The word Qur’an means that which is often read or recited. The Qur’an is the record of the verbal revelations in Arabic from Almighty Allah to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), over a period of about 22 years and 5 months. These revelations first started in the month of Ramadan (Al-Qur’an). All revelations up to-date were rehearsed to the Prophet (SAW) every year in Ramadan by the Angel, Gabriel. In the last Ramadan of the Prophet’s life, the whole of the Qur’an was rehearsed to him twice by the angel, Gabriel. The divine revelations were committed to memory and also written down by scribes appointed by the Prophet (SAW). He himself indicated the arrangement of verses and chapters in the Qur’an as we find it today. However, the compilation of the whole Qur’an in one volume was undertaken after his death. The Qur’an is divided into one hundred and fourteen Surahs or chapters. This division is based upon their subject matter and has the authority of the Holy Prophet (SAW). Each Surah has a name given to it, and is further divided into Aayaat or verses. However, the division of the Qur’an into thirty Siparahs or parts is arbitrary. A reference to a particular verse of the Qur’an is generally represented by two numbers separated by a colon “:”. For example, the reference (29:49) means the 49th verse of the 29th chapter. A very distinctive feature of the Holy Qur’an is that it contains a divine guarantee for its perpetual preservation. “We sent down this book and verily We shall safeguard it.” (Quran) As a result of this guarantee, the text of the Holy Qur’an has remained unchanged over the past fourteen hundred years. The recitation of the Holy Qur’an is a spiritual experience and provides an enlightenment of the mind and comfort for the soul. It is important to understand the philosophy of seeking Allah’s protection while reciting the Qur’an. We must seek Allah’s protection so that we may not miss any teaching of the Qur’an due to our negligence, sins or evil company, we may not fail to understand rightly any teaching of the Qur’an and having understood, may Allah provide us the strength to act upon these teachings and never forget or ignore them. We should be physically clean and, preferably, perform Wudu before its recitation. Also, to fully absorb the blessings of the Qur’an and to understand its real meanings, one should be spiritually pure, clean and sincere in one’s beliefs. To understand the meaning of the Qur’an well, we should recite it with complete attention. The best way has been described by Allah: And recite the Qur’an slowly and thoughtfully (Quran).
“Regular recitation (e.g. daily) should be started from the first chapter and continued to the last chapter. Finishing the recitation in this way is known as a “complete cycle”. On completion of each “cycle,” you should start again from the beginning of the Qur’an in the same session”.
During the recitation of the Qur’an, if you come across a verse that indicates Sajdah (prostration), the reciter should perform the prostration and recite the following prayer in that posture: O Allah, my spirit, my body and my heart prostrate before You (Tirmizi). Regular recitation (e.g. daily) should be started from the first chapter and continued to the last chapter. Finishing the recitation in this way is known as a “complete cycle”. On completion of each “cycle,” you should start again from the beginning of the Qur’an in the same session and recite this prayer: O Allah, show mercy on me through the Qur’an, and make it a Director and a Light and Guidance and a Mercy for me. O Allah, remind me of that which I forget of it; and teach me of it that which I am ignorant of; and bestow on me its recitation through the hours of the night and the day; and make it a decisive reasoning for me; O Lord of the Worlds.
