My Ramadhan My Quran:
The writer, Sameer Murad Kermalli (Nairobi, Kenya) is a graphic designer, photographer and has been involved in leadership and community service positions.
R
amadan is one of the most important months in the Islamic calendar, and it is a time of spiritual growth and reflection for Muslims all around the world. During this month, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, and they engage in various acts of worship at an increased rate, such as praying, giving to charity, and reading the Quran. In this essay, I will focus on the relationship between Ramadan and the Quran, and I will try and tackle the discussion of Muslims who only read the Quran during Ramadan.
The Quran is the holy book of Islam, and it is considered to be the literal word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. It contains 114 chapters or surahs, and it covers a wide range of topics, including the oneness of God, the importance of worship, the stories of the prophets, and the principles of morality and ethics. Muslims believe that the Quran is the ultimate guidebook for living a righteous and fulfilling life, and they strive to follow its teachings in all aspects of their lives.
During Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to read and reflect upon the Quran more than they do at any other time of the year. This is because Ramadan is a time of increased spirituality and closeness to God, and Muslims believe that reading the Quran during this month will help them to deepen their understanding of the faith and to strengthen their relationship with God. On the contrary, those who understand the power of reading and pondering on the words of the Quran, do it every day, strengthening their connection to their beloved more. The Quran opens up more through its learning, sadly, however, we shelf it only when in dire straits.
In fact, many Muslims make it a goal to read the entire Quran during Ramadan, either by themselves or in a group setting. This practice is known as khatam al-Quran, and it involves completing the recitation of the entire Quran by the end of the month. This is often done in nightly gatherings at the mosque, where some Muslims come together to read and reflect upon the Quran, and the majority just read it. The lord mentions in the Quran, that it was made easy to memorize and understand, the teachings of morality and ethics are key for mankind. Converts to Islam have been known to say that they enjoy the logical teachings of the Quran and it gives them solace to be able to read a book that knows so much about themselves.
One of the reasons why Muslims only read the Quran during Ramadan is because this month is believed to be the month in which the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. According to Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Quran during the month of Ramadan, and this event is known as Laylat al-Qadr or the Night of Power. Muslims believe that Laylat al-Qadr is one of the most important nights of the year and that it is a time when God is especially merciful and forgiving. Muslims born within Muslim families are bound to culture and tradition, and those who come into submission to the lord, taking Muhammad as the prophet and Quran as the word, end up appreciating Islam at a different level, and seeing God in a very different light. When the Prophet Muhammad said I leave you 2 weighty things, the Quran and my progeny, it was to read and understand the Quran and emulate how his progeny understood the lord, how their worship was and their selflessness towards being in the favor of their beloved. On this night of decree, instead of taking the Quran and putting it into our hearts, we put it on our heads and 5 minutes later, we separate ourselves from it until the next year, if at all life was granted.
In Ramadhan, reading the Quran is seen as a way of commemorating the revelation of the Quran and of seeking God’s mercy and forgiveness. It is a way of connecting with the Prophet Muhammad and with the early Muslims who first received the Quran, and of rekindling the sense of awe and reverence that they must have felt upon hearing these divine words, when in true essence, it should be mastered, for there are gems in it that would make all Muslims role models in ethics, morality and ambassadors of peace for mankind, as the Prophet Muhammad was clear examples of, and the other Prophets before him, who were humble and generous, with the message of oneness of their lord.
Another reason why Muslims only read the Quran during Ramadan is that this month is believed to be a time of increased spiritual reward. Muslims believe that the rewards for good deeds are multiplied during Ramadan and that the blessings and mercy of God are more abundant during this time. How limited the human mind is to think of the lord who is abundant to have a special month? Therefore, reading the Quran during Ramadan is seen as a way of earning more spiritual rewards and of drawing closer to God, and yet the lord says in the Quran, I am closer to you than your jugular vein and if you call upon me I will answer. If this concept was understood, Ramadhan would have been about purifying our own souls for the devil resides in us. And so, reading the Quran during Ramadan is also seen as a way of strengthening one’s faith and gaining a deeper understanding of the religion. Muslims believe that the Quran is a source of guidance and wisdom and that it contains the answers to many of life’s questions. Therefore, by reading and reflecting upon the Quran during Ramadan, Muslims hope to gain a greater insight into the teachings of Islam and deepen their understanding of the faith.
Reading the Quran is seen as a way of purifying oneself and seeking forgiveness for one’s sins. Muslims believe that the Quran has the power to cleanse the heart and purify the soul and that by reading it, one can achieve a greater sense of spiritual purity and closeness to God. Maybe as Muslims, we should not wait for Ramadhan to read and ponder, but make Quran their go-to manual throughout our lives. May the lord bless our mothers who read the Quran for us when we were in their wombs, and introduced us to these wonderful words from our creator.
More from this writer
Writers Panel | A Simple Thought | Obituaries | Ziarat Ashura | Islamic Calendar | Facebook
