Ramadan is the month of the Quran and every single mentor, teacher, or spiritual worker has encouraged us at some point to spend this month in the company of Allah’s Book. Yet, like many, I have struggled to connect with the Quran at some points in my life, but especially as a younger youth. But, the Quran truly opened for me when I began adopting a curious and genuine heart desiring growth as I approached it. Once that curiosity exists around a particular surah or verse, beautiful things happen Alhamdulilah. Without that intense curiosity, I am still in awe of the Quran Alhamdulilah but struggle more to commit to exploring it with fervor. Ultimately, I don’t stick with it if I’m not as excited about it.
Keeping this in mind, I adopted a mentality this Ramadan that has served me well Alhamdulilah. Normally, I just follow the linear path of beginning to end or end to beginning with regard to the surahs I intend to explore deeply, but I struggled to maintain it throughout the month using this method. This time, I decided to follow my heart in reflecting and deep-diving into the Quran. Meaning, I chose to focus on surahs that had recently piqued my intrigue, rather than what comes first in order of appearance. I chose to start with Surah Hud. Through MAS Project 100 (#ShamelessPlug), this surah was highlighted as a powerful representation of what Allah was calling the believers to in Makkah during persecution.
As I work through my Quran now, I reflect on it all, but I always spend extra time contemplating, researching, and discussing the verse – even the word – that catches my attention. As a result, I’ve observed that the ayaat hit me in a different way: they’re so much more impactful and thought-provoking, simply because I chose to approach them out of curiosity and desire to know more.
Beyond this, I noticed I am catching specific ayaat and concepts in my study of the Quran because I need it right now. Allah calls our attention to what we need to hear in our current states. This is a profound experience and is one we’ve all had at some point, whether with the Quran or in other aspects of our lives. But it’s truly humbling to be able to experience this as I have been this Ramadan in my journey with the Quran Alhamdulilah.
For the times I need to engage with a part of the Quran when my heart isn’t equipped with curiosity for it yet, I take a couple of steps. First, I ask Allah to open my heart. Second, I remind myself that there’s a reason for everything and if this is coming to me now, then Allah knows I need it even if I don’t know why yet. Last, I work on building my curiosity by reading the surah, listening to it, and studying a few its unique characteristics, stories connected to it, and the context of revelation.
A mentor reminded me recently that our reaction to hardship, or to any experience we encounter, should be to return to the Quran for guidance and perspective. Let this social isolation push us back to the Word of Allah inshaAllah.
May Allah fill us with the light and wisdom of His Book and allow us to reflect on it, to understand it, and to grow from it to the fullest extent in Ramadan – the month of its revelation – and throughout our lives. I ask Allah to accept from us this blessed month and allow us to benefit to the fullest extent from His Mercy, Forgiveness, and Blessing especially placed for us in Ramadan. Ameen.
If you’re interested in engaging with others through your reflection on the Quran, check out QuranReflect! It’s an incredible resource for sharing and reading reflections from your brothers and sisters!