Allah blessed us with the Qur’an as a means of us connecting with Him. Building a relationship with the book of Allah is something many of us aspire to do. This is a letter I wrote reflecting on several moments where the Qur’an makes life a little sweeter.
Dear Qur’an,
My favourite moment with you is after the dawn prayer of Fajr…
You prepare my heart for a new day. Every time I turn a page, I discover something new about you. Your melodious words are like honeydew. You motivate me to keep going because life is short and we only have one chance at it. The sun outside my window rises, painting my bedroom with its golden hues. The birds continue to chirp. As I hold you in my hands, filled with renewed faith and energy, I feel like with Allah, I can do anything.
But no! Allah is your Guardian, and He is the best Helper. (Quran, 3:150)
My favourite moment with you is when I’m cooking...
As I chop the vegetables, grill the protein, and sprinkle the spices, I love adding a little bit of love and light by reciting over the food. It has been my secret ingredient to a great and delicious dish. When I’m cooking, I also like to ponder over Allah’s name Al-Razzaq, The Provider. He sent down the rain and the sunshine and made plants grow from the Earth for animals to graze and for humans to harvest. After effort and time, that food reached our home, and Allah honoured me to be the one to cook it up into a hearty meal and serve my family. The Sustainer chose me to be a part of His process of providing. Oh Quran, You make me grateful.
He is the One Who sends down rain from the sky, from which you drink and by which plants grow for your cattle to graze. With it He produces for you various crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and every type of fruit. Surely in this is a sign for those who reflect. (Quran, 16:10-11)
My favourite moment with you is when I’m in the middle of a hectic day…
When I feel overwhelmed, you remind me that I will earn what I strive for and that along with every hardship comes ease. You remind me to try my best and leave the rest to The One who has control over the outcome. Whenever I question why something happened, or what I need to do, I can open you to any page and you will answer me. You remind me to trust Allah with all my might. You comfort me.
And whoever puts their trust in Allah, then He alone is sufficient for them. Certainly Allah achieves His Will. Allah has already set a destiny for everything. (Quran, 65:3)
My favourite moment with you is when I'm massaging my mother or giving my father a cup of tea…
After all, it is you who taught me that my parents are the most precious people to me and that I should honour, respect and care for them with the utmost excellence and love. You remind me of the pain and sacrifice my parents went through to raise me. You remind me to lower the wings they helped me to grow. You remind me to show them compassion and kindness. Although I’ll never be able to repay them for all they’ve done, I pray that Allah has mercy on them like they had mercy on me.
And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy, and pray, “My Lord! Be merciful to them as they raised me when I was young.” (Quran, 17:24)
My favourite moment with you is when I’m spending time with my friends…
We joke, laugh, tease and have fun, but never out of the boundaries you’ve set for us. Never without mentioning Allah’s name as part of our conversation. You taught me to make friendships with those who will help me grow closer to Allah. The best part about my companions is that they always wish me well. They pick me up when I’m feeling down. Most importantly, they encourage me to be a better human being by the good example they show.
The believers, both men and women, are protecting friends of one another. They encourage good and forbid evil, establish prayer and pay alms-tax, and obey Allah and His Messenger. It is they who will be shown Allah’s mercy. Surely Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (Quran, 9:71)
My favourite moment with you is when my heart breaks…
Sometimes my heart hardens and I feel lost. You thaw my frozen heart, wrap it up, hold the pieces together and remind me that Allah is always there for me. All I have to do is speak to Him. You bring tears to my eyes, cause my heart to shudder in my chest and bring it back to life when it feels empty, numb and cold. You teach me about repentance and that Allah is the most Forgiving. You bring me out of the dark and make me feel again. You make me feel loved.
Surely Allah loves those who always turn to Him in repentance and those who purify themselves. (Quran, 2:222)
My favourite moment with you, is when I recite Surah Al-Mulk with my grandfather before he goes to bed…
The first two verses always leap out at me, reminding me of my true life purpose:
“Blessed is the One in Whose Hands rests all authority. And He is Most Capable of everything. He is the One Who created death and life in order to test which of you is best in deeds. And He is the Almighty, All-Forgiving.” (67:1-2)
When we are done reciting, my grandfather likes to say: “Inna rahmat Allahi Qaribun min al-muhsineen.” (Verily the mercy of Allah is near to those who strive for excellence.) When I tuck him into bed like he used to do with us when I was little, his lips turn up into the sweetest smile. His smile warms my soul.
My favourite moment with you is before the dawn prayer...
When I get to spend time with you alone, away from the people, worries, and temptations of the world, I feel calm. When I read from you, I know Allah is watching. When I reflect on your words, I know Allah meant them just for me. When I stand in prayer, your words feel heavy on my chest and light on my tongue. You connect me to my Creator. You enable me to have a conversation with Him. You make me feel whole.
And those who spend [part of] the night to their Lord prostrating and standing [in prayer] (25:64)
Oh Quran, my favourite moments with you are every moment I read you.
I enjoy every moment I learn from you. Every moment I live with you. You are the manual for my life. You make me want to be a better person and a better slave of Allah. I still have a long way to go before I can truly become the person you try to remind me to be, but like you say: “Your Lord has proclaimed, “Call upon Me, I will respond to you.” So I will call upon the Lord of the Heavens who sent down the Quran as the final revelation. I ask Him to guide me through His words. I ask Him to make me from amongst the family of the Quran. I ask Him to make the Quran the spring of all our hearts. The light of our chests. The remover of our sadness and the reliever of our worries.
May the Quran unite us in goodness. May it strengthen our character and help us to develop this Earth. May it be our favourite companion, the music to our ears, the book we turn to for comfort and advice. May Allah help us to live the Quran in every step and breath we take. Until we meet Him.
And when it is said to those mindful of Allah, “What has your Lord revealed?” They say, “All the best!” For those who do good in this world, there is goodness. But far better is the eternal Home of the Hereafter. How excellent indeed is the home of the righteous: the Gardens of Eternity which they will enter, under which rivers flow. In it they will have whatever they desire. This is how Allah rewards the righteous— those whose souls the angels take while they are virtuous, saying to them, “Peace be upon you! Enter Paradise for what you used to do.” (Quran, 16:30-32)
Questions to Ask Ourselves:
- What is my relationship with the book of Allah?
- How can I make the Qur’an an important part of my life?
- How can I live the message of the Qur’an and teach it to others?
- Who do I want to be when I meet Allah?
What is one verse of the Qur’an that has inspired you recently? COMMENT BELOW and spread the khayr!
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Nazatul Anis Nadia
Fatima Altalib
Nazatul Anis Nadia