their souls—it is listening to the verses of Allah Most High. This is the listening of the prophets, the believers, and those endowed with knowledge and spiritual insight.

After mentioning the prophets whom He named, Allah Most High said:

“Those were the ones whom Allah favoured among the prophets, from the descendants of Adam, from those We carried with Noah, from the descendants of Abraham and Israel, and from those We guided and chose. Whenever the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell down in prostration and weeping.”

He also said:

“The believers are only those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned, whose faith increases when His verses are recited to them, and who put their trust in their Lord.”

Allah Most High said:

“Indeed, those who were given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them, fall upon their faces in prostration, saying, ‘Glory be to our Lord! Surely the promise of our Lord will be fulfilled.’ And they fall upon their faces weeping, and it increases them in humility.”

Allah Most High said:

“When they hear what has been sent down to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have recognized.”

It is this listening that Allah Most High has commanded, as He said:

“When the Quran is recited, listen to it attentively and remain silent, so that you may receive mercy.”

He praised those who listen in this way, as in His words:

“So give glad tidings to My servants who listen to what is said and follow the best of it.”

He said in another verse:

“Have they not reflected upon the Word, or has something come to them that did not come to their forefathers?”

The Word upon which they were commanded to reflect is the very Word to which they were commanded to listen.

Allah Most High also said:

“Do they not, then, reflect upon the Quran, or do hearts have