This is done by
learning and teaching it, and memorising and
respecting its laws and provisions, and knowing
thereby what is permissible and what is forbidden,
and also by honouring those who understand and have
memorised it, and by making oneself aware of
Allah’s promises and threats which inspire
weeping.
Allah Most High has
said: Had We sent this Qur’an down upon a mountain
you would have seen it humbled, rent asunder from
the fear of Allah, [59:21] and: Assuredly, it is a
generous Qur’an, in a book kept hidden, which none
touches save the purified; a revelation from the
Lord of the Worlds, [56:77-80] and: Had it been
possible for a Qur’an to cause the mountains to
move, or the earth to be torn asunder, or the dead
to speak – but Allah’s is the whole command.
[13:31]
The Prophet (sallallahu
`alaihi wa sallam) said, in a hadith narrated by
Bukhari on the authority of `Uthman ibn `Affan (radiyallahu
`anhu): "The best of you is he who learns and
teaches the Qur’an." He also said, as
reported by Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of
Abu Musa al-Ash`ari: "Hold fast constantly to
this Qur’an, for by Him in Whose hand lies the
soul of Muhammad, it escapes from one more easily
than does a camel from its hobbling-cord."
They also relate
the following on the authority of Ibn `Umar (radiyallahu
`anhu): "Envy is permissible only in respect of
two men: one whom Allah gives his book, and who
stands reciting it day and night, and a man whom
Allah gives wealth, which he gives in charity day
and night."
Muslim relates on
the authority of `Umar (radiyallahu `anhu) that the
Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Truly, through this book Allah exalts some
people, and abases others."
