5 Ways to Engage with the Qur'an in Ramadan

Ramadan is around the corner, and some of us may not have touched a mushaf since last Ramadan. Maybe even longer. This is the month to change that. This article will present 5 different ways you can engage with the Qur’an to better your relationship with it.

The most important thing to keep in mind is how you shape your relationship with the Qur’an moving forward. Do not fall into the trap of Shaytan and think that by suddenly trying to reconnect with the Qur’an you are somehow insincere or faking it. To be given the blessing of living to see Ramadan means we need to take advantage of it, and its special relationship with the Book of Allah.

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ

It was in the month of Ramadan that the Quran was revealed as guidance for mankind, clear messages giving guidance and distinguishing between right and wrong (2:185).

1. Read

وَرَتِّلِ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ تَرْتِيلًا

Recite the Quran slowly and distinctly (73:4).

The simplest way to engage with the Qur’an is to recite it. Set a goal for how much you want to read in Ramadan (ideally complete an entire recitation), and then identify an amount you can read daily after the month is over. It might be one verse, one page, or more than that. Do as much as you can in Ramadan, and then scale back to something you can stay consistent with on a daily basis no matter what.

Purely reciting the Qur’an is full of blessings. There are 10 hasanat (rewards) for every letter recited.

If you are struggling to recite the Qur’an, make this the month that you rectify that. You might be starting with learning the letters, their correct pronunciations, or struggling to read fluently without stumbling over the words. For such a person, the Prophet (s) promised a double reward for persevering through to read. As for the one who has mastered its recitation, they will be in the company of the angels.

2. Reflect

كِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَـٰرَكٌۭ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوٓا۟ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ

This is a blessed Book which We have revealed to you (O Prophet) so that they may contemplate its verses, and people of reason may be mindful (38:29).

While recitation alone is a source of blessing, to take heed of the guidance of the Qur’an requires our reflection upon it. One way of doing this is to start by reading a translation of the Qur’an. For every page you read, note one lesson you take away. It may be something you can act upon, or something that causes you to think differently. Avoid the trap of thinking about how what you are reading applies to other people. Stay focused on finding one thing you yourself can implement and write it down.

3. Listen

وَإِذَا قُرِئَ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ فَٱسْتَمِعُوا۟ لَهُۥ وَأَنصِتُوا۟ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

When the Quran is recited, listen to it attentively and be silent, so you may be shown mercy (7:204).

Some people make it a goal to hear the recitation of the entire Qur’an during taraweeh prayers. This is an amazing and noble goal, but not necessarily within reach for everyone.

Look for ways to listen to the Qur’an more in Ramadan. Listen to the Qur’an while commuting, or when you have headphones on while doing household chores. You can even livestream the taraweeh prayers from the Haram on TV.

Even the Prophet (s) loved to hear others recite the Qur’an.

4. Heal

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌۭ وَرَحْمَةٌۭ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًۭا

We send down the Quran as a healing and mercy for the believers, but it only increases the wrongdoers in loss (17:82).

Everyone is going through some type of difficulty. The Qur’an is a healing for the body and the soul. Seek refuge and comfort in your recitation of the Qur’an. The Prophet (s) used to supplicate, “make the Qur'an the spring of my heart, and the light of my chest, the banisher of my sadness, and the reliever of my distress.”

5. Memorize

The Prophet (s) said, “It will be said to the companion of the Quran: Recite and ascend as you recited in the world. Verily, your rank is determined by the last verse you recite (Tirmidhi).”

The more you memorize, the higher you ascend. If you have not memorized anything new in years, start with something easy and familiar, such as the last two ayaat of Surah Baqarah. If you have not yet memorized Surah Mulk, Ramadan is a great opportunity. The surah is 30 ayaat (so you can memorize one per day) and its daily recitation protects from the punishment of the grave.

If there is a certain part of the Qur’an you feel attached to and want to memorize, then do that. The goal is to find some way to increase the amount of Qur’an you know by heart.

See also: 3 Steps to Reconnect with the Qur’an in Ramadan After a Year of Disconnect