Approach the Quran

Weeping and Feeling Awe When Reciting the Qur'an

 

When reading the Glorious Qur'an, one should feel awe and weep. In the Glorious Qur'an, Allah, Most High, says,

 

(Had we sent down this Qur'an on a mountain, verily, thou wouldst have seen it humble itself and cleave asunder for fear of Allah)

(Al-Hashr: 21)

If a person could not weep or feel awe when reading the Glorious Qur'an, he is recommended to exert himself to do so. This is required in case of reading or listening to the Glorious Quran.

 

In this connection, Allah, Most High, says,

 

(Has not the time arrived for the believers that their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of Allah and of the Truth which has been revealed (to them), and that they should not become like those to whom was given Revelation aforetime, but long ages passed over them and their hearts grew hard? For many among them are rebellious transgressors.) 

(Ail-Hadid: 16)

Commenting on the above glorious verse, Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said, "After thirteen years of revealing the Glorious Qur'an, Allah, Most High, admonished the believers to feel awe when reading or listening to it, saying, (Has not the time arrived for the Believers that their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of Allah and of the Truth which has been revealed (to them)."

 

Likewise, Ibn Kathir commented on the same verse, saying, "Allah, Most High, forbade the believers to imitate the People of the Book, the Jews and Christians, who altered the book of Allah, sought wealth by means of it, disregarded its laws, and replaced it with false sayings. Therefore, their hearts grew hard to the extent that they never accepted any admonition."[1]

 

ln this context, the Glorious Qur'an reproaches the People of the Book, saying,

 

(But because of their breach of their Covenant, We cur.sed then:. and made their hearts grow hard: they change the words from their (right) places and forget a good part of the message that was sent them. 

(Al-Ma'idah: 13)

Describing the Glorious Qur'an, Allah, Most High, says,

 

 (Allah has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book, consistent with itself (yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects): the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble thereat; then their skins and their hearts do soften to the celebration of Allah's praises.) 

(Az-Zumar: 23)

 

Scholars are distinguished by their awe and weeping when listening to the Glorious Qur'an, as Allah, Most High, says,

 

(It is) a Qur'an which we have divided (into parts from time to time), in order that thou mightiest recite it to men at intervals: We have revealed it by stages. Say: Whether ye believe in it or not, it is true that those who were given knowledge beforehand, when it recited to them, fall down on their faces in humble prostration, and they say: Glory be to our Lord; truly has the promise of our Lord been fulfilled. They fall down on their faces in tears, and it increases their (earnest) humility.)

(Al-Isrâ: 106-109)

 

Moreover, He, Most High, praises a group of Christians who burst into tears when listening to the Glorious Qur'an, saying,

 

(And when they listen to the revelation received by the Messenger, thou wilt see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognize the truth: they pray: 'Our Lord.! We believe; write us down among the witnesses. What cause can we have not to believe in Allah and the truth, which has come to us, seeing that we long for our Lord to admit us to the company of the righteous!)

(Al-Ma'idah: 83-84)

 

`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud said, "The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to me, `Recite (the Qur'an) to me.' I said, 'O Allah's Messenger, shall I recite (the Qur'an) to you while it has been revealed to you? He said, 'Yes .So, I recited surat An-Nisa', but when I recited the verse: (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) he said, `Enough for the present] I looked at him and behold his eyes were overflowing with tears."[2]

 

Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said,

 

"Recite the Glorious Qur'an and weep when reading it. Yet, if you could not weep, you should exert yourself to weep; and if your eyes could not burst into tears, your hearts should weep instead. "[3]

 

Weeping of the heart means awe and sadness. When reading the Glorious Qur'an, a person should reflect on what it contains of threats, warnings, covenants, etc., and then contemplate on his shortcomings in this regard. Inevitably, he will feel sad and weep. Otherwise, he should exert himself to do so.

 

[1] lbn Kathir, Tafsir, vol. 4, p. 310.

 

[2] Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

 

[3] Reported by ibn Majah.