The Relationship of the Righteous Predecessors with the Quran
First: The Attitude of the Ancestors Towards the Quran in Recitation and Reflection
The early generations of Muslims exhibited immense diligence in contemplating and understanding the verses of the Quran. Whenever they encountered a verse that contained a command from Allah or His Messenger, they would comply immediately without hesitation or inquiry. They sought refuge in the Quran during both joyous and sorrowful moments of their lives. If one of them was reproached using the Quran, he would promptly repent and correct his mistakes.
One of them would often pause at verses of warning, feeling as if the admonitions were directed specifically at him, reflecting his piety and reverence. For instance, when Thabit ibn Qais encountered the verse: (O you who have believed, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet and do not speak loudly to him as you speak loudly to one another, lest your deeds become worthless while you perceive not.)
Thabit – may Allah be pleased with him – recognized that he had raised his voice while conversing with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which caused him great anxiety. This compulsion led him to isolate himself until the Prophet (peace be upon him) assured him of his place in Paradise. An account related by Al-Bukhari through Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) mentions: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) noticed the absence of Thabit ibn Qais, and someone said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I know where he is.’ He went to find Thabit, who was sitting at home with his head down. The man asked, ‘What is wrong with you?'”
Thabit replied, “I have done wrong; I raised my voice above that of the Prophet (peace be upon him). My deeds are in vain, and I fear I am destined for the Fire.” The man returned to inform Thabit of the message, and the Prophet – peace be upon him – later assured him, “Go to him and say, ‘You are not among the inhabitants of the Fire, but among the inhabitants of Paradise.'”
Second: The Ancestors’ Commitment to Preserving the Quran
The righteous predecessors placed great emphasis on memorizing the Quran and imparting it to their children. Their efforts went beyond mere memorization of the words; they sought to embody its knowledge and principles through their actions. They prioritized teaching their children from a young age to instill in them its ethical values and character formation.
In a notable dialogue, Siraj spoke to Al-Shafi’i, saying, “O Abu Abdullah, these are the children of the Commander of the Faithful, and this is their tutor; you should advise him on their upbringing.” Al-Shafi’i responded, “Begin by correcting yourself, for their eyes are fixed upon you. What you find commendable, they will learn to admire, and what you see as reprehensible, they will come to dislike. Teach them the Book of Allah, but do not burden them in a way that causes them to grow weary or drift away from it.” It is reported that Al-Shafi’i and Sahl ibn Abdullah al-Tustari completed their memorization of the Quran by the age of six or seven.
Examples Illustrating the Ancestors’ Relationship with the Quran
Al-Hasan ibn Salih ibn Hay
Al-Hasan had a twin brother, and both were brought up with a strong foundation of piety, good morals, and a love for the Quran. They would divide their nights between prayer and recitation of the Quran, with Al-Hasan reading one-third, followed by his brother reading one-third, and then their mother would read the remainder. Upon their mother’s passing, they shared the responsibility of Quranic recitation until the death of Al-Hasan’s brother, after which he continued this practice alone.
Baqi ibn Mukhallad
Baqi ibn Mukhallad had a profound love for the Quran, reportedly reciting a sixth of it after the Dawn prayer. He would complete a full recitation both day and night through his prayers. Additionally, it is noted that he would often go to the mosque in the last third of the night, reading from the Quran until dawn, a practice he diligently maintained until his passing.
Imam Yahya ibn Sharaf al-Nawawi
Imam al-Nawawi was known for prioritizing his recitation of the Quran over playing with his peers from a young age. Even when his father engaged him to help sell goods in his shop, he remained committed to his Quranic recitation and was not distracted by the business. His commitment to the Quran bore fruit in his life, as he became one of the outstanding scholars of his time.