Issue No: 190
28th February 2014
28th Rabiul Thani 1435 A H.
Salamun alaykum,
National Library Week:
In a drive to increase the culture of reading and create awareness of library services nations dedicate a week to celebrate National Library week. In U.K. and Australia the week is observed in February whereas the Republic of South Africa observes it in March and in April by the USA.
You are commanded to read:
The message of Islam commenced with reading. The first word in the first revelation of the Noble Qur’an to the Noble Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w. is Iqra –read. It makes one wonder that Allah SWT who created the jinn and mankind to serve Him commences the communication to His slaves with the verb Iqra; an instruction to READ instead of instruction to do ibadah; worship in the form of verbs such as pray, fast, or other forms of instruction one commonly considers ibadah.
The centrality of reading in Islam is emphasized by the fact that the first revelation of the Noble Quran to the Noble Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w. commenced with the verb: Iqra – Read.
Is it not by reading that one gains awareness, increased knowledge and that through attaining m’arifah-cognizance- of Allah one is able to devotedly serve Him?
The voice in the cave:
In the 40th year of his life when the Noble Prophet was in meditation in the cave of mount Hira the angel Jibrail conveyed to him the Divine revelation:
"Read, in the name of your Lord who created. He created man from a clot. Read, for your Lord is most Honorable, who teaches (to write) by means of the pen, teaches man what they know not," (Sura Al-'Alaq: 96:1-5)
Thereafter over a span of 23 years the revelations continued and upon instructions of the Noble Prophet these were recorded in writing forming the compilation we revere as the Noble Qur’an. The Noble Qur’an served as the prototype of the written word and bears significantly on the importance of role of reading and books.
Do you revere the Noble Qur’an?
The spontaneous response to the above question would be, ”Yes, of course I do.” Obviously as muslims we handle the Noble Qur’an with great respect. Some of the ways we revere it are by placing it on a high level, wrapping it in decorative cover, touching the writings with wudhu, protecting it from najasat etc. But is that all?
Reading is unbearable by Shaytan:
A great form of reverence for the Noble Qur’an is to pick the Noble Qur’an and read it. This action of reading the Noble Qur’an is unbearable by Shaytan.
“Nothing is harder for shaytan to bear than a person who recites the Quran by looking at the pages (of Quran).” Noble Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w.
In addition to our children seeing us revere the Noble Qur’an by physical gestures as outlined above, is it not important for them to see those around them in the family reading the Noble Qur’an? Every time an adult picks up the Noble Qur’an and reads it infront of a child they are showing children that reading is an important way of revering the Noble Qur’an.
Do you take time to read?
Obviously the response would be a resounding YES. The question that follows is how much quality reading is done as compared to reading posting on social mediums?
As nations in the world observe National Library Week, reflect as to how you put into practice - ‘Iqra – Read’ - the first word of revelation to the Noble Prophet.
“Do you take time to read part of the Noble Qur’an every day?”
“Do you read the Noble Qur’an infront of your children and encourage them too, to revere the Noble Qur’an by reading it every day?
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat