Read the Quran …with Understanding for Guidance.

It is the goal and desire of every sincere Muslim to read the Quran… in Arabic… not necessarily to understand what it teaches. This statement may shock many of us … even outrage some of us, but it’s very true. Most Muslims who actually read the Quran in Arabic have no idea of what it says! They can recite the actual words of the Quran but have not taken the time to understand what those words mean. In itself, the act of memorizing the words of the Quran is admirable (and encouraged), but empty memorization (which is currently practiced by Muslims) is detrimental and misleading. Muslims are currently being motivated to learn the Quran in the Arabic language because of “blessings” associated with the task, but no emphasis is placed on understanding what is being memorized. As a result of this practice, Quran illiteracy is widespread within Muslim communities, leading to the existence of zealous but ignorant “believers” easily swayed by the whims and misconceptions of “Muslim scholars”.

It is well-known in the Muslim world that the Arabic text which accompanies most translations is the actual record of the words uttered by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). The non-Arabic text is supposed to be an explanation of what the Arabic text means. To many Muslims, this explanation is NOT considered as “the Quran” because of the inability of many languages to translate the depth of meaning conveyed by the Arabic word. Because of this, it is believed by the average Muslim that you have to become an “official” scholar (undertake years of formal study) to personally understand the teachings of the Quran. Therefore, the translations are not considered with the same reverence as the Arabic text. Thus the mental abnormality between “reading” and “understanding” the Quran which is so normal to today’s Muslims.  

It is the understanding of the teachings of the Quran which was responsible for the meteoric rise of Islam during and shortly after the life of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). It is the guidance received from understanding the teachings and prescribed practices from the Quran that resulted in the formation of the incredible historic Muslim civilizations which today’s Muslims so proudly proclaim. Placing the Quranic command to “read” in its proper context should help to clarify the confusion surrounding the current practice of reading without understanding rampant in Muslim communities. 

Historically, the Quran was revealed to an Arab in the language he understood, so that he could warn the Arabs, in a language they understood, about the consequences of their behavior, and show them a better way of living than what they were used to. The Quran was spoken in public for 23 years to people who could understand what they were hearing. It is therefore logical to believe that the personal transformations that took place within the Arabs and their surroundings were due to the understanding of the Quranic instructions that every believer received as they heard it. Islamic history tells us that when any instruction was unclear to individuals, they questioned the Prophet (peace be upon him) as to what he meant. These incidents are contained in the books of hadith (records of what the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and his companions taught and did). So the command to “read the Quran (even with difficulty)”, surely implied “read with understanding” to early Muslims.

Today we have a written record of that same speech. Some of our misconceptions may be due to the fact that now we view the Quran as a book, comparable to other books, not as the stirring, compelling speech it actually is, thereby losing much of its desired effect in the transition. It is the general characteristic of books to be the product of the author’s personal mindset and opinions compiled in a private setting, away from the distractions of others. The history of the Quran verifies its revelation in the public arena with no personal claim from the Messenger (Peace be upon him) as to its authorship.Indeed, in many places in the Quran, the Quran itself states: “It is not Muhammad who teaches you; it is Allah”.

In many verses of the Quran, Allah Himself states that the Quran is “guidance for people with understanding”, not for people who just carelessly listen to it. In fact, Allah condemns those who do not pay attention to the Message of the Quran. He even compares such people to donkeys carrying books. There is no blessed effect to be obtained from ignorance in the face of knowledge. Allah Himself condemns unbelievers in the Message because they “are people without knowledge or understanding.” 

Today’s Muslims are encouraged to persevere to read the Quran in Arabic because there is “blessing” attached to every letter of Arabic that a believer reads in the process of reading the Quran. This advice is attributed the Prophet (Peace be upon him). Taken out of context, this justifies the Quran-reading abnormality that currently promotes reading without understanding. To an Arab of the time, this would have been an encouragement to personally find out what the Quran was teaching, even if it required learning to read (which was not prevalent back then). In Surah 2, Allah reminds Believers: “…Do not treat Allah’s signs as a Jest, but solemnly rehearse Allah’s favors on you, and the fact that He sent down to you the Book and Wisdom for your instruction…” (Quran 2:231). Later in that same Surah, He emphasizes: “He (Allah) grants wisdom to whom He pleases; and he to whom wisdom is granted receives indeed an overflowing benefit; but none will grasp the Message except men of understanding” (Quran 2:269). This statement is again repeated in Surah 3: 7 and many other places in the Quran. Should we not consider this a directive to readjust our current approach to reading and teaching the Quran to “regular” Believers?

We can prolong this discussion with many more observations and arguments, but that seems unnecessary. The point of this discussion is simply to highlight the need to restructure the current approach to Quran training in the Muslim community. Too many sincere and dedicated believers are not receiving the benefits of their diligent efforts. May we reiterate that the irresistible force that propelled our Muslim ancestors from the chaotic brutishness of ancient Arab society to the pinnacle of human civilization is the fact that they were people who understood and believed in Allah’s commands as told to them by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)? We’ve got the same speech, by the same prophet, so why don’t we have the same results today?