—the Noble Book—contains accounts of events past and future, as well as a reminder by which one recalls Allah Most High’s perfect names and attributes, the rulings concerning His commands and prohibitions, and the rulings of recompense. This, too, demonstrates that the Quran contains the finest possible rulings, whose goodness and perfection are attested by sound reason and innate human nature.
A Book of which this is but one aspect is surely worthy of every Muslim’s reverence and due esteem. Every Muslim should recite it as it ought to be recited by contemplating its verses, reflecting upon and understanding their meanings, and acting upon what they require. As the eminent scholar Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
“Nothing is more beneficial to the heart than reading the Quran with contemplation and reflection. It encompasses every station of the wayfarers, every state of those who act, and every rank of those who know Allah. It gives rise to love, longing, fear, hope, turning penitently to Allah, trust in Him, contentment, entrusting one’s affairs to Him, gratitude, patience, and all the other states through which the heart attains life and perfection. It likewise restrains one from every blameworthy trait and deed through which the heart becomes corrupt and perishes. If people knew what lay in reading the Quran with contemplation, they would devote themselves to it above all else. When a person reads it reflectively and comes upon a verse that he needs for the healing of his heart, he should repeat it—even a hundred times, or throughout an entire night. Reading a single verse with reflection and understanding is better than completing the entire Quran without contemplation or understanding. It is more beneficial to the heart, more conducive to attaining faith, and more likely to enable one to taste the sweetness of the Quran.” 1. End of his words, may Allah have mercy on him.
As you can see, his statement is comprehensive in meaning and immensely beneficial. When a person reads the Quran in this manner, it exerts the fullest influence upon him and he derives the utmost benefit from its recitation. He thereby becomes one of those firmly grounded in knowledge and faith, and this is the