The Best Time to Study the Qur’an

The Qur’an is the holy book of Islam which is a source of Islamic Sharia. The Qur’an is a holy book that must be studied by all Muslims so as to be able to carry out what is commanded and take lessons from everything explained about good and bad in the life of the world hereafter.

Parents often teach their children to learn the Qur’an from childhood, even since the womb with the hope that the child they have been carried knows early on. There are some benefits to read the Qur’an for pregnant women such as giving the convenience to learn and practice to the children ever since they were born

This is also done to prevent a condition where Muslims cannot read. Not understanding the Qur’an is certainly a disadvantage because they do not understand the meaningful content in it and cannot add good deeds to themselves. As a result, it can be a cause for them to end up in the hell. Therefore, it is important to know when is the best time to study the Qur’an so that it can give full benefit and goodness to the world of the hereafter.

1. Ever Since in the Womb

• The Fetus Can Hear and Feel Life Outside and There are Prayers for Newborns in Islam

According to the latest scientific research, a child can be educated since he was in the womb, because during the womb, a child’s brain and sense of hearing have begun to develop. They can feel what is happening outside their lives, while affecting the baby’s brain and sense of hearing the content includes the emotions and mental state of the mother, such as the sound stimuli that occur around the mother.

Babies are able to feel the chanting of the Qur’an so it is necessary to introduce the basis of Islamic law.

When the mother reads the verses of the Qur’an while stroking the elbow wall of her stomach, then in fact the baby in the womb also hears the chanting of the Qur’an while feeling the sensation of the vibration. And in some conditions, the baby replies to the vibration so that later it will be easy to learn the Qur’an.

• Add a Sense of Faith

If this is done repeatedly, then the word of God: QS. Al Anfal: 2 “The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely.”

When the womb is five months old or equivalent to 20 weeks, the ability of a child in the womb to feel the stimulus has developed quite well so that the education and learning process can be started or done.

• The Qur’an is the Best Stimulus for the Fetus

The science of psychology also states that a child who is in the womb can feel stimuli from the outside. The way they feel the stimulation is through sounds that occurs around their environment. If this habit continues to be done, then a child will become more familiar with the Qur’an. If he is familiar with the Qur’an, to learn, to understand, and to read it will come easier.

2. Since the Early Age

• Learning at an Early Age is Easier and Faster

Learning Arabic (Language in the Quran) cannot be done in one night. Instead, it must be slowly studied since childhood. As with the saying that exists, “Learning in childhood is like carving on a rock, while learning in the big time is like carving on sand.”

The purpose of the saying above is that learning in childhood is easier and more lasting. Because when you were little, children easily remember what they have learned. This is supported by the condition of the growth and development of the child’s brain; meanwhile old people tend to forget more easily.

• Righteous Child

Every parent must want his baby to be righteous. One that must be taught to children is everything about the Qur’an, because the Qur’an is a guideline for human life. Teaching the Qur’an to children can make them feel close to their life guidelines and to God.

The messenger of Allah said: “Educate your children with three things: love your Prophet, love his superstition, and read the Qur’an because those who maintain the Qur’an are in the ambience of Allah on the day when there is no protection.” (Narrated by Ath Thabrani)

• Learning the Qur’an From an Early Age Helps Brain Development

Teaching the Qur’an to children from childhood can foster development in thinking. If this activity is carried out continuously, it will increase knowledge of the child about the Qur’an by memorizing, writing, listening, and reading the Qur’an.

In introducing the Qur’an, it can be done by showing the Qur’an to children before they get to know other books, especially interesting books such as comics and magazines. Knowing the Qur’an can also be done by introducing the letter hijaiyyah first. If it is done continuously, it will make the child want to know more so that it can help facilitate the introduction of the Qur’an.

• Done Step by Step

Teaching the Qur’an to children does not have to be direct but also with an interesting stage, so that the child does not have boredom in learning the Qur’an. Even though there are many difficulties in studying the Qur’an, parents can start explaining it so that the child understands the contents of Al Qur’an. For example, listening to verses in the Qur’an can be done directly or by playing a cassette so the child can listen to it well without any other obstacles.

• Learn It Anywhere

Listening to the Qur’an can make it easier for children to memorize it, because memorizing the Qur’an also starts from listening, so it is not difficult to teach the Qur’an to children. If the learning activities are carried out continuously, it will help add the knowledge of the reading that they hear.

Listening to the Qur’an can be done anytime and anywhere because this activity is not very difficult to do. Besides, it can also be an entertainment.

3. Keep on Studying at the Adult Age

• Do Not Forget the Qur’an Because of Worldly Activity

Do not let the excuse of being busy or many other activities make us forget to read the Qur’an, because the true calm and tranquility can be obtained from the Qur’an and we need that serenity at adult age. This is based on the word of Allah, “Remember only by remembering Allah is the heart to be peaceful.” (Surah Ar Ra’d: 28)

From Abdullah bin Mas’ud Radiallohu ‘Anhu Rasululloh Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam said, “Whoever reads one letter from the Qur’an then for him is the tenfold of goodness, I do not say Alif Lam Mim as one letter, because Alif is one letter, Lam is one letter, and Mim is also one letter.” 

Even being envy of those who have practiced the Qur’an is permissible. From Ibn Umar Radiallohu ‘Anhu who narrated from the Prophet Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Wassallam said, “Envy should not be applied to anyone except to two people, someone who was blessed with the Qur’an and then practiced it all night and all day and someone who was blessed with Allah treasure then he infused it all night and all day.” 

The messenger of Allah once said, “The example of a Muslim who reads the Qur’an is like oranges, smells good and tastes delicious, while believers who do not read the Qur’an are like dates that have no smell and taste sweet. The hypocritical that reads the Qur’an is like a basil that smells sweet and tastes bitter, whereas a hypocrite who does not read the Qur’an is like a pumpkin that does not smell good and tastes bitter.”

• Continue to Study the Qur’an Will Keep the God Close

Whoever contemplates His word, then they will know their Lord, will know its virtue compared to other believers, and will realize their obligation to worship until they always try to maintain that obligation. They will be careful of what is prohibited by God and love what He loves. (Also read: 10 Tips to Getting Closer to Quran).

Whoever has such characteristics, when reading the Qur’an and when listening to it, the Qur’an will be the antidote to their heart. They will feel quite without wealth, noble without difficulty, gentle in responding to people who are rude to them.

People who have such characteristics, when they start reading a letter illustrated in their mind is the extent to which they can take lessons from what they read. The goal is to read the Qur’an not only to understand it but also to understand Allah’s commands and take lessons from Him.

Reading the Qur’an is worship so it is not appropriate to read it with an empty heart negligent, and Allah Ta’ala is very helpful towards such. Also, do not forget that there are etiquettes of reading the Qur’an.