Abu
Ayub Ansari, a prominent companion
The Qur’an is indeed a miracle that has withstood the test
of time; not a single letter in it has changed over 14 centuries.
Hundreds of
thousands of Muslims memorize and preserve it in their hearts. Allah,
the
Exalted, promised to protect and preserve it. He says, “Surely
We have revealed the Reminder, and We will most surely be its Guardian.”
(Qur’an, 15:9)
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was initially accused,
by the disbelievers of Makkah, of practicing sihr (witchcraft) over the
early
Muslims, as the unflinching change of their hearts toward the Qur’an’s
monotheistic message could not be attributed to any human cause. In the
Qur’an,
Almighty Allah says, “And they wonder that there
has come to them a warner from among themselves, and the disbelievers
say,
‘This is an enchanter, a liar’.” (Qur’an,
38:4)
It is the same today. Whenever a Muslim adheres to the
Qur’an, reciting it with understanding, reading its translation or
exegesis
with deep reflection, or teaching it to others, he or she undergoes a
real
change for the better in his or her lifestyle and habits, worship,
dealings
with others, and best of all in his or her innate spiritual self.
Knowledge of the Qur’an improves the Muslim woman’s
understanding of monotheism, the Oneness of Allah, in such a way that
her
Creator becomes the center of her existence. Her basic beliefs are
rectified
and her heart is cleansed from the impurity of shirk (polytheism), as
she reads
in the Qur’an, “Serve Allah, and join not any
partners with Him.” (Qur’an, 4:36)
She also experiences a gradual decline in the reverence of
intangible deities that her heart previously harbored, such as strong
love for
the world and its adornments (e.g., fashionable clothes, jewelry, shoes,
interior decor, and luxuries), the human base self’s innate desires, and
dependence on physical means and people (who are among Allah’s creation)
in
achieving ends.
Her attitude toward taharah (purity) in herself, her home,
and her family also undergoes a radical change, so that she can be seen
focusing more on simple, clean, clutter-free living rather than lavish
opulence
and exhibitionist extravagance. That is because Almighty Allah loves the
repentant and the purified. He, the Exalted, says, “Surely
Allah loves those who turn much (to Him), and He loves those who purify
themselves.” (Qur’an, 2:222)
Knowledgeable companionship with the Glorious Qur’an removes
from a Muslim woman’s life all useless pastimes, such as window
shopping,
buying unnecessary possessions, watching soaps or drama on television,
gossiping for hours on the phone, attending extravagant parties to
ascend the
social ladder, showing acquired assets off, and attending gatherings of
innovative religious rituals.
Eventually, the Qur’an enables her to relinquish social ills
such as backbiting, mingling with members of the opposite sex, and
indulging in
impermissible entertainment (like films, music, dating, singing, and
dancing).
By refraining from all these ills, a Muslim woman will have ample time
to
pursue leisure-time activities and hobbies that will be more fruitful
for her
in the hereafter.
Most Muslim girls and women who gain knowledge of Allah’s
Book eventually start teaching what they learned to others or actively
start
volunteering for social work on a community level (e.g., feeding the
poor,
paying off others’ debts, facilitating marriages, counseling those who
are
aggrieved, and providing the needy with work).
They also start to focus more on their family and on
building its Islamic character. The major cause of this shift in focus
is, as
mentioned before, relinquishing mundane and time-wasting pursuits.
Modesty in dress and
dealings
The more a Muslim woman studies the Qur’an, the more she
becomes inclined to chastity, humbleness, and modesty. The Qur’an
reconnects
her to her fitrah (intrinsic human nature), and thus she starts becoming
conscious of how she dresses in public, how she talks to men who are not
mahrams (unmarriageable kins), and how she uses body language outside
her
house.
In fact, all her manners undergo a noticeable change for the
better: her dressing, her tone of voice, her conversational style, her
sense of
humor, her gestures, and her way of talking with men all become
compliant with
Allah’s ordainments in the Qur’an: “And do not
display your finery like the displaying of the ignorance of yore, and
keep up
Prayer, and pay the poor rate, and obey Allah and His Messenger.”
(Qur’an, 33:33)
Deep understanding of the Qur’an leads to a high level of
taqwa, which is piety, perpetual consciousness of Allah, and fear of His
anger.
This makes a Muslim woman extremely careful to give other people their
due
rights. This taqwa improves her relationships with them, making her more
patient, tolerant, forgiving mistakes and shortcomings, and more kind to
everyone in general.
The Qur’an makes her more zealously cherish, obey, respect,
and serve her parents, especially if she is single and free from the
responsibilities of marriage and motherhood. She thus helps out more
with
household tasks instead of always going out with friends. She gives due
attention to her parents’ advice and opinions and obeys their decisions
regarding her marriage proposals.
Similarly, the Qur’an reminds the married Muslim woman of
the nature of her husband’s and children’s rights, which are her duties
toward
them. It is therefore not uncommon to see a husband (who himself might
not be
so practicing of the teaching of Islam beyond basic obligations) singing
his
wife’s praises once she starts studying the Qur’an.
This is because he strongly feels the improvement in her
overall character and conduct; he notices her hard work on the moral
upbringing
of their children and her increased dedication to her home life. He
finds a
warmer, happier home and family awaiting him each evening, so he
openheartedly
welcomes this change, which was brought about by the Qur’an’s effect on
his wife.
In the Qur’an, Almighty Allah says,
(O humankind! There has come to
you a direction from your Lord and a healing for the (diseases) in your
hearts
and, for those who believe, a guidance and a mercy.) (Qur’an, 10:57)
Last but not least, the greatest blessing that the Qur’an
gives to a Muslim woman is a heart filled with Allah’s love. This heart
throbs
with unadulterated faith and is free from any malice, rancor, hatred, or
envy
toward others; it is a heart that knows no despair of Allah’s mercy in
bleak circumstances
and is tranquil due to complete trust in Allah.
This is the heart described by Allah Himself as the sound
heart:
“The day on which property will
not avail, nor sons, except him who comes to Allah with a sound heart.”
(Qur’an, 26:88–89)
Courtesy of www.onislam.net
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