A personal reflection
As Shabaan unfolds and Ramadan draws near, it is natural to reflect on our relationship with the Quraan. For many of us, the Quraan becomes most present during Ramadan opened for recitation, read in portions, and then set aside afterward. Yet its guidance, mercy, and healing are not meant for a single month. The Quraan is a companion for every day, a source of clarity when hearts feel unsettled, and a cure when confusion clouds our thoughts.
There are phases in life when clarity feels distant. The heart feels unsettled, thoughts feel scattered, and decisions feel heavy. In such moments, one finds oneself turning repeatedly to Allah in duaa, asking sincerely: “O Allah, guide me. Show me the way. I cannot see clearly.”
Guidance does not always arrive immediately, but often unfolds through events that slowly bring understanding. Only through reflection can one recognize how Allah responds when we genuinely ask Him not always quickly, but always with wisdom.
To those who feel unsure, afraid, lost, or exhausted and to those who are striving, and continuing despite uncertainty remember this: Allah’s promise never fails. The path may be long, marked by questions, delays, and moments when nothing feels clear. Yet holding on to hope, choosing patience, and striving to do what is right is never wasted. What feels confusing today often unfolds with meaning in time. Allah fulfills His promises with wisdom, not haste, and answers questions in ways that bring clarity, peace, and reassurance. Through the Quraan, hearts find truth, mercy, guidance, and wisdom a reminder that even in hardship, Allah is present, aware, and faithful to what He has promised.
Reflecting on this draws the heart naturally back to the Quraan.
Allah introduces Himself through His Names: Al-Hayy, Al-Qayyum, the Ever-Living, the One who sustains all affairs. He never tires, never sleeps, never overlooks. He is Ar-Razzaq, the Provider; As-Sami, the All-Hearing; Al-Basir, the All-Seeing; Al-Khabir, the Fully Aware; Al-Hakim, the Perfectly Wise. Reflecting upon these Names reminds us that even when we feel uncertain or unseen, Allah is fully aware of our state. Subhan Allah.
Despite our knowledge or “progress,” many hearts remain burdened with anxiety, confusion, and restlessness. We know where guidance lies, yet hesitate to turn fully toward Allah because following His guidance often requires leaving comfort, breaking habits, and choosing what is right over what is easy. True guidance challenges the soul before it comforts it.
In times of confusion, many of us instinctively turn to people first, seeking opinions, reassurance, and validation. Seeking counsel is encouraged in Islam, and Allah places people as means of support but true guidance begins with Him. When we turn to Allah with yaqeen trust and reliance in His wisdom through sincere duaa, and reflection upon the Quraan, clarity slowly replaces confusion. Even the advice of others then finds its proper place, harmonising with the guidance that comes from Allah. Istikharah may be one way to seek specific direction, but the heart’s trust and sincere turning to Allah is what ultimately lights the path.
Effort and action matter, but effort without guidance can mislead the heart. When we strive without first seeking Allah’s direction, confusion deepens rather than resolves. The Quraan realigns intention, corrects direction, and teaches us how to act in ways that bring peace instead of restlessness.
Yet the Quraan benefits us only when we read and act upon it. Too often, we recite quickly, without learning the proper way to read it the sounds, pronunciation, and rules of tajweed or without understanding its meaning and considering how to apply it in daily life. The Prophet ﷺ taught a different approach: reciting with care, pausing, reflecting, and implementing its guidance. Following his way, the Quraan becomes alive in the heart, rather than words moved by the lips while the mind and soul remain untouched.
Many people think, “I can’t learn; I don’t have time.” Yet they dedicate hours to worldly pursuits earning, studying, fulfilling desires, or pursuing comfort. If we faced a place where people spoke a different language, or if we needed to understand signs and instructions in a foreign land, we would take time and effort to learn that language to communicate and live safely. But when it comes to learning the language of Quraan, understanding His words, and following His guidance to improve our lives, we hesitate. Allah is Most Merciful and Forgiving, and He rewards even our sincere effort, yet we often prioritize the temporary over the eternal.
The Quraan is not merely a book of recitation; it is a complete guide for life. Within it are answers for what is lawful and unlawful, right and wrong, good and evil. It teaches us how to live with integrity, make decisions with wisdom, treat others with justice, and guard our hearts from spiritual disease. It offers healing for doubts, comfort in hardship, and balance in times of emotional unrest. In short, everything that helps a person live a sound, purposeful, and meaningful life is found within its guidance.
Allah knew that societies would change, that challenges would evolve, and that confusion would persist. That is why He revealed the Quraan over 1,400 years ago, in a language of unparalleled beauty, clarity, and eloquence, perfectly suited to guide every generation. Its words touch hearts in ways no human speech can. Its cadence and meanings are timeless, offering insight, mercy, and wisdom beyond human comprehension. What changes is not the Quraan itself, but our closeness to it
and in this lies the perfection of Allah’s wisdom and kindness, providing guidance that remains relevant and healing for every heart, in every age, every generation, and till the last day.
Too often, we return to the Quraan only in Ramadan opening it occasionally, reciting it briefly, and then setting it aside once the month passes. But the Quraan was never meant to be seasonal. It is a daily companion, a source of guidance, and a cure for hearts weighed down by uncertainty.
We are hasty by nature. We want answers immediately. Yet Allah always responds sometimes in ways we expect, and sometimes in ways far better than we imagined. Trust in Allah is not merely spoken; it is lived through patience, reliance, and consistency.
Returning to the Quraan does not remove life’s trials, for tests remain until our return to Allah. But it transforms how those trials are carried. Life may not become easier, but it becomes clearer. The heart becomes steadier, and the path though still challenging becomes guided.
Perhaps this reminder was sent first to the heart and then meant to be shared. It is shared now with the hope of serving as a gentle reminder. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged reminding one another, for reminders soften hearts and revive faith. If even one heart finds clarity through these words, that itself is a blessing.
Let us remember: the very first word revealed from Allah was “Iqra” – Read. The Quraan is a source of clarity, steadiness, and light meant to guide the heart, mind, and soul. By reading, reflecting, and letting its teachings shape our lives, from the first revelation until the last day, it fulfills its promise of guidance for every heart willing to listen.
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