Allaah the Most
High says:
"Indeed
in this there is a remembrance for those who have a
living heart, listen attentively and are awake to
taking heed." [Qaaf: 37]
Therefore, if you
desire to benefit from the Qur'aan, gather your
heart when reciting it, focus your attention to it
and focus as if you are the one being directly
addressed by it. For indeed it is an address from
Allaah via the path of the Messenger sallallaahu `alayhi
wa sallam.
This is because
gaining complete benefit from the Qur'aan is
dependent upon the object providing the benefit, the
place by which it is to be received, the conditions
related to attaining the benefit and the non
existence of anything that may hinder the benefit
from occurring. Hence the verse contains an
explanation of all of these points, with the
shortest and clearest of words, and those that best
prove the point.
Thus the saying of
Allaah: {Indeed in this there is a remembrance} has
an inference to what has preceded the verse from the
beginning of Soorah Qaaf up to this verse and this
is what is causing the benefit.
Whilst the saying
of Allaah {who have a living heart} then this refers
to the place that receives the benefit and this is
the heart that has life and comprehends what Allaah
has sent, as Allaah the Most High says:
"Indeed
this is only a clear reminder and a Qur'aan so as to
warn those who have a living heart." [Yaaseen:
69-70]
And His saying
{listen attentively} i.e. who turns his attention to
it and listens mindfully to what is being said. This
is the condition that is placed so that one can be
benefited by it. And His saying {are awake to taking
heed.} i.e. that the heart is attentive to it.
Ibn Qutaibah said:
"Listen to the book of Allaah whilst your heart
and mind is attentive, not neglectful nor
distant."
This is an
inference to the matter that prevents one from
attaining benefit. That is when the heart is distant
and unmindful such that it does not understand what
is being said, nor comprehend it.
Therefore if the
cause of the benefit - the Qur'aan, is found and the
place of receiving it - and that is the heart has
life - and the condition is fulfilled - and that is
listening attentively - and the barriers that would
prevent benefit from being attained are avoided -
and that is the heart being pre-occupied with
something else and it being unmindful of what is
said - then one attains the benefit, of being
benefited by the Qur'aan. [Refer to al-Fawaa'id by
Ibn-ul-Qayyim]
