Me and my husband have noticed that people who are attached to the Quran tend to be a special breed. They tend to be a bit broader in their thinking, less likely to be part of partisan strife, more open to Muslim brotherhood, etc. To sum it up, it seems they are more elevated, and perhaps this is because they are attached to the most elevated of texts, the Revelation. Alhamdulillaah, my mother has been very devoted to the Quran and I remember some years back she had a dream that people were putting the Quran in mud and trampling it, and she picked it up (may Allah grant her this honor). Some of the brothers we come across in Da’wah that are companions of the Book also never cease to amaze us - they are selfless and zealous when it comes to working for it or making it available to others.

But mostly, they just tend to have better manners - they are not the hotheads, they are the more quiet and humble, the more generous in working for others, etc. And this is not surprising when you realize that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam mentioned he has come “to perfect the manners” and that his character was described by ‘Aishah as “the walking Quran”.

Which brings me to the subject of the Quran in relation to knowledge. One of the names of the Quran is “Adh-Dhikr”, or “The Rememberance”. As such, people attached to the Quran also tend to be more spiritual, more contemplative, while those who more heavily read fiqh or other subjects tend to be more legalistic in nature.

It is best to have a balance of course, for the Quran and Sunnah complement one another - the general and the specific, the text and its implementation, etc. I do believe there is a wisdom in Allah’s injunction to ask those of knowledge:

“So ask of those who know (Adh-Dhikr) the Scripture, if you know not. ”

Unfortunately, in our time today, the Quran is almost an afterthought when it comes to circles of knowledge. It is almost seen as too vague to be of much use in being (or appearing) “learned”. Being “knowledgable” is more noticable if you can quote lots of fataawaa, if you read lots of books or refutations, etc. Many of those most adamantly engaged in partisan rivalry are not necessarily that knowledgable of the first source for Islam, the Quran.

And this is sad, for the Quran is, as it describes itself, among other things, “light”, “guidance”, “mercy”, etc. So if these things are missing from our lives, how knowledgable can we really be about Islam? The Quranic sciences are also seemingly less appealing to students of knowledge. Most would rather go into “exciting” fields such as fiqh, ‘aqeedah, usool, etc. because that’s where all the real action is in our time today. But I also think that mentality is part of the problem.

The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “Do not seek knowledge to compete with the scholars, nor to argue with the ignorant, nor to gain control of gatherings, for whoever does that: the Fire, the Fire!”

This hadith is a warning to purify our intentions, but it seems in our time, with the hostility and rivalry between groups so high, people will undoubtedly fall into trying to “score one” for their side. Yet, again, the Quran, the root of all Islamic knowledge, is often a footnote in the circles of knowledge. Once in a while, you do see a scholar who goes on to specialize in Quran and it is heartening. Inshallah, more and more people will go back to this Book, which is not just an academic text, but a source of light (in that it is actually an act of worship to read from it), the most eloquent of speech (and this should appeal to all who are inclined towards the written word), and the primary source (which should be memorized by anyone legally inclined). Returning to the Quran is the first step in the life of all individual Muslims, and giving it at least equal weight to any other texts in Islamic scholarship will make for a more balanced Ummah. As it is said, we need to “go back to our roots” and we need to not be so fixated on the trees that we cannot see the forest.

And lastly, how can we forget that the Quran is the only way (like previous revelations) that God Almighty speaks to mankind directly (saving the Prophets), and that is His Speech? This in itself makes study of the Quran, and all its beautiful sciences: the art of recitation, its various readings, even its calligraphy, an appealing accomplishment for any who desire its honor. May Allah grant us the status of being one of the “People of the Book”.

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