بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ,

Ramadan is the month of the Qur’aan. It is the month in which the Qur’aan was revealed to our Master, Muhammad (peace be upon him). It says, and I quote:

“The month of Ramadan in which was sent down the Qur’an – the guidance for mankind, the direction and the clear criteria (to judge between right and wrong); so whoever among you witnesses this month, must fast for the (whole) month; and whoever is sick or on a journey, may fast the same number in other days; Allah desires ease for you and does not desire hardship for you – so that you complete the count (of fasts), and glorify Allah’s greatness for having guided you, and so that you may be grateful.” – Qur’aan 2:185.

Yes, it is also the month of fasting (Siyaam, Sawm), but most persons seem to forget that it is a period in which we are called to read the Qur’aan for 8, 16, 20 rakaat, a month in which we are recommended to read the entire Qur’aan. In light of this, how many persons fast, perform the Sunnah of Taraweeh or read the Qur’aan? As Muslims, we face countless attacks against the Qur’aan by Christian missionaries who read it no less than you do, but spend enough time dedicated to misunderstanding it so that they can misinform you. It is therefore, the responsibility of each and every Muslim to not only read the Qur’aan, but it is also incumbent, if not obligatory (wajib) to understand it.

It is not difficult to dedicate a few minutes of reading the English translation after suhoor (sehri, morning meal before the fast). If you spend as little as five minutes, you’d have definitely read a few pages, and a few pages a day can lead you to reading the entire Qur’aan in just a matter of weeks. Just as fasting is prescribed for us, so is reading/ reciting the Qur’aan (27:92, 96:1). If we are Muslims who are sincere about our faith, we must dedicate time to reading and understanding the Qur’aan, we must spend time with the Words of our Lord. After all, it was sent as a guidance for us:

“This is the exalted Book (the Qur’an), in which there is no place for doubt; a guidance for the pious.” – Qur’aan 2:2.

In reading the Qur’aan, it is recommended to read it along with some commentary so that one can clarify matters he is unfamiliar with. For this I recommend using either Maar’iful Qur’aan or the Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir (‘alayhi rahma). If you do encounter some passage in which you would like further explanation, feel free to contact us and we’d pass your message on to qualified Islamic scholarship. As a da’ee (one who calls to/ invites to Islam), one of the major obstacles I have for myself witnessed, is the ignorance of the Muslim who has not read the Qur’aan. We cannot be true Muslims without reading the revelation of Allaah to us, for it is the foundation to understanding our faith and without it, we would surely be misguided.

We must not give opportunity to the Missionaries to misuse the Qur’aan upon unsuspecting Muslims. It is our duty to know the Qur’aan. In closing, our Ramadan message is simple, in the month of the Qur’aan – Read the Qur’aan.

If you live in Trinidad & Tobago, Lebanon, Algeria, the United Kingdom, Jordan or the United States and would like a free copy of the Qur’aan (English translation), contact us and we’ll organize sending you one as soon as possible.