The Quran: Reading vs. Experiencing
The Quran was not only meant to be read, but also to be experienced
Yahya Abdul Rahman
October 7, 2005: During the month of Ramadan Muslims all over the world will gather at their local places of worship to offer a special kind of prayer after the Ishaa prayer (night prayer) referred to as Taraweeh. Although this prayer is not obligatory, it was a confirmed practice of the prophet Muhammad. He prayed Taraweeh in congregation with his companions for many nights, then he stopped doing that lest it be made obligatory upon the Muslims. Then when the Prophet died and the revelation came to an end, this concern was no longer an issue, because it could not be made obligatory after the death of the Prophet. So Umar bin Khattab gathered the Muslims to pray Taraweeh in congregation.
Although it is not a necessity, many Mosques set a goal of trying to recite the entire Quran during the month while performing the Taraweeh prayers. In order to achieve this, however, it is necessary for the one reciting to increase the pace of his recitation otherwise he will not finish the Quran or the prayer would be exceedingly long.
Sadly, in the rush to finish the Quran on time, many pronunciation mistakes are made and the listeners are unable to fully absorb the message which this sacred book is seeking to convey. Yes, in Islam it is considered a great virtue to read the Quran and for each letter read there is a reward from God, but it seems Muslims mechanically do this as fast as they can in order to gain more rewards. In doing so, however, they are not fully appreciating or understanding its important message.
To be more fully understood, the Quran must be read at a slow and even pace with each letter being distinctly pronounced so that the reader and listeners can comprehend its message and that it reaches the recesses of the heart. Rushing through the Quran in a seemingly blind exercise and not slowing down and experiencing the moment is, in my opinion, missing the point of the whole exercise in the first place. We are merely performing rituals out of habit but not properly seeking that which the ritual is supposed to do for us. The soul that hungers after God wants much more than just the blind performance of rituals. These rituals are not an end in themselves, but a means to an end.
In order for the Quran to be more fully appreciated and understood it is not enough to read its words, one must also experience this sacred book. I read a saying one time which is so true:
"If you want to talk to God then offer up a prayer but if you want God to talk to you then read the Quran."
When we come to a full understanding - and I am not just talking about an intellectual understanding here- that the Quran is the words of God and that it is His way of talking directly to us, will we still want to rush through it in a blind exercise or will we want to slow down and read its sacred words so that we may know what message is being given to us and implement it in our lives?
I would hope that those leading us in prayer would come to the realization that it would be better to read only 1/3 of the Quran or even less during Taraweeh prayers, but doing so in a slow an even method, so that the listeners can absorb its message, instead of participating in a race against time.
In short, the Quran was not only meant to be read, but also to be experienced. God is speaking through his sacred book, let's slow down and listen to what He has to say.