THE HOLY QURAN –
PART 13
QURAN & THE HOLY
PROPHET (SAWW) – SECTION 2
CRYING DURING
RECITATION OF QURAN
The Holy Prophet (saww) was asked, “Who is the
best recitor of the Quran?” He (saww) replied,
“One who is seen exhibiting awe (a feeling
of great respect and admiration combined with fear) at its
recitation”.
(Kanzul-‘Ummaal)
In the life of the Holy Prophet (saww), we find
that he (saww) used to exhibit the highest level of Awe during
recitation of the Holy Quran.
Imam Ja’ffar Ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (as) has
narrated that:
“Whenever the Messenger of
Allah used to recite this verse:
‘You do not engage in any
work, neither do you recite any part of the Quran, nor do you
perform any deed without Our being witness over you when you are
engaged therein. Not an atom’s weight escapes your Lord in the earth
or in the sky, nor (is there) anything smaller than that or bigger,
but it is in a manifest Book’. (10:61)
The Messenger of Allah would cry
extensively”. (Majma’ al-Bayaan)
The Holy Quran had such an effect on the mind and
soul of the Holy Prophet (saww) that he (saww) aged sooner than his
time.
Ibn Abbas once told the Prophet (saww),
“You have aged very quickly”,
to which, the Holy Prophet (saww) replied,
“The Chapters on Hud,
Waqe’ah, Musalaat and An-Naba’ have made me old”.
(Quran-o-‘Itrat)
POSITIONS BASED ON QURAN MEMORISATION
The Holy Prophet (saww) used to give different
positions to his companions based upon how much they had memorised
of the Holy Quran.
The Holy Prophet (saww) had formed a group of
recitors of Quran whom he (saww) listened to one after another. One
day he (saww) called them and asked each of them as to what of Quran
they had remembered (memorised) until such time that he (saww)
reached a young man and asked him the same question. The young man
replied, “I have memorised such and
such (chapters) and Suratul-Baqarah (2nd chapter)”.
Thereupon the Holy Prophet (saww) told
the people, “Now go
away from here and this young man is your leader (from now
onwards)”. When the people said,
“O Messenger of Allah! He is still
young”, he (saww) said,
“He knows Suratul-Baqarah”.
(Majma’ al-Bayaan)
QURAN IN THE LAST MOMENTS OF LIFE
The Holy Prophet (saww) was so much attached to
the Holy Quran that he (saww) guided others towards it even during
death.
It is narrated that when the Holy Prophet (saww)
was on his deathbed, he lay unconscious with his head placed on the
lap of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (as). Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra (as) who
was engrossed in grief, recited a poem (in praise of the Prophet) at
that time. The Holy Prophet (saww) regained his consciousness and
said, “O Fatima!
This poem was composed by Uncle Abu Talib (but) do not recite it,
instead recite:
‘Muhammad is but an apostle; (other) apostles have passed before
him. If he dies or is slain, will you turn back on your heels?’
(3:144)
Thereupon Fatima (as) did as told and continued grieving her father.
(Al-Irshaad)
AN
INTERESTING INCIDENT
One day Mu’awiya went on the pulpit and said,
“O People! Verily Allah has blessed the
Quraysh with three preferences over others: Allah has said to His
Prophet (saww): ‘Warn the nearest of your
kinsfolk’, (26:214) and we
are his nearest kinsfolk. Then He (SWT) said:
‘Indeed it (Quran) is a reminder for you
and for your people’, (43:44)
and we are his people. Then He (SWT) said:
‘(In gratitude) for solidarity among Quraysh, their solidarity
during winter and summer journeys’, (106:1-2).
Mu’awiya said this with all pride and arrogance
and thought that he had achieved the highest level of
unchallengeable position. He assumed that he had proofs to silence
his opposition. Thereupon, a person from among the Ansaar stood up
and said:
“O Mu’awiya! Mind your own business. Allah (SWT)
is saying: ‘Your people have denied it,
though it is the truth’, (6:66) and you are his people. Allah
(SWT) then says: ‘When the son of Mary was
cited as an example, behold, your people raise an outcry’,
(43:57) and you are his people. The Allah, the Exalted also says:
‘And the apostle will say: O my Lord!
Indeed my people consigned this Quran to oblivion’, (25:30).
These three things were in reply to the three things that you
mentioned. If you say more, then I will counter them too”.
Hearing this, Mu’awiya became speechless and
withdrew in silence.
(Quran-o-‘Itrat)
Mulla Mujahidali Sheriff
mulla@almahdi.org.uk
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