What is your intention when reading the Qur’an?

The prophet (SallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “Verily actions are but by intentions, and every person shall have (be rewarded for) what they intended” [Reported in Bukhari & Muslim]

Maximising the intentions is the trade of the hearts of the sahabah (May Allah be pleased with them) and the scholars, and those who know Allah very well. They used to carry out one action whilst having many intentions behind this action, so that they are rewarded abundantly for every intention. It is due to this that Ibn Kathir said, “The intention reaches further than the action”.

Below are some intentions that would maximise our reward if we have them when reciting the Qur’an:

1. For it to intercede for us on the day of judgement. The prophet (SallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “Recite the Qur’an for it will come as an intercessor for its people on the day of judgement” [Reported in Muslim]

2. So that we can increase in reward. Abdullah ibn Mas’ud narrated the prophet (SallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) mentioned that “whoever recites one letter/word from the book of Allah, then for him is a reward, and a reward is multiplied by ten” [Reported in Tirmidhi]

3. For it to fill our heart. The prophet (SallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “The man who has nothing of the Qur’an inside him is like a ruined house” [Reported in Tirmidhi]

4. For us to memorise and act on every verse we recite so that we can ascend in Jannah. The prophet (SallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “It is said to the one who recites the Qur’an, recite and ascend, and read like you used to read in the dunya, for your place (in Jannah) is at the last verse you recite” [Reported in Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi]

5. For it to remove the illnesses from our hearts and cure our bodies, and for mercy to envelope us. Allah says in Surah Al-Israa’ [17:82] {We send the Qur’an as healing and mercy for those who believe}

6. For it to give our hearts tranquility and peace. Allah says in Surah Al-Ra’d [13:28] {Verily in the remembrance of Allah do the hearts find rest}

7. For it to give life to our hearts, light to our chest, and to remove our anxieties and worries. The Qur’an is the spring of the believer, as rainfall is the spring of the Earth. The prophet (SallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) used to say in his Du’aa “..that you make the Qur’an the spring of my heart, the light of my chest, the remover of my sorrow, and the remover of my worries” [Reported in Ahmad]

8. For it to guide us. Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah [2:2] {This book of which there is no doubt, (is) guidance for the pious}. And in a hadith Qudsi, Allah says, “Oh my slaves, you are all astray except those whom I guide, so seek my guidance and I will guide you” [Reported in Muslim]

9. For us to die while reciting the Qur’an as Uthman (RadhiyAllahu ‘anhu) became a martyr whilst reciting the Qur’an. Ibn Kathir said, “Whoever lives upon something will die upon it, and whoever dies upon something will be resurrected upon it”. He based this on the verse in Surah Al-Jathiyah [45:21] {Do those who commit evil deeds really think that We will deal with them in the same way as those who believe and do righteous deeds, that they will be alike in their living and their dying? How badly they judge!}

10. For it to bring us closer to Allah by loving His words. The prophet (SallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “You are (on the day of judgement) with whom you love” [Reported in Muslim]

11. For it to increase our Iman. Allah says in Surah At-Tawbah [9:124] {And when a surah is revealed, some of them ask “which of you did this increase him in Iman?”. As for the ones who believe, it increased them in Iman and they rejoice}

12. So that we can increase in our knowledge of our Lord so that we can increase in showing humility before Him and manifesting our need for Him, so that we can rely on Him at all instances

13. For it to be a reason for Allah to make us from His people. The prophet (SallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “Allah has His people (from the creation)”. The sahaba asked, “Who are they?”. He (SallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) replied, “They are the people of the Qur’an. They are Allah’s people, and His close ones” [Declared Sahih by Al-Albanee]

14. For you to fulfil the purpose of the revelation of the Qur’an by contemplating on its verses and acting upon it. Allah says in Surah Sad [38:29] {A blessed book we have revealed to you so that they may ponder over its verses and so that it serves as a reminder for those with a heart}

15. From the greatest intentions that we can have and the most important one is to intend to this as an act of worship, as it was commanded and legislated by Allah. Allah says in Surah Al-Muzzamil [73:4] {And recite the Qur’an}

After reading all of this, have you ever asked yourself what your intention is when reading the Qur’an? And will you carry on constraining it to just one intention only?

[Much of this is a translation from an Arabic article]