap to success, and we must recognise our need for its guidance, turning to it with sincerity and humility.
True guidance is a transformation of the heart. Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā) describes the Qur’ān as “…the most beautiful of all teachings… which causes the skins of those in awe of their Lord to shiver. Then their skins and their hearts soften at the mention of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah…” (39:23). Thus, true guidance is not merely about acquiring knowledge; it is an internal transformation that begins with humility and leads to a softened, devoted heart. For this to occur, reciting the Qur’ān with reflection (tadabbur) and a sincere, attentive heart is essential.
The Qur’an Transformed the Sahabah (radiy Allāhu ʿanhum)
The Qur’ān transformed the impoverished Arab Bedouins, elevating them from poverty and lawlessness to global power and influence. Once mere camel drivers, they became rulers of vast empires, surpassing the might of the Persian and Roman emperors. This extraordinary change was made possible by the guidance of the Qur’ān. The Qur’ān has the power to bring about such profound transformation even today.
The Qur’ān was the manual through which the Prophet ﷺ nurtured the best generation—one defined by unwavering imān, a deep love for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ and the pursuit of iḥsān. The Qur’ān transformed their hearts, minds, characters and their entire lives. This did not happen overnight. In fact, the Qur’ān was revealed over a period of 23 years to allow the companions to understand, internalise and shape their character according to it. Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Sulamī said, “Those who used to teach us the Qur’ān—such as ʿUthmān b. ʿAffān and ʿAbdullah b. Masʿūd (radiy Allāhu ʿanhumā) etc—told us that when they learned ten verses from the Prophet ﷺ, they would not move on from them until they had learned the knowledge and actions contained within them.” They said: “So we learned the Qur’ān, knowledge, and action all together.”
The number of companions who memorised the Qur’ān was not high in number, yet they all ‘lived’ and breathed the Qur’ān. Their primary concern was to put into practice what they had learned. ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) said, “Memorising the words of the Qur’ān is difficult for us, but acting upon it is easy for us. As for those who come after us, memorising the Qur’ān will be easy for them, but acting upon it will be difficult for them.”
The Eternal Truth
In an age where ideas and information are increasingly controlled by AI and a handful of media conglomerates, false news and narratives spread rapidly, fueling confusion and chaos. The Qur’ān, known as al-Furqān—the Criterion—offers the ultimate standard for distinguishing truth from falsehood. As deception intensifies, returning to the Qur’ān is more crucial than ever.
The Qur’ān is the absolute truth. It is a divine miracle, the source of our honour and strength. It transforms those who dedicate themselves to it, refining them into God-centred (rabbāniyūn) servants. Its power lies in its deep meanings— awakening hearts, clarifying minds, and nurturing the soul, offering a clear Qur’ānic worldview.
The Qur’ān is constant, perfect, and timeless. It is our refuge in times of turmoil. Developing a Qur’ānic perspective allows us to view the world through the lens of revelation, offering clarity and solutions to life’s challenges.
The Qur’ān traces the eternal struggle between truth and falsehood, beginning with the conflict between Ādam (ʿalayhis-salām) and Shayṭān, continuing through the Prophets’ struggles with their nations, up until the era of our beloved Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ and his companions (radiy Allāhu ʿanhum) faced great opposition in spreading the truth, and throughout this struggle, the Qur’ān was continuously revealed to guide, support, and impart essential lessons. The Qur’ān repeatedly warns of the enemies’ plots and the treachery of the hypocrites. As this battle continues until the end of time, the Qur’ān remains our guide, equipping us to face similar trials and assuring us that while falsehood may sometimes seem dominant, ultimate victory belongs to the righteous.
The Qur’ān unveils Shayṭān’s tactics and highlights the various trials we face in life. The more we immerse ourselves in its teachings, the better equipped we are to face life’s challenges and in battling evil and temptation.
The Qur’ān is one of the greatest means of attaining yaqīn (conviction) and steadfastness. Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā) says, “Say, ‘The Holy Spirit (Jibrīl) has brought it down from your Lord with the truth to strengthen the believers, and as a guide and good news for those who submit to Allah’” (16:102).
The Qur’an Brings Life & Light to the Heart
The Qur’ān gives life to the heart, revives the soul and prepares it for the journey to Allah. The Qur’ān is the most effective treatment for a sick heart. Its light pierces through darkness, eliminating doubts and desires. Any path to tazkiyah (self-purification) that neglects the Qur’ān will fall short, for it is the divine remedy sent to purify and illuminate hearts. Allah (ʿazza wa jall) describes it as “…a cure for what is in the hearts, a guide, and a mercy for the believers” (10:57).
Regular engagement with the Qur’ān strengthens īmān. As īmān deepens, the heart overcomes worldly desires and frees itself from lower temptations. This is when the heart truly awakens and comes to life.
In a beautiful duʿā’, the Prophet ﷺ teaches us to ask Allah (ʿazza wa jall) to make the Qur’ān the source of life and light for our hearts:
أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيْعَ قَلْبِيْ ، وَنُوْرَ صَدْرِيْ ، وَجَلَاءَ حُزْنِيْ ، وَذَهَابَ هَمِّيْ…
“…Make the Qur’ān the spring of my heart, the light of my chest, the banisher of my grief and the reliever of my anxiety” (Aḥmad).
‘Rabīʿ’ refers to the rain that brings life to the earth in spring. In this duʿā’, we ask Allah (ʿazza wa jall) to revive our hearts with the Qur’ān, just as the rain revives the earth in spring by bringing life and growth. We also ask Him to make the Qur’ān a source of radiance and light, providing clarity amidst the darkness of falsehood and illuminating the path to righteousness.
“I have not seen anything that nourishes the mind and soul, protects the body, and guarantees success more than constantly engaging with the Book of Allah.” – Ibn Taymiyyah (raḥimahullāh)
Qur’an at Night
