Commanded to read the Holy Qur'an

As responsible parents, we have a crucial role to play in our children’s foundation in faith.  What is the most important first step?  Allah (s.w.t.) Said in the Holy Qur'an, in the first few verses Revealed to Rasulullah (s.a.w.):

سُوۡرَةُ العَلق

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

ٱقۡرَأۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ (١) خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ مِنۡ عَلَقٍ (٢) ٱقۡرَأۡ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلۡأَكۡرَمُ (٣) ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلۡقَلَمِ (٤) عَلَّمَ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ مَا لَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ (٥)

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Read: In the name of thy Lord Who Createth, Createth man from a clot.  Read: And thy Lord is the Most Bounteous, Who Teacheth by the pen, Teacheth man that which he knew not. (Surah al-Alaq:1-5)

So the first Divine Command upon the Prophet (s.a.w.), and ummah is to read.  Have we ever thought about what we have been Commanded to read?  We have been Commanded to read the Holy Qur'an, the mother of all books, within which is contained all that mankind needs for his difficult journey in this world and in the hereafter.  Our children must be taught to read the Qur'an and to depend on it, just like a nursing child depends completely on its mother, for the Qur'an contains the key to all knowledge.  All other books are derived from it, one way or another.  Besides religion, knowledge of science, morals, astronomy, psychology, self-motivation, literature and many other subjects are all found in the Qur'an.

We must read the Qur'an, for when we do so, Blessings Descend upon us like the falling rain, but when you leave it, curses and humiliation descend upon that person that leaves it.  How many of our children are learning and reading the Qur'an today, and how many continue to do it all their lives?  It is not enough to simply read the Qur'an.  Many people just read it, without drawing life-changing lessons from it and without understanding the parables and advice contained within it.  We must read the Holy Book, listen to its advice and practice them!

Today's education system has booted out the Qur'an.  It has erased Divinity from all wondrous phenomenon and replaced Allah (s.w.t.) with 'nature.’  It has relegated Rasulullah (s.a.w.) to a mere historical figure alongside other unimportant personalities.  Many schools have a blanket ban on the study of religion, saying it is in the best interests of all, for it to be a centre for secular studies only.  Even in universities where Islam is taught, many lecturers on Islam are not even Muslims.  The study of Islam has become just like any other academic subject.  It has become an examinable subject where students boast book knowledge and complete thick theses, expounding their opinions on modern Islam.  This is not real Islam.  This is not the way to study Islam.  And this is not the purpose of studying Islam.  When our children are influenced by such ideas, when their egos have been infiltrated by such ideals, do we think they will be Covered by Allah's (s.w.t.) Rahmah?

The Qur'an is not a story book that is to be read, and then kept away.  Every single one of the organs in our body must read the Qur'an with us and every organ must listen and obey the Qur'an.  For example, when the Qur'an says that men and women should lower their gaze, then the eye must obey this Divine Command.  When the Qur'an says that we must not backbite, then the tongue must obey.  When the Qur'an says that the food we eat must be halal, then the stomach must obey.  When the Qur'an forbids fornication, then the private parts must obey.  The list goes on.  Every organ within us must obey every Divine Command contained within the Qur'an.

We must teach your children and ourselves to read the Qur'an.  Then we must read it regularly and obey its Commands.  We must never leave the Qur'an throughout your lives, for curses descend on those who turn their back on the reading of the Qur'an and on those who disobey its teachings.

sumber dari: amuslimconvertoncemore.blogspot.com