The Qur’an Is the Delight of the Heart – A Khutba

(Islamweb) By Shaikh Sa'ud Ash-Shuriem

Praise is for Allah, the Guide to goodness. He Watches over His creation, knowing
what is hidden from sight and that which they conceal in their breasts. I praise Him,
the praise of a true slave who is afraid of His punishment, yet in hope of His
forgiveness. I thank Him; the thanking that is obligated on a slave to his Master. I bear
witness that there is no god or deity worthy of any worship except Allah alone. I bear
witness that Muhammad is His slave and final Messenger.

Amma Ba'du:

I advise you and I to have Taqwa Allah; it is the provision that will be most beneficial
on the final Day.

Allah (SWT) says Ordering his Prophet (saaw): "Recite (O Muhammad) what has
been revealed to you of the Book (Qur’an), and perform as-Salah. Verily, as-Salah
(prayer) prevents from al-Fahsha' (great sins of every kind) and al-Munkar (disbelief,
and every wicked deed). And the Remembering (praising) of (you by) Allah (in front
of the angels) is greater indeed [than your remembering (praising) Allah in prayers].
And Allah knows what you do." -- Al-'Ankabut 29:45

He (SWT) also said: " I (Muhammad) have been commanded only to worship the
Lord of this city (Makkah), Him Who has sanctified it and His is everything. And I
am commanded to be from among the Muslims (those who submit to Allah in Islam).
And to recite the Qur’an." -- An-Naml 27:91,92

Allah (SWT) said: "Nay, but they, the clear Ayat [the description and the qualities of
Prophet Muhammad (saaw) written like verses in the Torah and the Gospel] are
preserved in the breasts of those who are have been given knowledge (from the people
of the Scriptures). And none but the Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers…) deny
Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons and signs)." -- Al-'Ankabut 29:49

He (SWT) also said: "And we have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and
be remembered, then is there any that will remember (or receive admonition)?" -- Al-
Qamar 54:17

'Ibad Allah ( O Slaves of Allah)!

The month of Ramadaan is known as the month of sacrifice and fasting. It is also
known and recognized and known as the month of the Qur’an. Allah (SWT) says:
"The month of Ramadaan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind
and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)." -- Al-
Baqarah 2:185

Allah (SWT) says: "Verily! We have sent it down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree)."
-- Al-Qadr 97:1

He (SWT) also says: "We sent it (this Qur’an) down on a blessed night [night of Qadr
in the 9th month (Ramadaan) of the Islamic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning
[mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of
Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship]. Therein (that night is decreed every matter
of ordainments." -- Ad-Dukhan 44:3

Allah revealed the Qur’an, a beacon of light that cannot be extinguished. A

methodology and way of life that is perfect in all respect. In it is strength that cannot
be equaled or repelled. It is the foundation of Iman (Faith) and the spring of
knowledge. Allah Willed that the Qur’an be what quenches the thirst for knowledge.
It is the delight of the people of wisdom. The Qur’an is the greatest cure for all
ailments. The Qur’an is Allah's Rope that cannot be severed. It is the Wise Reminder
and the truly Straight Path.

In the Qur’an are the parables of those who were before us, a prophesy of that which
will be after us and a criterion to judge between us. It is Truth with certainty that was
revealed to us. The one who lives according to its dictation will be rewarded. The one
who judges according to it will be just. The one who calls to it is on the straight path.
Allah raises and lowers people with it. The Qur’an, on the Day of Judgment, will
intercede on behalf of those who recited it.

Rasool ul Allah (saaw) said: "The one who reads a single letter from the Book of
Allah will be rewarded with one Hasana (good deed). (Know that) A good deed is
multiplied ten times over. I do not say Alif Lam Meem is one letter. Verily, Alif is on
letter, Lam is one letter, Meem is one letter." -- Reported by at-Tirmithi and it is
Sahih.

O Muslims!

The Book of Allah to mankind's guidance is like the soul in relation to the body.
Therefore, he who abandons its recitation and does not act in accordance to its laws is
in a state of spiritual death. Allah (SWT) says: "Is he who was dead (without Faith by
ignorance and disbelief) and We gave him life (by Knowledge and Faith) and set for
him a light (of Belief) whereby he can walk amongst men, like him who is in the
darkness (of disbelief, polytheism and hypocrisy) from which he can never come
out?" -- Al-An'am 6:122

A person without Qur’an is like a person without water, air and medicine. Allah
(SWT) says: "And We send down from the Qur’an that which is a healing and a
mercy to those who believe." -- Al-Isra' 17:82

Allah (SWT) also says: "And if We had sent this as a Qur’an in a foreign language
other that Arabic, they would have said: 'Why are not its Verses explained in detail (in
our language)? What! (A Book) not in Arabic and (the Messenger) an Arab? Say: 'It is
for those who believe, a guide and healing. And as for those who disbelieve, there is
heaviness (deafness) in their ears, and it (the Qur’an) is blindness for them." --
Fussilat 41:44
The Qur’an is a healing for the body and soul. Whenever life becomes hard and
complicated the Light of the Qur’an will always brighten the way. It will be a source
of solace and tranquility. It will be a defender to you when you are powerless and in
need. Allah (SWT) says: "And when you (Muhammad) recite the Qur’an, We put
between you and those who believe not in the Hereafter, an invisible veil (or screen
their hearts, so they hear or understand it not)." -- Al-Isra’ 17:45

"And We have put a barrier before them, a barrier behind them, and We have covered
them up, so that they cannot see." -- Ya-Sin 36:9

The Muslim recites the Qur’an and will feel the Sakina and tranquility in his heart and
being. This causes him only to fear Allah alone and no other. Allah (SWT) says:
"Those (the believers) unto whom the people (hypocrites) said, 'Verily, the people
(pagans) have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them." But it (only)
increased them in Faith, and they said, 'Allah (alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the
Best Disposer of affairs (for us)." So they returned with Grace and Bounty from
Allah. No harm touched them; and they followed the good Pleasure of Allah. And
Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty. It is only Shaytan that suggests to you the fear of
his Auliya [supporters and friends (polytheists, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah
and in His Messenger], so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are (true) believers." --
Ali-'Imran 3:173-175

Sadly, many have taken this Qur’an for granted and have neglected its recitation and
implementation. They sought the worldly life and neglected the Hereafter. Allah
(SWT) says: "And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you far away
from Allah's Path. They follow nothing but conjectures, and they do nothing but lie."
-- Al-An'am 6:116

Allah (SWT) says: "And most of them follow nothing but conjecture. Certainly,
conjecture can be of no avail against the truth." -- Yunus 10:36

The people of disbelief try to cloud the beauty of the Qur’an by attempting to beautify
their scientific endeavors and worldly possessions. Yet, Allah (SWT) says: "They
know only the outside appearance of the life of the world (i.e. the matters of their
livelihood, like irrigating or sowing or reaping), and they are heedless of the
Hereafter." -- Ar-Rum 30:7

Tragically, there are those who will recite the Qur’an in its entirety and finish with
little more than with what they began with in terms of contemplation and action.
Some are so concerned with how they sound, they beautify their voice without ever
listening to what is being ordered or prohibited. Truly there are many reciters of the
Qur’an that the Qur’an is free from them and their evil. They recite the Qur’an and
are oppressive to themselves and others by not following its orders or forbidding its
prohibitions. Allah (SWT) says: "No doubt! The Curse of Allah is on the Zalimun
(wrong-doers)." -- Hud 11:18
He (SWT) says: "Then pray and invoke (sincerely) the Curse of Allah upon those who
lie." -- Ali-'Imran 3:61

O Muslims!

Nothing is more valuable to a Muslim in his worldly life and in the Hereafter than
reciting the Qur’an and reflecting and trying to comprehend its meaning. In doing so
an individual will become acquainted with what is good and what is evil. He will see
the effects of disobedience of Allah and its punishment in the parables of those who
have come before us. An example of such a punishment is the flood that was sent
upon the people of Nuh (saaws) and others similar to it. It is a source of inspiration
and strengthens one's belief in Allah. For this reason, Allah (SWT) says: "And when
His (Allah's) Verses (this Qur’an) are recited unto them, they (Verses) increase their
Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord." -- Al-Anfal 8:2

This Book was sent and revealed from above the seven Heavens so that it could be
comprehended and implemented, it is not just to be recited while the heart is pre-
occupied. Allah (SWT) says: "(This is) a Book (Qur’an) which We have sent down to
you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of
understanding may remember." Sad 38:29

Allah (SWT) says: "Have they not pondered over the Word (of Allah) or has there
come to them what had not come to their fathers of old?" -- Al-Mu'minun 23:68

Allah (SWT) says: "Do they not then consider the Qur’an carefully? Had it been from
other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much contradictions." -- An-
Nisa 4:82

He (SWT) says: "Do they not think deeply in the Qur’an, or are their hearts locked up
(from understanding it)? -- Muhammad 47:24

The Qur’an is an integral part of the Muslim individual's life. Allah (SWT) says: "Has
not the time come for the hearts of those who believe to be affected by Allah's
Reminder (Qur’an)? And that which has been revealed of the truth, lest they become
as those who received the Scripture before (Jews and Christians), and the term was
prolonged on them and so their hearts were hardened? And many of them were
Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah)." -- Al-Hadid 57:16

What has happened to our hearts O 'Ibad Allah? Why are our hearts locked out and
unresponsive to the Qur’an? Why do the words enter from one ear and exit out the
other. Why have our hearts hardened? Let us comprehend the Qur’an and implement
it in our lives. Let us be from those who implement the Qur’an in our days and recite
it during our nights.

O Allah! Make the Qur’an the delight of our hearts and the light of our breasts and the
remover of our pain, sorrow and discomfort
[From: A Khutba Delivered in al-Masjid Al-Haram during the Month of Ramadaan,
Translated by: Yahya Adel Ibrahim]