Step by Step – Step 2: Some suggestions for reading the translation of the Quran
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum
In Step 1, I mentioned that one of the problems that we have today is that many Muslims can’t understand the Quran and haven’t read it from cover to cover.
I then proceeded to bore you with my life story.
In this step, I’m going to suggest a practical plan as to how you can ACTUALLY do it.
Important note: I’m assuming that the reader is a native English speaker. If not, it would obviously be better for you to read the translation in your own language.
I haven’t much clue about other languages, just the following:
1) The Quran has been translated into many languages. However, some of these are by non-Muslims who hate Islam, so one needs to be careful.
2) As far as I know, a good authentic site to get the translation in different languages is : http://www.islamhouse.com/
3) Darussalam (the company, not the city in Tanzania – someone already had this misunderstanding today) has translations in many different languages.
4) I heard that there was a very nice translation in Urdu called “Ahsanul Bayan”. It’s published by Darussalam.
5) The abridgment of Tafsir in Kathir is available in French. It’s also published by Darussalam.
[And no, I’m not an Urdu or a French speaker, although I know a bit of both.]
Before I continue, I would like to point out something very, very important. There is a difference between reciting the Quran (i.e. the Arabic text) and reading its translation.
One of the rights of the Quran is to recite it so we have to fulfill this right.
Understanding the Quran is another right, so reading the translation will aid us towards fulfilling this right.
[Here’s a series I wrote on the rights of the Quran (I just realised that I hadn’t completed it!): Parts 1, 2 and 3.]
So, what would I suggest to an English speaker?
Basic Plan:
1) Decide whether you want to start with the Saheeh International translation or the Muhsin Khan one. I would suggest starting with the Muhsin Khan one and getting the one volume abridged version.
I wouldn’t advise starting with the word to word translation just yet.
2) Get yourself a copy of the translation of the Quran along with the Arabic text
3) Decide how many ayaat (verses) you are going to recite every day.
4) Each day, recite at least that many ayaat and then proceed to read the translation of each ayah (verse). [Start from Surah Al-Fatihah.]
If you have difficulty reciting and can’t get hold of a teacher at the moment, you can try to listen to the audio first for each ayah and then repeat after the reciter. This site has recitation as well as translation: http://tanzil.net/
5) Do this each and EVERY day until you finish reciting the Quran (i.e. you finish Surah An-Nas).
If you go to bed and remember that you forgot to recite the Quran, then my advice is to hop out, do wudhu and recite the required portion. This will train you to recite the Quran daily.
If you miss a day, then you might miss another day and so on, so you shouldn’t miss a single day.
6) Choose the other translation (e.g. if you chose Saheeh, move over to Mushin Khan) and then repeat steps 3-5 all over again.
If you wish, you may use both translations at once. It’s up to you. There are quite a few sites with the translations but they don’t have the accompanying notes, which is why it’s better to get the hard copy.
Intermediate Plan:
1) Follow Steps 1-5 of the Basic Plan.
2) In addition to this, decide if you want to finish reading the translation at a faster pace.
If so, choose one translation (preferably the Saheeh one) for using with your recitation. Depending on how easy you find it to recite, this one could take quite some time.
Choose the other one (preferable the Muhsin Khan one) and read the translation. This time you don’t have to recite it because you’re already doing that when you read the other translation so you can read through this one faster and take it with you wherever you go.
In both the above cases, I would advise you to take notes about whatever questions or thoughts you might have. [Read more about keeping a Quran Journal.]
3) If you are not a reader, and prefer to listen (apart from the translation that you are reading whilst reciting), choose a good translation and then listen to it in your car, iPod, etc as often as you can until you finish the whole thing.
This site (scroll to the bottom) contains many Quran recitations along with the translations: http://quranicaudio.com/
[The “fabulous” one that I referred to in Part 1 is the 3rd last one: Shuraim and Sudais with Aslam Athar.]
You can listen to one set and then proceed to listen to another.
Advanced Plan:
[It includes all of the above mentioned things.]
1) Recite whilst reading the translation (I recommend the Saheeh translation for this) .
2) Read the second translation (I recommend the Muhsin Khan one for this).
3) Listen to a third (I recommend the Pickthall “fabulous” one mentioned above for this.)
You’ll be doing all of the above in the same time period. This way, you’ll be really surrounded with the Quran.
4) If you want to be very brave, you can also read the word to word translation but I really don’t advise it until you’ve read the translation at least once. [I’ve mentioned many word to word translations in this post.]
Remember, don’t stop until you’ve finished reciting the translation until the end.
Insha-Allah, I hope that the post was clear.
What do you think? Is the plan helpful?
Perhaps you have another technique? If so, please share, baarakallahu feekum.
Some resources for the Last Ten Days and Eid
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
Yes, they’re almost upon us – the best nights of the year.
No more napping. We need to take some action.
This Ramadan, I haven’t posted many resources because I did that last year.
I thought I would just link to the useful ones:
[All of these link to the post which contains the resource.]
Last Ten Days, Laylatul Qadr, Itikaf, Zakaatul Fitr and Eid
Articles / Books
1) When is Laylatul Qadr? [Don’t forget to read this one!]
2) The Excellence of the Night of Qadr
3) The Last Ten Days of Ramadan
4) A Guide to the Last Ten Days
5) Why have the Muslims forsaken Itikaaf?
6) Resources for Itikaf – Umm Muawiyah’s very own guide as to what you REALLY need for itikaf.
7) “There is no Itikaf except in the three Masjids”
[Note: It seems that some people get confused between Zakaah and Zakaatul Fitr. They are two totally different things.]
10) Some more Resources for Eid
Lectures
1) Making the Most of the End of Ramadan
2) Focusing on Laylatul Qadr and Itikaaf
3) Rulings and Virtues of Itikaf
4) Zakaatul Fitr – Is it money or food?
Is this the last post for this Ramadan, you ask?
I wish but no. A few more to go, insha-Allah…
KIU Free Fiqh of Fasting Webinar (starting tonight!)
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
Knowledge International University is offering two live (free) webinars on the Fiqh of Fasting.
Webinar 1: Introduction to Fiqh of Fasting
Friday 12th August, 10:30PM Saudi Time by Assim Al Hakeem
[That’s 11:30 PM UAE time and 7:30 PM GMT.]
Webinar 2: Contemporary Issues to Fiqh of Fasting
Sunday 14th August, 4:30PM Saudi Time by Shaikh Saad Ash-Shethry
[[That’s 5:30 PM UAE time and 1:30 PM GMT.]
There’s no registration required.
How can you listen in?
Just go to the KIU website and click on the live session link. You’ll find it on the main page.
This is a good opportunity for all of us to review what we already know and learn more, insha-Allah.
Some resources to study the fiqh of fasting…
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
[Fiqh = Jurisprudence. It sort of means the rulings regarding a particular thing.]
Last year, I put up a lot of resources on studying the fiqh of fasting so I thought I’d link to some of those again.
Which resource should you use?
Well, it depends on your level. If you are a beginner, try to choose one and stick with that for now.
However, if you are a student of knowledge, then you should try to go through as many of them as possible.
Also, I’d advise everyone to take notes and summarise the points in your Ramadan journal. That way, you won’t have to go through these books and lectures each year. All you have to do is to read your own notes.
[Note: The links take you to the earlier posts which contain the resources. I haven’t linked to the resources directly.]
Lectures
1) Basic Fiqh for Ramadan by Brother Abu Taubah.
Nice and simple.
2) Ramadan Rulings By Brother Moosa Khoory
Also nice and simple. Oh and he’s also from the UAE.
3) 186 Rules for Ramadan by Brother Waleed Basyouni.
Good series. It mentions all the required issues.
He also has another lecture entitled “How to make this your best Ramadan ever“.
4) The Month of Mercy by Brother Abu Abdissalam
For those who like British accents.
5) Fasting for the Everlasting and Fiqh of Moonsighting by Brother Shakiel Humayun
Both of these are from a seminar entitled “From the Moon to the Spoon”….
6) Fasting in Ramadan by Shaikh Saleh As-Saleh
Covers just about every important topic related to Ramadan.
7) Fiqh of Siyaam by Brother Abdur Rauf Shakir
I haven’t linked to this before. His lectures are really detailed, masha-Allah. It’s very good for students of knowledge.
8) Two free courses from Islamic Online University
For those who prefer to study properly.
Books / Articles
1) The Fast of Ramadan by Shaikh Muhammad ibn Jamil Zino
Nice, simple, well-organized book.
2) Ramadan and Fasting by Brother Abdel Kader Kamel Tayeb.
Organised in a different way but that makes it more appealing.
3) Fasting and its Rulings by Shaikh Usaamah Al-Qusee
Summarises the rules of fasting.
4) Rulings Pertaining to Ramadan by Shaikh Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid
All the fatwas from Islam Q and A.
5) Ramadan as observed by the Prophet (salallahu alaihi wasallam) by Shaikh Saleem Al-Hilali and Shaikh Alee Hasan Al-Halabee
6) Lessons on Fasting, Taraweeh and Zakaah by Shaikh Muhammad Saalih Aal- Uthaimeeen (rahimahullah)
Simple book? Of course. Didn’t you notice the “Uthaimeen” in the author’s name?
7) The Nature of Fasting by Imam Ibn Taimiyyah (rahimahullah)
Just another book by one of the greatest scholars of all time.
Why we need a Ramadan…
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
Why?
The list could fill a few volumes.
However, I think there’s one lecture that really summarises why we need this great month.
It’s by Brother Abu Uwais (rahimahullah).
I posted it last year along with its transcript.
The brother’s words are something to ponder over, may Allah reward him.
PS. It would also be good if each of us asked ourselves why WE need a Ramadan. What problems do each of us have and how will Ramadan help us to rectify ourselves?
A great reminder for all of us…
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
I just came across this translation of a segment of a lecture (about 5 minutes). It was quite an eye-opener to say the least:
[There’s an annoying nasheed going on in the background, but alhamdulillah, it does not have any musical instruments, just some guy going “Aaaaaaaaah”.]
Note: The majority of people chose “controlling our tongues” as the second habit. Keeping that in mind, I’d advise everyone to pay even more attention to what the shaikh says.
Advice to those that want to soften their hearts by Shaikh Salim Al-Maghamsi
Lecture: High Aspirations
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
It’s sad. We have such low expectations of ourselves with regards to following Islam.
Whatever happened to being ambitious? Or is that only reserved for matters related to the dunya (worldly life)?
Think about it.
When it comes to the dunya, we want to be the best. But when it comes to the hereafter………
“Oh, I don’t mind a little house in the corner of the lowest level of Paradise.”
What?
Little house? In the corner? In the lowest level?
You cannot be serious!*
[*Okay, I stole that quote from somewhere.]
Why would you want a teensie-weensie house at the bottom when you can have a fabulous mansion at the top?
من آمن بالله ورسوله ، وأقام الصلاة ، وصام رمضان ، كان حقا على الله أن يدخله الجنة ، هاجر في سبيل الله ، أو جلس في أرضه التي ولد فيها ) . قالوا : يا رسول الله ، أفلا ننبئ الناس بذلك ؟ قال : إن في الجنة مائة درجة ، أعدها الله للمجاهدين في سبيله ، كل درجتين ما بينهما كما بين السماء والأرض ، فإذا سألتم الله فسلوه الفردوس ، فإنه أوسط الجنة ، وأعلى الجنة ، وفوقه عرش الرحمن ، ومنه تفجر أنهار الجنة
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu): The Prophet (salallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Whoever believes in Allah and His Messenger, offers prayers perfectly and fasts (the month of) Ramadan then it is incumbent upon Allah to admit him into Paradise, whether he emigrates for Allah’s cause or stays in the land where he was born.”
They (the companions of the Prophet) said, “O Allah’s Messenger! Should we not inform the people of that?” He said, “There are one-hundred degrees in Paradise which Allah has prepared for those who carry on Jihad in His Cause. The distance between every two degrees is like the distance between the sky and the Earth, so if you ask Allah for anything, ask Him for the Firdaus, for it is the last part of Paradise and the highest part of Paradise, and at its top there is the Throne of Beneficent, and from it gush forth the rivers of Paradise.” [Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume no. 9, Hadeeth No. 519]
Stop asking for that tiny tent in Paradise. That’s not from the Sunnah, you know.
Being ambitious, trying your best and having good thoughts of Allah – now that is from the Sunnah.
For those who are struggling with “unambitiousness”, here’s a lecture to help you out:
High Aspirations by Moutasem Al-Hameedy (Download)
[You could also read this post of mine where I scold everyone on the planet for their lack of ambition.]
Lecture: Making every second count
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
One of you asked for more lectures of time management so here goes…
[Reminder: I’m still waiting for feedback from those of you who have not gotten around to it yet.]
Here’s a lecture to remind us of the importance of each SECOND.
Making Every Second Count by Dr. Bilal Philips (Download)
Lecture: Tsunami in Japan – An Islamic Perspective
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
Not a day goes by except that we hear of some more repercussions from the Japanese tsunami. Today, I read about the government’s dilemma over what to do with the dead bodies that were contaminated (by their close proximity to the nuclear plant).
Earthquakes, tsunamis, wars, etc seem to be happening on a regular basis all around us.
And yet, do we stop and think about these events? Do we ponder about what lessons we can derive from them?
I look around me and I see that most of the people are just the same. I call them “evergreen trees”. They remain in the same lost state, no matter what is happening around them.
That’s not what a believer does. A believer ponders over the events unfolding around him/her and uses them to get closer to Allah.
Someone might say: “Hey, wait a minute. What can I do about the Japanese tsunami or the Libyan civil war? What does it have to do with me?”
Well, at least be grateful for not being there and for being in safety. Every time we complain about our circumstances, let’s just remember what the Libyans and Japanese are going through and then we’ll realise that we really have nothing to complain about.
Here’s a good lecture that discusses the Islamic perspective on the tsunami. Thought-provoking stuff.
Tsunami in Japan: An Islamic Perspective by Brother Karim Abu Zaid
[Note: I’m not equating the situation in Japan with the situation in Libyan. The vast majority of Japanese do not worship Allah whereas the vast majority of Libyans do worship Allah, so there is a big difference.
By the way, for those of you who want to help out our Libyan brothers and sisters, you may do so by donating. They are really in need of food and medicine. An acquaintance of mine has helped set up the following website:
Please pass on the word. Jazakumullahu kheira.]
The Greatest Month 