and the more familiar he is with its meanings, the greater his reverence for it than that of those who know the Scripture only through mere recitation. Indeed, when a person understands even Sībawayh’s book on grammar, he comes to hold Sībawayh in a regard he did not have before. Allah Most High has commanded His servants to ponder the Quran, reflect upon it, and understand it. How, then, can anyone claim that doing so diminishes its impact on their hearts, when the opposite is true? The more a servant comprehends what the Quran relates about Allah Most High, His angels, His prophets, His enemies, His reward, and His punishment, the more reverence, love, and fear arise within him—to an extent known only to Allah. Allah Most High says:

“The believers are only those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned, and whose faith increases when His verses are recited to them.” [Al-Anfāl 2]

Do you suppose, then, that faith increases merely through words whose meaning is not understood, yet does not increase when their meaning is understood? Allah Most High also says:

“If We had made it a Quran in a foreign tongue, they would have said, ‘Why are its verses not clearly explained? A foreign scripture and an Arab messenger?’ Say, ‘For those who believe, it is guidance and healing.’” [Fussilat 44]

If guidance and healing were attained merely through words whose meaning is not understood, they would all the more readily be attained through it if it were in a foreign tongue. Rather, guidance