Brother, every year, particularly at the holy month of Ramadan, some muslims around you celebrate and commemorate a historical event, that has changed the history of human being as a whole. And it is possible that you are among those who celebrate and commemorate it. Do you know which event that I mean?
That is the Nuzul (The descend ) of the Qur’an; a moment when the Qur’an was descended in full content from the Lauh Al Mahfudz (a well guarded tablet) that settled in the seventh sky to the Bait al Izzah (House of Nobility) at the world’s sky.
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآَنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ. البقرة 185
“During the month of Ramadan the Qur’an was sent down as a guidance to the people with Clear Signs of the true guidance and as the Criterion (between right and wrong).” (Qs. Al Baqarah/The Cow: 185)
Forms of celebration of this event differ among society; some of them celebrate it by holding a general lecture, some others by having an art performance, such as religious songs, etc. And often some people celebrate it by having a feast.
But, have you ever think how the messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- , his devoted companions, and the past scholars commemorate this event?
Do you want to know what did the messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- do?
Check out this saying of Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas -may Allah be pleased with him- about what did he do:
كَانَ جِبْرِيلُ يَلْقَاهُ فِى كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ ، فَيُدَارِسُهُ الْقُرْآنَ . رواه البخاري
“Previously the Angel Gabriel came to see the messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, in every night of Ramadan, and he would recite the Qur’an together with him.” (Narrated by Al Bukhari)
That is how he did it; the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- used to recite the Qur’an together with angel Gabriel -peace be upon him- outside of his prayer. And that wasn’t enough for the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- that he felt he still need to recite the Qur’an during his prayer. Do you want to know, how much and how long did he recite the Qur’an in his prayer?
Take a look on a narration of Hudzaifa -may Allah be pleased with him- about his experience doing a night prayer with the messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him.
“In one night of the month Ramadan, I prayed with the messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, in a room that was made of rib of dates. He started his prayer by reciting takbeer, and then recited a supplication:
الله أكبر ذُو الجَبَرُوت وَالْمَلَكُوتِ ، وَذُو الكِبْرِيَاءِ وَالْعَظَمَةِ
Next, he started to recite chapter of Al Baqara (the cow), I thought he was going to stop (reciting) at the 100th verse, but he continued to recite. I thought again that he was going to stop at the 200th verse, but he continued to recite until he reached the end of Al Baqara, and he continued it by chapter Ali Imran (The Family of Imran) until finished. And he continued it again with chapter An Nisa’ (The Women) until the end of chapter. Every time he passed a verse that contains scary things, he stopped for a while to invoke for protection…. Since the time after Isha prayer at the early evening until the end of the night, when Bilal told him that the time for Subh prayer has come, he just prayed four rak’ahs.” (Narrated by Ahmad and Al Hakim)
That is the way the messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- commemorate the descend of the Qur’an at the month Ramadan, he would read the Qur’an with a full concentration and appreciation on it’s meanings. He didn’t feel enough with recitation outside of his prayer, but also he read it much during his prayer, up until in 1 rak’ah, he recited chapter Al Baqara, Ali Imran, and An Nisa’, that is equal to more than 5 sections (juz) of the Qur’an.
This is what the messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- did in the month Ramadan, and how he commemorated the descend of the Qur’an. No feast, no art performance, singing, drama, or dancing.
Compare it to what you do. Have you understand the vast difference between it?
Do you want to know further what did the past scholars do in the month Ramadan?
Imam Ash Shafi’i used to complete the recitation of the Qur’an for 60 times every month of Ramadan.
Do you think that you are the follower of Imam Ash Shafi’i? This is his guidance, without art performance, or feast, but every second of his time was used to recite and to think deeply about the meanings of the Qur’an.
Prove, O Brother, that you are the true follower of madz-hab Shafi’i.
Al Aswab an Nakha’i completed his Qur’an recitation every two nights.
Qatadah As Sadusi used to complete his recitation of the Qur’an every seven days. But when the month of Ramadan came, he completed it every three nights. And when the last ten days of the month Ramadan came, he would complete it every night.
Those are the examples of our past scholars in commemorating the descend of the Qur’an. They did not hold any feast, party, moreover -we seek protection from Allah from it- art performance, dancing, and singing.
They are those whom Allah The Exalted addressed in His decree:
اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُّتَشَابِهًا مَّثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَنْ يَشَاء وَمَن يُضْلِلْ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ . الزمر23
“Allah has revealed the best teaching, a self-consistent Book which repeats its contents in manifold forms whereat shiver the skins of those that hold their Lord in awe, and then their skins and their hearts soften for Allah’s remembrance. That is Allah’s Guidance wherewith He guides whosoever He pleases. And he whom Allah does not guide to the Right Path has none to guide him.” (Qs. Az Zumar/The Troops: 23)
And His decree:
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ {2} الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاَةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ {3} أُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا لَّهُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ. الأنفال 2-4
“The true believers are those who, when Allah’s name is mentioned, their hearts quake, and when His verses are recited to them their faith grows, and who put their trust in their Lord, who establish Prayer and spend out of what We have provided them. Such indeed are true believers. They have high ranks with their Lord and forgiveness for their sins and an honorable sustenance.” (Qs. Al Anfaal/The Spoils of War: 2-4)
As for us, we can only hope for Allah’s mercy. How often do we recite, or hear the recitation of Quranic verses, but that didn’t seem to leave any mark on us. Our hearts seem to be stiff and hard, as hard as stone. Our faith isn’t increasing, even worse, it keeps on being eroded by sins. And our life just seems so far from remembering Allah.
Brother. Will we continue to stay in this situation? Is it possible for us to be satisfied by telling lies to ourselves? We admit that we love and believe in Qur’an, and we realize that love and beliefs in forms of dancing, singing, and feast?
When will we be able to prove our love and faith in Qur’an, in forms of reciting it, studying it’s contents, and realizing it’s values?
Isn’t this the time for us to change the celebration of it from the stage of art performances, to the recitation and application of it’s contents in our real life?
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Author: Ustadz Dr. Muhammad Arifin Badri, M.A.