IMPORTANCE OF
HOLY QURAN
Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn al-Sajjad (as) held the
Holy Quran dearly to his heart. This is evident from his sayings and
behaviour with regard to the Quran. For instance, Zuhri has reported
having heard Imam al-Sajjad (as) saying:
“If the inhabitants of the
East and the West all perish and I am left alone with only the
Glorious Quran, I will not become victim of any desolation”.
(Al-Kaafi)
What the Imam (as) implied was that even if the
entire earth became empty and he (as) was left alone therein, he
(as) would neither feel sad nor lonely for as long as he (as) had
the Holy Quran with him. Quran contains the words of Allah (SWT) and
whoever recites it shall feel as though Allah (SWT) is with him and
conversing to him. Therefore, even if such a person is left alone at
any place and in any situation – he will certainly not feel lonely.
Imam al-Sajjad (as) has also said,
“Befriend Quran and
you will not have to worry about desolation of any kind”.
REFERRING TO
QURAN FOR A NAME
Zayd was one of the sons of Imam al-Sajjad (as).
This is the same son who became a great martyr in the cause of
Islam. It is narrated that:
[One of the
habits of Imam al-Sajjad (as) was that after performing Fajr
(morning) prayer till sunrise, he (as) never talked to anyone. One
day, after Fajr, Imam (as) was given the good news about the birth
of a son in his house.
Imam (as) asked his companions,
“What should I name him?”
Everyone suggested some names. The
Imam (as) then turned towards his servant and asked him to bring the
Holy Quran. He (as) opened the Holy Quran and the first verse, which
he (as) saw was:
“And Allah
has graced those who strive (in His cause) over those who sit back
with a great reward”.
(4:95)
Imam (as) then closed the Holy Quran and opened
it again. This time he (as) saw the following verse:
“Indeed
Allah has bought from the faithful their souls and their possessions
for Paradise to be theirs: They fight in the way of Allah, they slay
and they are slain. A promise binding upon Him in the Torah and the
Evangel and the Quran. And who is truer to his promise than Allah?
So rejoice in the bargain you have made with Him, and that is the
great success”.
(9:111)
After seeing these two verses, Imam (as) said,
“By Allah! This is
Zayd”.
Zayd means ‘great achiever’ and Imam al-Sajjad
(as) derived this name from the meanings of the aforementioned two
verses.] (Bihar al-Anwaar)
HIS RECITATION
OF THE HOLY QURAN
Imam al-Sajjad (as) used to recite the Holy Quran
‘Haqqa Tilaawatihi’
meaning ‘ the way Quran deserved to be recited’.
One of the ethics of reciting the Holy Quran is with ‘Tarteel’.
“And
recite the Quran in a measured tone”.
(73:4)
This basically means to recite the Holy Quran
correctly, using a beautiful tone during its recitation and
responding to its verses.
Abu Hamza Thumali has reported that whenever Imam
Ali ibn al-Husayn (as) recited the Holy Quran loudly, the members of
his household would (all) come out to listen to him.
(Quran-o-‘Itrat)
Imam Ja’ffar as-Sadiq (as) has said,
“Sayyid al-Sajideen
(Imam al-Sajjad) had the most attractive and beautiful voice amongst
people whilst reciting the Quran. Whenever he (as) recited the Quran
loudly, people passing-by would stop on his doorstep to listen to
him”.
(Al-Kaafi)
To
be continued…………………….
mulla@almahdi.org.uk