Holy Qur’an is the source for us to understand our relationship with our Creator, His Messengers and His universe. It is, therefore, essential that we first establish a strong relationship with the Qur’an itself. 

Let us start with the basic premise of establishing a meaningful, fruitful relationship with the Book.

Pre-requisites of the Right Relationship

The revelation of this Book is from Allah, the Exalted in Power, Full of Wisdom.

Verily it is We Who have revealed the Book to you in Truth: so serve Allah, offering Him sincere devotion.

(Az-Zumar 39, Ayat 1-2)

The first and foremost in our relationship with the Qur’an is the condition that we should have a firm belief that this Message is the Divine Directive from the Creator of this universe to the whole of human race.

In order to set our course for interaction with Qur’an in the right direction we need to approach it with a clean heart and without any preconceived notion or bias.

Interestingly, Qur’an, right in the beginning, lists out the conditions that are helpful in establishing a relationship with it to attain eternal prosperity.

Alif. Lam. Meem.

This is the Book, whereof there is no doubt, a Guidance to those who fear Allah.

Who believe in the unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend (in charity) out of what We have provided them.

And who believe in the Revelation sent to you [O Muhammad (SAAW)!] and sent before your time, and in their hearts have the assurance of the hereafter.

They are on true Guidance from their Rabb and it is those who will prosper.

(Al-Baqarah 2, Ayat 1-5)

After accepting the Book as a Message from our Creator, the next condition laid down by the Qur’an is that we should approach it with a clear heart and without any preconceived ideas.

….. Guidance for those who fear Allah …

The word that is translated here as ‘those who fear Allah’ is Muttaqin.

The characteristic of Taqwa demands a heart and soul free of any prejudice, bias and lust.

We need to approach Qur’an to seek guidance and not to seek justification for our ideas, actions and beliefs that are driven by baser human compulsions. In Qur’an, Allah (SWT) warns:

We send down in the Qur’an that which is healing and mercy to those who believe; as for the evil-doers it only increases their loss.

(Al-Isra 17, Ayah 82)

And

But if they hearken not to you [O Muhammad (SAAW)!], know that they are following only their own likes and dislikes: and who could be more stray than he who follows (but) his own likes and dislikes without any guidance from Allah? Verily Allah does not Grace with His Guidance people who are given to evil doing!

(Al-Qasas 28, Ayah 50) 

Qur’an does not stop here. In order to have purity of heart in the true sense, it provides us with the criteria on which the foundation of purity may be laid.

Who believe in the unseen …

‘Belief in the unseen’ is elaborated in the last part of the same Surah (Al-Baqarah), as under:

The Messenger [Muhammad (SAAW)!] has believed in what was revealed to him from his Rabb, and (so have) the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, (saying), “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “WE hear and we obey. (We seek) Your Forgiveness, our Rabb! And to You is the (final) destination.”

(Al-Baqarah 2, Ayah 285)

This belief is supported by the action on the part of individual in order to optimize the benefit from the Holy Qur’an:

… are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them.

Last condition…

…and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter.

Provides us with the sound reason to believe in and follow the guidelines provided by the Holy Qur’an; because, only then we may succeed in this world as well as in the Hereafter. 

To sum up, Qur’an demands the following conditions to be fulfilled in order to benefit fully from its Message:

Have firm belief that the Book is a Divine Revelation from our Creator.

Believe in the uniqueness of Allah – the Rabbil-A ̅lameen.   

Believe in the existence of angels [as a creation of Allah (SWT)].

Believe in the fact that Allah – the Rabbil-A ̅lameen – has provided Guidance to mankind (from day one) through Divine Message, revealed through His messengers. (Psalm, Torah and Bible – in their original, unadulterated form – are all a part of the sequence of Divine Message).

Believe – without distinction – in all the messengers sent down by Allah (SWT). The Holy Qur’an tells us: 

Indeed We have revealed to you [O Muhammad (SAAW)!], as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And We revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendents, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the book (of Psalms).

And (We sent) messengers about whom We have related (their stories) to you before and messengers about whom We have not related to you. And Allah spoke to Musa with (direct) speech.

(We sent) messengers as bringers of good tidings and warner so that mankind will have no argument against Allah after the messengers. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.

(An-Nisa 4, Ayat 163-165)

Establish regular Salat (prayer) in order to maintain a strong bond with our Creator.

Spend in charity on the needy and poor section of the society in order to fulfill our responsibility towards mankind.

Have strong conviction that one day we have to stand before our Creator to give account of all our deeds.

As said earlier, it is this conviction that propels us to spend our life according to the Guidelines provided by the Qur’an in order to be successful in this world and in the Hereafter.

Any individual who follows the guidelines given in the Qur’an, taking them as ‘good life principles’, without fulfilling all the above mentioned conditions, will certainly prosper in this life but, sadly, will not be having any portion in the Hereafter.

Once this basic premise is established and accepted, we start building our relationship with Qur’an. But, it is a tragedy that most of us falter at this very stage. Let us understand: How?

If you ask any a simple Question to any Muslim: “What do you take Qur’an as?” the most common replies will be:

“It is the Book of Guidance.” or

“It is the Book for Nijat (Salvation).” or 

“It is a Book that contains Divine Instruction to attain success in this world and in the Hereafter.” and other similar answers.

But when you ask the next question: “If you consider this to be a Book for Guidance (or salvation), then are you aware of the guidelines provided by it?” a great majority of its ‘followers’ will draw a blank.

One of the countless miracles of the Qur’an is that millions of people read it on a regular basis without understanding (but do not get bored). There is no denying that even reading of the Qur’an will earn reward for the reader but it is like quenching your thirst with a mere hand cup from an ocean.  

In order to get the real benefit from Qur’an it is imperative that we read it with the understanding of the meaning. To attain this goal we must make it obligatory on ourselves to read and understand the Message with the help of authentic translation and meaning.  

The most misleading perception created in this regard is that ‘It is not the job of ordinary mortals to understand the meaning of Qur’an. It is the job of the scholars.”

There can be nothing more misleading said about the Qur’an by any of its followers.

The Rabbil-Alameen, the Almighty has declared otherwise at numerous places in the Qur’an:

Here is a plane statement to men, a guidance and instruction to those who fear Allah.

(Ale-Imran 3, Ayah 138)

But We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?

(Al-Qamar 54, Ayah 17/22/32/40)

It is significant to note that this point is stressed four times in this Surah, highlighting its importance. 

At the same time, Qur’an also highlights the fact that it comprises of message primarily under two categories – Ayat that are containing instruction (Muhkama ̅t) to be followed to attain success and Ayat that are allegorical or mystical (Mutashabiha ̅t).

He it is who has sent down to you the Book: in it are Ayat basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of the Book: others are allegorical. But those in whose heart is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical, seeking discord, and searching for its hidden meanings. But no one knows its hidden meaning except Allah. And those who are firmly grounded in their knowledge say: “We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Rabb”; and none will grasp the message except the men of understanding.

(They say), “Our Rabb! Let not our hearts deviate now after You have Guided us. But Grant us Mercy from Your own Presence; for You are the Granter of Bounties without measure.

Our Rabb! Surely You are the Assembler of mankind on a Day of which there is no doubt. Surely Allah does not fail His Promise.”

(Ale-Imran 3, Ayat 7-9)

Thus, the basic rule is that we should learn and understand the Ayat that provide us rules and instruction for life and follow them in order to attain success. We must look for what is told to follow even if we don’t fully grasp the why of it because we have firm faith in the infinite Wisdom of our Creator as compared to our intellect which is limited.

As regards the allegorical or mystical Ayat, we may ponder over them as well; and if we arrive at some conclusion with our intellect, we should ensure corroborating it by referring to authentic exegeses and by discussing with people of knowledge (Ulema).

Allah (SWT) has made clear distinction between people who ponder over Qur’an with disbelief or crooked approach and people who genuinely look for the deeper meaning of its Ayat:

And who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah or denies the Truth when it has come to him? Is there not the Hell a (sufficient) residence for the disbelievers?

And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our Ways. And indeed, Allah is with doers of good.

(Al-Ankabut 29, Ayat 68-69)