Al-Araf, The Heights

Now don't get me wrong; I like a good Quranic Recitation as much as the next guy (as long as he's muslim), but 99% of the time I find reciters going on in a very solemn, revering tone. Okay sure that kind of makes sense, it's the Word of God and should be treated as such, and yes, there is some bad news in it...but there's also a lot of good news and even some stories with happy endings (for us :P ) would it be so bad to recite it in a cheerful tone?


And then I heard Al-Araf, read by Mishary-Rashid. It itself isn't a cheerful Surat, it's about our fall from Heaven, and punishment, and a bit of Moses' (AS) story, but the recitation is actually kind of uplifting in parts. Of course, I can't understand what he's saying so it'll probably be a little more morbid if you can understand the meaning. 


On that note, if anyone knows a consistently cheerful recitation of the Quran, I'd love to know about it! :)

Supplication after Recitation

Before this weeks post, I would like to mention that uni is starting to tighten it's grip around my throat and I've run out of buffer articles. I'm going to try my best to keep updating every friday, but if I miss a day, don't crucify me. haha, crucify. Religious humor. ANYWAY.


I was browsing through the book "The Ways of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW)" by Arif Billah, Dr. Muhamad Abdul Hai Aarfi (GREAT book by the way, I recommend it) when I came upon a section titled:


Du'a (supplication) at the Time of Completing the Recitation of the Quran Receives an Answer


It goes on to say that it is reported in traditions that a special mercy of Allah (SWT) descends at the time when one completes the recitation of the Quran, and that it was the usual practice of the companions that, upon completion of Quranic Recitation, they would sit and pray together. Sayyidina Hasan (RA) would even go and bring his family members to join him in prayer. 


So I figured, hey! That sounds like a good idea! And started reciting. I read it out loud, from transliterated arabic (i.e english lettering of the arabic pronunciation), but you'll probably get a more points if you read it in arabic from arabic text. I finished in about 30 days (new high score! Actually, only high score. I've never actually read it front to back in any language before). Upon completion, I sat down and made my supplications. I finished it so quickly, because I had something very specific in mind that I wanted to ask for, and in case you were wondering, yes, my supplication did get answered. :P

The Meat and Potatoes of the Quran

1. Al Fatiha

Unfortunately, this is one of those vaguely good things in Islam. The Angels got really excited about it, but we're not really given a concrete reason why:

Sayyidina Ib Abbas related that while Jibreel (AS) was sitting with the Prophet (SAW) he heard a cracking sound above him, and after raising his head said, "This is a gate opened in heaven today which has never been opened before". Ten when an angel descended through it he said, "This is an angel come down to earth who has never come down before". he gave salutation and said "Rejoice in two lights brought to you which have not been brought to any Prophet before you: Fathatul-Kitab and the last ayat of Surah Al-Baqarah. you will not recite a phrase of them without being given the blessing it contains." (Hisn Haseen)

2. Al Baqarah

The devil will flee from the house in which it is recited. (Tirmizi, Ma'ariful Hadith)
It will come as a cloud or flock of birds as an intercessor for the reciter, on judgement day.
It's recitation produces blessing and abandoning it produces regret and the slothful are unable to recite it. (Muslim Ma'ariful hadith).

3. Al Imran

Like Al Baqarah, it will come as a cloud or flock of birds as an intercessor for the reciter on judgement day.

4. Al Kahf

Recitation on a friday produces a light which will shine brightly on him (which probably means they'll get a bunch of blessings, continuously) until next friday. (Baihaqi, Ma'ariful Hadith)

5. Yasin

Recitation out of desire for Allah (SWT)'s favor results in forgiveness of past sins. This is a good one to recite over those who are dying. (Baihaqi, Ma'ariful Hadith)

6. Al Waqiah
Recitation every night will remove want from the reciter. (Baihaqi, Ma'ariful Hadith)

7. Al Mulk

30 Ayats of PURE INTERCESSION POWER, surah Al Mulk will interceed for it's reciter on judgement day until all their sins are forgiven. (Ahmad, Tirmizi, Abu Dawood, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, Ma'arful Hadith)

8. Al Sajdah

This one's just listed as a Prophetic favorite to recite before sleep.

9. At Takathur

One coupon for At takathur will buy you the equivalent of 1000 verses: Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) has related that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said "Can one of you not recite a thousand verses daily?" Then when he was asked who could recite a thousand verses daily, he replied, "Can one of you not recite "Rivalry has distracted you?"" (Baihaqi, Ma'ariful Hadith)

10. Al Ikhlas
Worth 1/3 of the Quran in merit, but also anyone who recites "Say, He is Allah, One" one hundred times, while lying on their right side when about to sleep, the Lord will say to them on the day or resurrection "My servant, enter paradise to your right.". (Tirmizi, Ma'ariful Hadith)

11. Al Falaq and An Nisa

Just because, usually before bed. (Bukhari, Ma'ariful Hadith)

12. Ayat Al Kursi

Recitation before bed is protection until waking (Probably in Bukhari, it's pretty popular), but it's known as the greatest ayah in the Quran (Mishkat).

13. The Last Ayat of Surat Al Baqarah

Again, a kind of abstract one: Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said (in response to a question about ayats and surahs) "The end of Surat Al Baqarah (Ayat 285 and 286) for it is one of the treasures of Allah's mercy from under His Throne which he gave to his people, and there is no good in this world and the next which it does not include" (Darami, Ma'ariful Hadith)

14. The Last Ayat of Surat Al Imran (Actually Ayats 190 to 194)

When recited at night, results in the reward for a night spent in prayer recorded for them. (Related by Sayyidina Uthman bin Affan)

15. The Last 3 Ayats of Surat Al Hashr, after "The Ta'awuz"

So:
The Ta'awuz is: "I seek refuge in Allah, the Hearer, and Knower, from the accursed devil"
then follow it with the #22, #23 and #24 of Surat Al Hashr and you get:
not 7, not 70, not even 100, but 70,000, that's SEVENTY THOUSAND angels to invoke blessings on you until the evening. Do this in the evening and you.... "will be in that rank" which I imagine means, get the same thing until sunrise. And should you meet your end, you shall die as a martyr. (Tirmizi, Ibn Sa'd, Hisn Haseen)

So yeah, whip out those Quran's and get reading!

It Almost Makes You Wonder "Why Recite Anything Else?"

There is merit in memorizing Quran, quite a bit actually. It is the only method (I know of) that will allow you to actually move up in heaven once you are already there.

Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: One who was devoted to the Qur'an will be told to recite, ascend and recite carefully as he recited carefully when he was in the world, for he will reach his abode when he comes to the last verse he recites. (Book #8, Hadith#1459)

So the more you know the higher you go.

Now, the Hadith says verses, which could be taken to mean either Surats or Ayats, but some are longer than others so I wonder how that factors in... at any rate, with a bit of math:

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS MY OWN MATH AND HAS NO BASIS IN HADITH OR QURAN.

• There are 18248 words in the Quran (http://www.searchtruth.com/showWords.php?translator=1), and 7 heavens. That gives 2607 words per level.
• There are 114 Surah's in the Quran, so: 17 surahs per level.
• There are 6349 ayat's in the Quran (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayah) (yes, wikipedia. :( ) so: 907 ayat per level.
• And actually, 113 of those are just "Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim" so: 891 ayat's per level.

More benefits (like Quranic intercession) found at: http://www.themodernreligion.com/basic/quran/quran-benefits.html

But let it be known that some Surat's are better than others. Surat Al-Ikhlas, for example, is worth 1/3 of the Quran:

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: The Prophet said to his companions, "Is it difficult for any of you to recite one third of the Qur'an in one night?" This suggestion was difficult for them so they said, "Who among us has the power to do so, O Allah's Apostle?" Allah Apostle replied: " Allah (the) One, the Self-Sufficient Master Whom all creatures need.' (surat Al-ikhlas 112.1--to the End) is equal to one third of the Qur'an." (Book #61, Hadith #534)

The two really worth mentioning are #99 (Al Zalzalah) and #100 (Al-Adiyat) as each one is worth half of the Quran:

The Prophet (sal Allau alaihi wa sallam) said, "Whoever recites Aadiyat, his reward equals one half of the Qur'an." [Hakim and Tirmidhi]

Abdullah Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "Whoever recites Surah Zalzalah (99) will get the reward of reciting half the Qur'an." [Tirmidhi]

And since it's sunnah to do Quranic recitation in 2 of the rukaa's of the daily prayers, you could have the reward of reciting the entire Quran five times (or more ;) ) every day for the rest of your life!! Then you'd just need to figure out how to work reciting the rest of the Quran into your day....