Ibn Al Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, says:
In short, there is nothing more beneficial for the heart than reading the Qur’aan and with contemplation and reflection. The Qur’aan encompasses all the levels of the travellers, the conditions of the workers, and stations of those possessing knowledge. It is the Qur’aan that generates love, desire, fear, hope, repentance, reliance, pleasure, entrustment, gratitude, patience, and the rest of the different states that are life to the heart and perfection of it. Likewise, it repels all the rebuked characteristics and actions that cause the corruption and ruin of the heart.
If people were to possess a realization of what recitation of the Qur’aan with contemplation contains, they would devote themselves to it at the expense of anything else. When the person reads it with reflection and he comes across an aayah that he is in need of, for the cure of his heart, he repeats it, even if he does so a hundred times or the whole night. Hence, to recite a single aayah of the Qur’aan with contemplation and reflection is better than reciting the Qur’aan to completion without any contemplation or reflection. It is also more beneficial for the heart and more conducive to attaining eemaan and tasting the sweetness of the Qur’aan.
- Source: Miftaah Daar as-Sa’aadah, page 204 | Ibn Al Qayyim
- Transcribed from: Causes Behind the Increase and Decrease of Eemaan | Shaykh ‘Abdur-Razzaaq al-’Abbaad
The Messenger of Allāh salAllaahu alayhi wasallam described those who trust in Allāh as having two qualities: they seek means and ways of earning their livelihood and have great trust in He Who has full control of all means and ways of provision. Those who possess only one or none of these qualities will acquire failure and utter loss. In contrast, those who seek the legal and lawful ways of earning their sustenance, trust in Allāh and appreciate His bounties whenever they earn them, all the while observing patience during times of hardship and distress, will acquire success and win what they need and covet.
Allah has described the people of Jannah as those who treat the creation well by means of their good deeds and wealth, and they are patient when harmed. He said, “And hasten forth to forgiveness from your Lord, for Jannah is as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the pious. Those who spend in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon people; verily Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers).” (Aali Imraan 3:133-134) Spending in prosperity and in adversity with one’s wealth implies the highest level of doing good. Repressing anger and pardoning people means that one does not reciprocate evil with evil, which entails that one must have pleasant speech and avoid ill-mannerism when it is permissible, thus He says, “Verily Allah loves Al-Muhsinun.”
