The guiding light

From a very early stage in my Islamic journey, I started to read the Quran as a regular daily routine. Just small parts of it to keep a steady routine. It somehow became like bread and water for me, something I had to do, not just reading for the sake of reading, but to understand it in more depth.

سورة النمل ١-٢
طس ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْقُرْآنِ وَكِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ
هُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

سورة الإسراء ٩
إِنَّ هَـٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَبِيرًا

Surah An-Naml 27:1-2
These are verses of the Qur’an,-a book that makes (things) clear;
A guide: and glad tidings for the believers

Surah Al-Israa 17:9
Verily this Qur’an doth guide to that which is most right (or stable), and giveth the Glad Tidings to the Believers who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a magnificent reward

There was more than just a sense of learning. There was a feeling of comfort in reading it as well. Until this day, it is a routine I try to keep to as much as possible… and even now, years from the time I first opened the Quran, I still learn from it… a blessing I am very grateful for.

However, life has its trials and some days are more active or challenging than others. In such times, days are just too short and filled with obstacles that prevents us from doing the things we want and even things we need to do… we feel the weight of the world.

If I have been kept away from the routine of reading the Quran, I somehow feel an effect of it. Something is missing… my connection to the spiritual. It is comparable somhow to as if you imagine yourself in a dark room with a flashlight… suddenly the battery runs out of power and you are left fumbling around in darkness. Or as the Quran itself describes it…

سورة النور ٢٤
ظُلُمَاتٌ بَعْضُهَا فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ إِذَا أَخْرَجَ يَدَهُ لَمْ يَكَدْ يَرَاهَا ۗ وَمَن لَّمْ يَجْعَلِ اللَّهُ لَهُ نُورًا فَمَا لَهُ مِن نُّورٍ

Surah An-Noor 24:40
depths of darkness, one above another: if a man stretches out his hands, he can hardly see it! for any to whom Allah giveth not light, there is no light!

It has made me realize just how dependent we are on guidance…

سورة ابراهيم ١
كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ

Surah Ibrahim 14:1
A Book which We have revealed unto thee, in order that thou mightest lead mankind out of the depths of darkness into light – by the leave of their Lord – to the Way of (Him) the Exalted in power, worthy of all praise!

As some of you may remember, I recently wrote an input about the locations of the stars, Allah swears an oath based on their locations, rather than on the stars themselves. I gave my thoughts on this. (For those who have not read that input, check it out). But I did not talk about why the oath was given… I feel it is very suitable to share that here…

سورة الواقعة ٧٥-٧٧
فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَاقِعِ النُّجُومِ
وَإِنَّهُ لَقَسَمٌ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ
…
إِنَّهُ لَقُرْآنٌ كَرِيمٌ

Surah Al-Waaqia 56:75-77
Nay, I swear by the places of the stars –
And lo! that verily is a tremendous oath, if ye but knew –
…
That this is indeed a qur’an Most Honourable

If you remember that input… if my thinking about the locations of the stars is correct… and here we see the oath is given with the Quran in mind… then that certainly shows the weight and importance of the Quran.

سورة الرعد ٣١
وَلَوْ أَنَّ قُرْآنًا سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ الْجِبَالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ الْأَرْضُ أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ الْمَوْتَىٰ

Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:31
If there were a Qur’an with which mountains were moved, or the earth were cloven asunder, or the dead were made to speak, (this would be the one!)

Consider this the next time you hold the Quran in your hand… and say alhamdulillah for the light you have been given.

I hope that you found this an inspiring input and that it has brought something to consider.

The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.