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Meditate On God’s Word

Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an so that you may apply reason. (Qur’an, 12:2).

Life is often noisy and full of distractions. Concerns and problems flood our minds. There is always so much to do! However, God wants the very best for you.

God desires ease for you, and He does not desire hardship for you. (Qur’an, 2:185).

You just have to know how to recognize it and lay hold of it.

If you have ever said to yourself, “I do not even have time to think,” then you know how hard it is to concentrate, when you are being bombarded from all sides. It is even harder to focus on God when you cannot take time to renew your minds and refresh your spirits by quiet reflection. God does not often shout to get your attention. Instead, He usually speaks to you in “a still small voice.”

So, what can you do to put yourselves in a position to hear God’s voice? You have to make time in your daily life to get quiet. I want to encourage you to find where you can get alone with the Lord. It may be a room in your house, outside under the trees, or some other place where you can shut out the noise and distractions of the world for just a few precious minutes.

The key to renewing your mind, body and spirit is to develop the habit and discipline of meditating on the Word of God every day — even if it is for just a moment.

All holy books are filled with the blessings and benefits of meditating. To meditate simply means to reflect on the same thing repeatedly, visualize it and let the meaning of it sink deep down into your heart. Meditation is a spiritual practice that is encouraged throughout Qur’an.

The key is to draw on God’s wisdom found in the Qur’an. In fact, Qur’an is filled with the blessings and benefits of meditating on its principles. Almighty God says,

“Indeed We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an so that you may apply reason.” (Qur’an, 12:2).

Qur’an invites you to reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth and other creations, on your own souls and on the verses of the Qur’an:

“Indeed in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day, there are signs for those who possess intellects. Those who remember God standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth and say, “Our Lord, You have not created this in vain! Immaculate are You! Save us from the punishment of the Fire.’” (Qur’an, 3:190-191).

On the other hand, says,

“We have sent down the reminder to you so that you may clarify for the people that which has been sent down to them, so that they may reflect.” (Qur’an, 16:44).

Moreover, says,

“Have they not reflected in their own souls? God did not create the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them except with reason and for a specified term.” (Qur’an, 30:8).

What are the benefits of meditation? Meditating on God’s Word will give you spiritual success. God’s definition of success in life is to know Him better. One way you do that is to read and understand His Word! Qur’an says about some Christians who get spiritual success after hearing the words of God:

“Surely You will find the nearest people in affection to the faithful to be those who say, “We are Christians.” That is because there are priests and monks among them, and because they are not arrogant. When they hear what has been revealed to the Apostle, you see their eyes fill with tears because of the truth that they recognize. They say, “Our Lord, we believe; so write us down among the witnesses. Why should we not believe in God and the truth that has come to us, eager as we are that our Lord should admit us among the righteous people?” So, for what they said, God requited them with gardens with streams running in them, to remain in them forever, and that is the reward of the virtuous.” (Qur’an, 5:82).

Meditating on God’s Word will help you keep your heart right before Him. Qur’an gives you clear direction on how to live. It is a mirror that accurately shows you where your hearts really are. Meditating on God’s Word will give you insights and wisdom that will guide you at every turn in your life. There is supernatural wisdom that comes from meditating on God’s Word.

It will strengthen you, guide you and give you hope and victory in every situation! Meditating on Qur’an will help you fill your mind with the things of God. Since you can only think about one thing at a time, meditating on God’s love and goodness leaves no room for wrong thinking. The benefits of meditating on Qur’an influence your whole day.

There are incredible riches available when you invest in your relationship with God by spending time in His life-giving Word. You have God’s promise that,

“For those who strive in Us, We shall surely guide them in Our ways, and God is indeed with the virtuous.” (Qur’an, 29:69).

And

“Whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it.” (Qur’an, 99:7).

These verses tell that the Lord has good things waiting for you, but you have to do your part; you have to walk uprightly. You walk uprightly when you live according to the principles of His Word.

Let me encourage you to find a quiet place where you can be still, hear the voice of the Lord and gain the strength you need to fight the good fight of faith. Take time every day in God’s presence, praying and filling your mind with words of God. The exciting thing about meditating on God’s Word is that even when you leave your quiet place and start another busy day, your mind and spirit are still processing what you read — which means the benefits of meditating on Qur’an influence your whole day!

Know that your very best days are ahead. Days filled with more joy, peace, encouragement, healing, restoration, hope and confidence.

Look! The hearts find rest, tranquility and confidence in God’s remembrance! (Qur’an, 13:28).

At the end, it is good to mention some Hadiths about reciting Qur’an:

1. Importance Of Reciting Qur’an

The Messenger of God (prayers of God be upon him and his family) has said,

• “These hearts - just like iron - become rusted, and the way to remove this (the way to clean the rust from the hearts) is through the recitation of the Qur’an.”1

• “Nothing is harder for Satan to bear than a person who recites the Qur’an by looking at the pages (of the Qur’an).”

• “Brighten up your houses through the recitation of the Qur’an, and do not make them (your homes) like graves, similar to what the Jews and Christians have done (by not performing the prayers and worship of God in their house and limiting this to the Synagogues and Churches).”2

• “Surely the recitation of the Qur’an is an atonement for the sins, a covering (protection) from the Hell Fire, and a safety from the punishment. Mercy will descend upon the reciter, the Angels will seek forgiveness for him, Heaven will long for that person, and his Master (God) will be pleased with him.”3

Imam Ali (peace be upon him) has said,

• “The house in which the Qur’an is recited and God, The Noble and Grand, is remembered will receive numerous Divine blessings (barakah), the Angels will be present, and the Satans will be distanced from there. In addition, that house will shimmer for the people of the sky, just like the stars shimmer for the people on the Earth.”4

Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said,

• “One who recites the Qur’an will be free from need (of everyone), and thereafter will not be in need of anything. But as for the one (who does not recite the Qur’an), nothing at all will make him needless (and he will always be in need of others).”5

• “One who recites the Qur’an and is a believing youth, the Qur’an becomes mixed with his flesh and blood, and God - The Noble and Great - will place him with the noble, devoted Angels. In addition, the Qur’an will act as a barrier between him and the Hell Fire) on the Day of Judgment.”6

2. Learning And Teaching Of Qur’an

The Messenger of God (blessings of God be upon him and his family) has said,

• “The best of those amongst you is the one who learns the Qur’an and then teaches it to others.”7

• “Everything in existence prays for the forgiveness of the person who teaches the Qur’an - even the fish in the sea.”8

• “If you want ease and success in this world, the death of a martyr, to be saved on the Day of Loss, a shade on the Day of the burning (Yaw­mal­Qiyamah), and guidance on the Day of going astray, then take lessons from the Qur’an. Surely it is the word of the Merciful, a protection from the Satan, and one of the most weightiest of things for the scale of (good) deeds (on the Day of Judgment).”9

3. How Should You Recite The Qur’an?

Every day:

Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said,

• “The Qur’an is the trust of God (given) to His creations, therefore it is desirable for every Muslim to look at this trust and to recite (a minimum of) 50 ayah (verses) of the Qur’an every day.”10

Holy Prophet in his last testament to Imam Ali (peace be upon them) told him:

• “O’ Ali I advise you to recite the Qur’an in every state (which you may find yourself in).”11

Seek refuge with it:

The Messenger of God (blessings of God be upon him and his family) has said,

• “Whenever the waves of calamities encompass you like the dark night, seek refuge with the Qur’an - for it is an intercessor whose intercession will be accepted. One who takes it as a guide, God will lead that person into Heaven; and whoever disregards it or goes against it, will be lead into the Hell fire.”12

Seek cure with it:

Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said,

• “It is advisable for the person who is reciting the Qur’an, that when he reaches to a verse from the Qur’an in which there is a request for something that he ask God for that thing, or when he reaches to a verse of the Qur’an in which there is talk about the punishment, that he ask God for protection from the fire of Hell and the punishment.”13

  • 1. Irshad Al-Qolub, vol. 1, p. 78.
  • 2. Wasa’il Al-Shia, vol. 6, p. 204.
  • 3. Mustadrak Al-Wasa’il, vol. 4, p. 257.
  • 4. Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 610.
  • 5. Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 605.
  • 6. Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 603.
  • 7. Al-Amali (Tousi), p. 357.
  • 8. Mustadrak Al-Wasa’il, vol. 4, p. 235.
  • 9. Jami Al-Akhbar, p.78.
  • 10. Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 609.
  • 11. Al-Faqih, vol. 4, p. 188.
  • 12. Fadhl Al-Qur’an, p. 599.
  • 13. Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 617.