Ten Virtues of a Mumin – (8) the Memorization of the Quran

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ

'Verily it is We Who have revealed the Quran (zikr), and assuredly We will safeguard it.'

(Surat al-Hijr: 9)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

مَنْ رَزَقَهُ اللهُ وَلايَةَ عَلِيّ ابنِ ابيطالب صع فَقَدْ أَصَابَ خَيْرَ الدُّنْيَا والآخِرةِ، ولا أشُكُّ لهُ بِالجَنةِ، وإنَّ في حُبِّ عَليٍّ وَوَلايَتِهِ عِشْرِينَ خَصْلَة، عَشَرةً مِنها في الدُّنيا وعَشَرةً في الآخرة* (1) الزهد (2) والحرص على العلم (3) والورع في الدين (4) والرغبة في العبادة (5) وتوبة نصوح (6) والقيام في الليل للصلوة (7) الإياس من الخلق (8) والحفظ للقرآن

'He who is given the sustenance/bounty (rizq - rozi) of the valaayat of Ali has attained the goodness of this world and the Hereafter, and I do not doubt that he will enter jannat. In Ali’s love and valaayat are twenty virtues: 10 in this world (dunya) and 10 in the Hereafter (aakherat). 1) renouncing materialism, 2) desire to seek knowledge, 3) piety and scrupulosity, 4) eagerness/desire for worship, 5) sincere repentance, 6) waking up in the night for prayer, 7) putting your trust in God, not people, 8) the memorization of the Quran.'

(Rasulullah SAW)

This article was written by Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin in 2015.

Rasulullah SA said, “he who is given the gift (rizq, rozi) of the valaayat of Ali has attained the goodness of this world and the Hereafter, and I do not doubt that he will enter Jannat.” In Ali’s love and valaayat are twenty virtues: 10 in this World (dunya) and 10 in the Hereafter (aakherat). The ten in this world are: 1) renouncing materialism; 2) desire to seek knowledge; 3) piety and scrupulosity; 4) eagerness and desire for worship; 5) sincere repentance; 6) waking up in the night for tahajjud prayers; 7) to put trust in God and not people; 8) memorizing the Quran Majeed; 9) aversion to this world; and 10) generosity.

This year during Ashara, Syedna TUS narrated this Hadith and explained the many facets of this Hadith and the individual virtues. Syedna introduced the Hadith saying that this is a bishaarat for the Shi’a of Amirul Mumineen SA. He added that in one sense, those with true valaayat would necessarily have these virtues. If for some reason one with valaayat does not possess these virtues, then upon hearing this bayaan he/she should make a firm commitment to acquire them. The eighth virtue is memorization of the Quran Majeed (al-hifzu lil Quran).

Amirul Mumineen SA has said that ‘the Quran is superior to all things under God’ (al-quranu afdalu min kulli shay’in dun Allah). The Quran is the book of Allah Ta’ala revealed to Rasulullah SA and it encompasses, in the depth of its meanings, everything for all time. Rasulullah’s SA miracle (mu’jiza) was casting Divine Revelation (wahy)into the mold of Quranic words and communicating it to Muslimeen. The miracle (mu’jiza) of Amirul Mumineen SA and Imam-uz-zaman SA in every day and age is the unearthing and interpreting of its deep meaning and explaining the relevance of the Quranic message in the context of present day circumstances and challenges. Just as Rasulullah SA was the sole authority on what constituted the revealed text of the Qur’an, Amirul Mumineen SA is the sole authority on the intended meaning of that text. The duty of his successors was to safeguard the literal text and reveal to mumineen in every age, facets of the endless depths of meaning in the Qur’an, relevant to their time. In this sense each Imam is Quran Natiq; each Imam is a speaking Quran that reveals the meaning of the silent text (Quran Samit) so that the message is relevant to every age. In the time of seclusion, this responsibility is fulfilled by the Da’i al-Mutlaq who expounds the meanings of the Qur’an on the authority of Imam-uz-zaman SA.

The memorization of the divine words of the Quran is a great virtue. Rasulullah SA is reported to have said that, “those who carry the Quran in their hearts and memorize it (hamalat al-Quran) are the chiefs of the people of heaven.” Another Hadith is that, “the one who has memorized the largest quantity of the Quran and is the most knowledgeable is worthy of leading people in prayer.”

Syedna al-Qadi al-Nu’man narrates that Amirul Mumineen SA told Rasulullah SA that, “some words of the Quran escape me due to forgetfulness.” Rasulullah SA replied, “I will teach you words of such a doa that would strengthen the memory and solidify the words of the Quran in your heart.” These are the words Rasulullah SA:

'Allah—shower me with your mercy by helping me forsake acts of disobedience to you, for as long as you have granted me life. Shower me with your mercy by helping me forsake matters that do not concern me. Grant me the good fortune of looking at that which will make you pleased with me. Have my heart remember your book, just as you have taught it to me. Have me recite it in a manner that will make you pleased with me.

Through your book, Allah, give light to my eyes, speech to my tongue, and comfort to my heart. Help [all parts of] my body to engage with it, and help me commit it to memory. No one can help with this but you.'

It is through the guidance of our Hudaat Kiraam that we recite this doa before beginning the memorization of the Quran and also before the beginning of doing tilawat. Through the guidance of our Hudaat Kiraam each mumin partakes in the blessing of hifz by memorizing at least Surat al-Hamd and other small surats of the Quran. Yet those who achieve the milestone of memorizing the entire Quran attain immeasurable barakat.

The 52^nd Dai, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA achieved the distinction among Du’aat Mutlaqeen of memorizing the text of the Quran Majeed. He also encouraged students and mumineen to memorize the Quran for which he constructed and established Mahad-al-Zahra, a part of Jamea Saifiyyah in Surat. Syedna Qutbuddin TUS continues to encourage mumineen to memorize the Quran (last week Fatemi Madrasa has announced the Quran workshop to teach children proper recitation (tilawat) of Quran Majeed and to encourage memorization). Three of Syedna Qutbuddin’s children (two sons and one daughter) have memorized the entire Quran Majeed.

The meaning of hifz is also to safeguard. In this sense each Imam, and in his seclusion each Dai, is hafizul Quran: one who safeguards the text from deviation and misinterpretation. The presence of a Dai in each day and age enables us to access and live by the true message of the Quran - the message that Allah Ta’ala intended to convey. Our Dai protects us from those who misinterpret the text of the Quran for personal agendas, justifying violence and the killing of innocents.

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the strength to memorize the Quran Majeed and live by its true principles. May Allah Ta’ala grant longest life to Syedna Qutbuddin TUS and keep him safe by the virtue of the Quran Majeed that he safeguards.