Memorisation of the Qur’an is a very well renowned skill, for having someone to complete the Qur’an via memory or someone who is in the process of completing the Qur’an is a great blessing from Allah (SWT). We have individuals in our community from the younger generation to the older. Professionals including Doctors, Engineers, I.T technicians and Scientists who are all required in our society, however we also have Huffaz who dedicate and commit their time into memorising the beautiful and glorious words of the Qur’an. The amount of devotion and promise given to memorisation the Qur’an is the same and if not more to someone conducting an undergraduate degree.
Allah (SWT) has mentioned in the Qur’an ‘the month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion’ (Surah 2, Verse 185). While we are all well aware of this verse and the importance of this verse, it is important to highlight how this verse has an impact of a Hafiz in the month of Ramadan.
The month of Ramadan is about community, spreading love and care for one another and providing support to those in need being Muslims or Non-Muslims. Whilst the majority of us are preparing our wonderful iftars, the majority of Huffaz globally are waiting to hear the announcement for Tarawih prayers (in the mosque) and they wait patiently for Tarawih prayers to finish, in order to have their meal peacefully.
We are all experiencing in this blessed month of Ramadan what it is like to be an Imaam in our households and the seriousness of this title and what are the expectations on those with this title. While we criticise our Imams every year in the nights of Tarawih we are unaware of what they experience. Our Imams have professional jobs, family commitments and other communal commitments, in addition to this they provide a service for our community so we can hear the beautiful Qur’an in the best month of our Islamic calendar.
Let us not take our Imams or huffaz for granted. Let us show love, support and appreciation to them all year round.
Having to close our schools and madrassah’s has had an impact on our children’s Islamic education. But the importance of memorising the Qur’an and to progress in this aspect has not been lost on our MCEC Hifz class students. They have been working hard and making tremendous progress with their Hifz course. Students have benefited from a different style of teaching, approach to learning their work and given the circumstanced they are in, they have overcome the barriers of laziness.
Being a Hafiz for more than 10 years, I can speak from personal experience that there are many blessings of having a Hafiz in your house, both from an individual and a community/social perspective.
Some of these will be highlighted below:
• Given the current circumstances: The Hafiz has the authority to lead the prayer, while we neglect attending the mosque on a day to day basis due to work or other commitments. Having a hafiz in the house provides you with the opportunity to pray in congregation with someone who is knowledgeable and knows various verses and chapters of the Qur’an. This is a great practice and rehearsal as well as a beautiful way to increase confidence if your child wants to take the path of a religious leader
• Time management: A skill severely lacking in our society, a Hafiz dedicates time to their revision and rehearsal of the Qur’an; this could vary however on average it could be 2 to 4 hours a day excluding the Tarawih prayers. The skill of time management is introduced into a life of a Hafiz from a young age, while we are at home either working, playing or doing other activities our huffaz are managing their time for their rehearsals for Tarawih prayers
• A sense of pride and achievement: A parent will normally get happy when their child gets a degree or when they have achieved something of greatness in their life. Similarly this is a proud moment for parents who are witnessing their child/children lead Tarawih prayers at home, if it is their first time. I have witnessed this personally as a Hafiz and as a teacher, the amount of joy and happiness which shows on a parents face when their child leads is something which is indescribable. Although we are praying Tarawih at home this year, the expectation is the same and the need to provide a correct tarawih does not change. The last night of Tarawih or the night of the completion of the Qur’an is a feeling which only a Hafiz can feel
• Rewards: Our reward from reading the Qur’an is increased, while the normal reward is 10 rewards per letter, in the blessed month of Ramadan the reward is 70 per letter. Imagine rehearsing during the day, reading the Qur’an and then leading the Tarawih prayers, the amount of reward we will get. On average how many letters do you think that is per day?
• Blessings: Having led the Tarawih prayer in the month of Ramadan at home, nothing comes better than the blessings that it would bestow on you and your household. Reading the Qur’an in Tarawih prayers at home will open your doors to blessings, happiness, build your relationship with Allah (SWT) and increase your love for the Qur’an
Memorisation of the Qur’an is not for everyone, Allah has chosen who he wishes to protect his beautiful words. However, as highlighted above there are many blessings of having a hafiz in the house. Having said this, I would like to conclude that both reading and memorisation are important.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said about the person who struggles: “Verily the one who recites the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have TWICE that reward.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
May Allah make it easy for individuals to memorise the Qur’an and keep the words of Allah protected and safe, Ameen
JazakAllah
Hafiz Haseeb Ul Haq
Lead Hifdh Class Teacher
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2 thoughts on “A Hidden Blessing of COVID-19”
Mashaa Allah
Mashaa Allah.may Allah SWT accept you . Aameen