What is your intention whilst reading the Qur’ān?

This Ramaḍān, a lot of us will no doubt be increasing the amount of Qur’ān we read, recite and reflect upon. A sad reality is, however, many of us may be losing out on multiplying and maximising the blessings and benefits we receive from doing this action, as well as others. 

The Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wasallam) said, “Verily actions are but by intentions, and every person shall have (be rewarded for) what they intended.”[1] 

Maximising the intentions was the trade of the hearts of the Sahābah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhum), the scholars, and those who know Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) very well. They used to carry out one action whilst having many intentions behind this action, so that they were rewarded abundantly for every intention. It is due to this that Ibn Kathīr said, “The intention reaches further than the action”. 

Below are some intentions that could multiply our reward if we have them whilst reciting the Qur’ān. Feel free to add more in the comments below. 

1. For it to intercede for us on the day of judgement. The Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wasallam) said, “Recite the Qur’ān for it will come as an intercessor for its people on the day of judgement”. [2]
2. So that we can increase in reward. Abdullāh b. Mas’ūd narrated the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wasallam) mentioned, “Whoever recites one letter from the book of Allāh, then for him is a reward, and a reward is multiplied by ten”. [3] 
3. For it to fill our heart. The Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wasallam) said, “The man who has nothing of the Qur’ān inside him is like a ruined house”. [4] 
4. For us to memorise and act on every verse we recite so that we can ascend in Jannah. The Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wasallam) said, “It is said to the one who recites the Qur’ān, recite and ascend, and read like you used to read in the Dunyā, for your place (in Jannah) is at the last verse you recite”. [5] 
5. For it to remove the illnesses from our hearts and cure our bodies, and for mercy to envelope us.  Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) says in Sūrah al-Isrā’, “We send the Qur’ān as healing and mercy for those who believe”. [6]
6. For it to give our hearts tranquillity and peace. Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) says in Sūrah al-Raʿd, “Verily in the remembrance of Allāh do the hearts find rest”. [7] 
7. For it to give life to our hearts, light to our chests, and to remove our anxieties and worries. The Qur’ān is the spring of the believer, as rainfall is the spring of the Earth. The Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wasallam) used to say in his Duʿā’, “…that you make the Qur’ān the spring of my heart, the light of my chest, the remover of my sorrow, and the remover of my worries”. [8]
8. For it to guide us. Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) says in Sūrah al-Baqarah, “This book of which there is no doubt, (is) guidance for the pious.”[9] And in a Ḥadīth Qudsī, Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) says, “Oh my slaves, you are all astray except those whom I guide, so seek my guidance and I will guide you”. [10] 
9. For us to die while reciting the Qur’ān as ʿUthmān (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) became a martyr whilst reciting the Qur’ān. Ibn Kathīr said, “Whoever lives upon something will die upon it, and whoever dies upon something will be resurrected upon it”. He based this on the verse in Sūrah al-Jāthiyah, “Do those who commit evil deeds really think that We will deal with them in the same way as those who believe and do righteous deeds, that they will be alike in their living and their dying? How badly they judge!” [11] 
10. For it to bring us closer to Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) by loving His Words. The Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wasallam) said, “You are (on the day of judgement) with whom you love”. [12]
11. For it to increase our Īmān. Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) says in Sūrah al-Tawbah, “And when a Sūrah is revealed, some of them ask ‘which of you did this increase him in Īmān?’ As for the ones who believe, it increased them in Īmān, and they rejoice”. [13]
12. So that we can increase in our knowledge of our Lord, and so that we can increase in showing humility before Him and manifesting our need for Him, and so that we can rely on Him in all instances.
13. For it to be a reason for Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) to make us from His people. The Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wasallam) said, “Allāh has His people (from the creation).” The Sahābah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhum) asked, “Who are they?” He replied, “They are the people of the Qur’ān. They are Allāh’s people, and His close ones”.[14] 
14. To glorify Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā), that everything around you hears you reciting Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā)’s Words. 
15. To encourage your family and children, especially to recite and glorify the Book of Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā).
16. From the greatest intentions that we can have, and the most important one, is to intend to do this as an act of worship, as it was commanded and legislated by Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā). Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) says in Sūrah al-Muzzamil, “And recite the Qur’ān”.[15]

After reading all of this, have you ever asked yourself what your intention is when reading the Qur’ān? Will you constrain it to just one intention?

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Source: www.islam21c.com

Ramadan 1436

Notes:

[1] Reported in Bukhāri and Muslim

[2] Reported in Muslim

[3] Reported in Tirmidhi

[4] Reported in Tirmidhi

[5] Reported in Abū Dāwūd and Tirmidhi

[6] Al-Qur’ān 17:82

[7] Al-Qur’ān 13:28

[8] Reported in Ahmad

[9] Al-Qur’ān 2:2

[10] Reported in Muslim

[11] Al-Qur’ān 45:21

[12] Reported in Muslim

[13] Al-Qur’ān 9:124

[14] Declared Sahīh by al-Albānī

[15] Al-Qur’ān 73:4