2  Syawal, 1442 

Yes. It was like just yesterday we welcomed you but now you have completed your time and you have moved on. And it’s now the second day of Syawal. Alhamdulilah. Praise be to Allah.

 

The Quran says 

 

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous" -- Surat Al-Baqarah 2:183

 

"...But to fast is best for you, if you only knew." -- Surat Al-Baqarah 2:184

 

 

"The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful." -- Surat Al-Baqarah 2:185

 

"Allah is with those who restrain themselves." -- Quran 16: 128

 

 

The Holy Quran makes it clear that fasting was ordained compulsory on all Muslims and that they have to fast if they are to stay righteous.

 

And the norms  and rituals that we local Muslims would normally do ( besides the mandatory fast from dawn to dust) would be to give zakat, feed the poor and orphans, do tarawih prayers that begin after the last night prayer isyak , read the Quran, pray solat sunat , do the Qiamullai on the last 10 days of Ramadhan and to make dua and to seek forgiveness for past sins.

 

Ramadan is truly a gift from Allah (SWT); an opportunity for Muslims to capitalize on and earn His blessings and a way to seek salvation and forgiveness.

 

During the course of my daily rituals in the month of Ramadhan and as early as the first few days of Ramadhan I did question  myself as to my goal for this Ramadhan. I know at this age I may not be able to give it my all. Quality over quantity or quantity over quality ? Am I expected to finish and khatam all the 30 juzuks of the Al Quran or  would I rather concentrate on reading the tafsirs of the 30 juzuks in order to understand better Allah’s Qalam?

 

Allah  says In the surah Al Alaq,  Allah begins the chapter by saying Iqra Bismi rab bikal lazee khalaq. ( Read in the name of your Lord who created).

 

To read is to utter aloud the printed or written words of the Quran. “to see and understand written words, spelling, and also pronounce. 

 

This is something that we were taught to do . Learning the letters of the Arabic words, correctly pronouncing them. I remember  during those growing up years, my Tok Guru Quran would teach the alphabets, then eventually simple surahs in the Juzuk 30, the Muqaddam. And I remember it was more of group reading .Thus we learned to memorized some of the short surahs. So as far as reading by the first definition was done as soon as we were seen to be cognitively ready . 

 

The next stage of reading  is to become acquainted with or look over the contents of  the Al Quran. To understand to look  at words or symbols and understand  what they mean. This means reading the translation of the holy book, to interpret, to reflect, to recall.

Tadabbur, means pondering over the meaning of the verses of the Qur’an and contemplating them.

 

It is not enough to learn the Qur’an and recite it profusely. But what is required from us is to understand the words and the meaning of the ayat. To know the matter (or the case or what the ayat says) and this cannot be attained except by reading the Tafseer (the interpretation), by heart or heedful mind and not by ears and eyes.  

 

The Qur’an itself emphasizes that mere reading or reciting of it is insufficient. One needs to reflect upon what one reads, and then act upon it. 

 

Allah said: (This is) a Book (the Quran) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its ayat, and that men of understanding may remember.

 

Being a non-Arabic Muslim, this is one area which I have to work on  and still am doing so. It’s a multi-layer process. First reading the translation gives a an overview of the contents of a particular surah. But it is not a straight forward understanding. There is a need to go into the tadabbur stage . Tadabbur  refers to an integral reflection that can lead to an implied meaning of the words of Allah with their deep and profound messages. This is where I will rely on the experts, the mufassir who is able  to provide elucidation, explanation, interpretation, context or commentary for clear understanding and conviction of God’s  will.

 

And going through the translations, the tafsir is not a one off ritual. It need to be read again and again. And at this stage, I need to not just  read but to make notes of the important points for each surah. 

 

So much to know. Time is not my side. For this Ramadhan I did not complete reciting all the 30 juzuks. 

 

And  for this Ramadan I chose quality over quantity. 

So be patient. Indeed, the promise of ALLAH is truth. ( Quran 30:60)