Quran’s spiritual power

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion…Quran 2: 255.

What is the Quran? The Qur’an is the last testament from the Creator of the heavens and earth to humanity. It is an extremely engaging book which contains one hundred and fourteen (114) chapters. It is a book with a beginning without and ending, it has introduction without a conclusion. It is a book which talks about itself the same way it talks about the world.

What is the Quran? The Quran is the book of Islam, the encyclopedia of all divinely revealed books. Reading it links you up with Prophet Adam; pondering it connects you with Prophet Musa. The Quran incarnates the odyssey of Prophet Musa and the Jews in the Wilderness. It relives the saga of Prophet Isa (Jesus Christ, upon him be peace and blessings of Allah) and his people in Palestine. Open the Quran if you desire to reread the history of histories. Read the Quran if you desire to answer the un-answered questions in such fields as theology, philosophy, geography, biology, chemistry and oceanography.

One of the unique features of the month of Ramadan is that it was in it that the whole revelatory experience of the Quran started for Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). The Quran made the month of Ramadan unique; Ramadan makes the Quran unique. It is during this month Muslims constantly return to the book, all the day, all the night. Unlike other scriptures, reading and pondering of the last testament, the Quran, is an obligation for Muslim faithfuls. A fasting Muslim who does not read the Quran is like a date, sweet to taste but bereft of any odour.

Now, kindly bear this in mind that one of the cardinal functions of the Quran in the Muslim life is its ability to serve as shield for the believer against all evils in the world. In other words, aside from deriving guidance for mundane life from its inner recesses, the Muslim who recites the Quran faithfully and with full concentration enters into the canopy of the Almighty; she enjoys divine companionship at all times.

In this season of insecurity and the insecure, remember Ayat al-Kursiy – Quran 2:256. Ubay bn K’ab once reported that he used to have a field of dates and he used to guard it but as time passed by he kept less watch over it. One night he planned to guard it, but he saw an (animal) in shape of a young boy. Ubay Ibn Ka’b offered him greetings and he replied back. Ibn Ka’b asked him whether he was a human or Jinn? He replied: He was Jinn! Ubayy asked him to show his hand, Ubayy saw that his hand was like that of a dog and it had hair on it like dog does. Ubayy asked: Are Jinns created in this fashion? He replied: Some Jinns are stranger than me. Ubayy asked: Who compelled you to do this (i.e. steal from my field). He replied: I have heard that you love to give Sadaqa so I thought of taking (stealing) something from you. Ubayy asked: What is it that can protect us from you? The Jinn replied: “Ayat al Kursi” which is in Surah al-Baqarah, whosoever recites it in the evening will be safe from our evil till the morning, and whosoever recites it in the morning will be safe from us till evening. On next morning Ibn Ka’b went to the Prophet and told him about this. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: The “Khabeeth told the truth”.

Thus, the above reports exemplify the importance of Ayat al-Kursiy in Islamic theosophy and spirituality. Our teachers usually read the verse as many times as the situation warrants. Working on the suggestions of such scholars as al-Ghazalli, they sometime advise that a Muslim should recite the verse at least fifty times. The number fifty is arrived at in recognition of the fact that the words which make up the verse are fifty. Others equally advise that it may be more depending on the specific need a Muslim desires to satisfy. No matter the number we pick, it is important we take care of the conditions governing supplications and prayers in Islam. A Muslim should pray and supplicate to Him based on the firm conviction that it is He, and nobody else, who has the power to give and take; that we must exercise patience and perseverance; that our conduct and activities should be in consonance with His injunctions. Ibn Mas’ud says that a man said: “O Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) teach me something through which the Almighty will benefit me. The Prophet said: Recite Ayat al Kursiyi, He will protect you, your children, your house and even the houses which are near to yours”.
(08122465111 for text messages)