First: To have a daily Wird (portion of recitation) from the Qur’an
One of the requirements of companionship is continuity. Whoever recites the Qur’an one day and abandons it for several other days is not a companion, even if he is a memorizer of the Qur’an. Whoever deals with the Qur’an only during Ramadan and abandons it throughout the rest of the year is not a companion of the Qur’an, even if he finishes reciting it 60 times. Companionship entails continuous adherence to the Qur’an. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Keep on reciting the Qur’an, for by Him in Whose Hand my life is, the Qur’an runs away (is forgotten) faster than camels that are released from their tying ropes.” [Al-Bukhaari]
Second: Pondering over the meanings of the Qur’an
Pondering over the Qur’an is a higher degree on the path of companionship, and implies knowing the secrets of the Qur’an. And the Qur’an does not reveal its secrets to the one who recites it while passing over its meanings without contemplation! Its secrets will only be revealed to the one who strengthens his relationship with the Qur’an; and the one who contemplates the Book of Allaah will find great meanings in it.
Third: Seclusion with the Qur’an
When will a person be considered a special friend? When one sits alone with him in times when no one else associates with him. The same applies to the companionship with the Qur’an. When you see a person specifying a time in his day or night for the Book of Allaah, such that he does not allow anything else to compete with it, then know that he has actualized one of the meanings of companionship with the Qur’an.
The best time for seclusion with the Qur’an is in the middle of the last part of the night. Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Muzzamil [73:6]:
إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْئًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا
“Verily, the rising by night (for Tahajjud prayer) is very hard and most potent and good for governing (the soul), and most suitable for (understanding) the Word (of Allaah).”
After He (Ta’ala) commanded the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in Verse 2:
قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
“Stand (to pray) all night, except a little.”
Specifying time to be alone with the Book of Allaah by the Muslim who accompanies the Qur’an is in fact one of the requirements of special companionship.
Fourth: To set the Qur’an as a criterion and mirror with which the person evaluates his state and actions.
Whoever accompanies the Qur’an will not be pleased except with the Qur’an to be the scale for his attitude, behavior, actions, and manners! He will not be pleased for other than the Qur’an to be a judge over him. He continually returns to it and evaluates all his affairs with it!
Whoever accompanies the Qur’an and his conduct becomes something that the Qur’an is distant from or he becomes attributed with attributes that do not conform to the guidance of the Qur’an, then it is necessary for him to re-assess the meaning of companionship which is between him and the Qur’an.
Do we not say: “The companion pulls his companion?” And do we not say: “Whoever accompanies someone will be affected by him?”
So no slave accompanies the Book of Allaah but will find the impact of this companionship on his faith, manners, worship, and in his relationship with his Lord, his family, and the people around him.
If one does not find the effect of the Qur’an on his behavior, actions, and statements, then he should review the relationship he has set up with the Qur’an.
Whoever accompanies good people will be affected by them, and whoever accompanies corrupt people will be affected by them. Then what about the one who accompanies the Qur’an, and finds joy in seclusion with it, and his heart is attached to it?
Fifth: Memorizing the Qur’an by Heart
This is the strongest handhold of companionship between a slave and the Qur’an. Therefore, we say that the memorizers of the Qur’an and its bearers are the most deserving of the companionship of the Qur’an amongst people. This is because the Book of Allaah is in their hearts; they do not need to take permission or wait for a special time. There is no barrier between them and the Qur’an. All they need to do is move their lips with recitation of the Qur’an; they do not need to perform Wudhu, or face the Qiblah, nor do they need a Mus-haf. The person may be lying on his side in bed or riding in his car or waiting in the crowd or engaged in something, and the Qur’an will be present with him!
Companionship is of degrees and relationship is also of ranks. Whoever intends to attain high degrees in his companionship with the Qur’an, and whoever longs for a strong, firm relationship with the Qur’an with which he is honored, let him hold fast to the key of special relationship with the Qur’an, which is memorization of it. Allaah will open gates (of knowledge) for him because the Haafidh (memorizer of the Qur’an) is the most able amongst people to compare verses with each other and have knowledge of the unclear verses, because he has memorized them. Perhaps his memorization may lead him to contemplate a verse and find out a secret or an amazing link with another verse, which makes him search for its meaning. Those other than the Haafidh may not have this opportunity.
Memorization of the Qur’an is a basic step in the path of accompanying the Qur’an. Those other than the Haafidh of the Qur’an may accompany the Qur’an and understand it, but if the Haafidh accompanies it, his companionship will be stronger and more firm, and his understanding is much better.
If memorizing the whole Qur’an is not made easy for a person, then he should at least make it a goal that he would like to achieve in his life, so that the Book of Allaah is in his heart, which will make him rejoice when he recites it on the Day when he meets Allaah, and it will be said to him: “Recite and ascend and recite in Tarteel (in a slow, melodious way) as you used to recite in the Dunya.”
He should memorize a Surah, a part of the Qur’an, a quarter of the Qur’an, or at least half of it, remembering the Day when the companion of the Qur’an will be greatly honored in front of all men and Jinn in that great place by Allaah.
Let one not give excuses of being old in age or busy with obligations. One should purify his intentions, take the means, and Allaah will write in his record of deeds according to how much he carries in his chest of true righteous intentions. If one dies and did not achieve his goal of memorizing the whole Qur’an, then it is enough for him that he had a truthful intention. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever asks Allaah for martyrdom with truth and sincerity, Allaah will raise him to the high status of the martyrs, even if he dies on his bed.” [Muslim]
Source:
📚 Musaahabah al-Qur’an by Shaikh Hasan Bukhaari
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