Why was the Quran revealed?
The greatest reason for which the Quran was revealed was for us to comprehend its meanings, to reflect on its verses and then act accordingly. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
· {[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.} [Quran 38: 29]
· {And We have certainly distributed it among them that they might be reminded} [Quran 25: 50]
· {Then do they not reflect upon the Quran? If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.}[Quran 4: 82]
· {Then do they not reflect upon the Quran, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?}[Quran 47: 24]
The more the slave reflects on the verses of the Quran, the more he will benefit, the more humble he will be before Allah The Almighty and the stronger will be his belief in Him.
The Prophet, , was the most God-fearing and pious among people, because he reflected on the meanings of the Quran more than others. It was narrated that ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ood, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Messenger of Allah said to me: 'Recite the Quran to me.' I said, 'O Messenger of Allah! How could I recite it to you while it was revealed to you?' He said: 'I like to hear it from others.' So I recited the Surah of An-Nisaa’ till I reached (what means):{How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad) as a witness against these people?}[Quran 4:41] Then I raised my head (or a man beside me touched me and I raised my head). I found the Prophet shedding tears." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Undoubtedly, reflection on the meanings of the Quran and benefiting from it leads one to be ascetic regarding this world and desiring the Hereafter. Al-Hasan said, "O son of Aadam, if you recite the Quran and believe in it then your sadness [over sins] will be prolonged in this life, your fear will be greater and your weeping will be intense." [Nuzhat Al-Fudhalaa’]
How many wretched people have been guided by the Quran! The Quran conveyed them from wretchedness to happiness, from deviation to guidance and from Hell to Paradise.
In the early days of Islam, some people opposed the Prophet, , were hostile towards him and waged wars against him. However, when they heard the Quran, shortly thereafter they embraced Islam in great multitudes. The generations that followed also produced similar people. There are numerous famous reports in this regard.
One of the most amazing reports in this regard is the story of the repentance of the exemplary Imaam, Al-Fudhayl ibn ‘Iyaadh . He was a thief, a highway robber. The reason for his repentance was that he fell in love with a young woman. While he was climbing the wall of her house, he heard someone reciting the following verse in which Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth?} [Quran 57: 16] When he heard these words, he said, "Indeed, my Lord. The time has come." So he left. The night forced him to seek refuge in a ruined building. When he entered it, he saw a group of travelers standing inside. He overheard one of them saying, "Let us depart now." Another replied, "We should rather wait till morning because Fudhayl will be lying in wait on the road in order to rob us." Fudhayl says, "I said to myself, 'I am spending the nights committing sins while a group of Muslims fear me here. I think that the only reason Allah sent me to them was that I may tremble [in fear of Him]. O Allah! I turn in repentance to You. My repentance is that I will live in the neighborhood of Al-Bayt Al-Haraam.'" [Nuzhat Al-Fudhalaa’]
May Allah have mercy upon Al-Al-Fudhayl ibn ‘Iyaadh! A verse from the Quran led him to the way of guidance and he became one of the most devoted of worshippers and one of the most sincere of scholars. Are we as affected by the Quran that we frequently read and hear these days?