Pondering on the Quran

Chapter 38 of the Quran tells us: “This is a blessed Book which We sent down to you (Muhammad), for people to ponder over its messages, and for those with understanding to take heed.” (38:29)

Pondering, in this verse, means deep thinking. Such thinking in actual fact is a special way of using one’s mind. This means that the Quran has to be read with an open mind, for one can find intellectual food through contemplation rather than by mere recitation.

The right method of studying the Quran is to read the Quran by using one’s mind and not just by recitation. Similarly, when one reads a portion of the Quran in prayer one should do so with an open mind.

When a person reads the Quran in this way, it will repeatedly happen that he will be struck by some word or verse of the Quran. On such occasions, he should pause and reflect on this. In this way, he will receive intellectual food from the Quran.

For instance, when you read the Quran, you will come across this verse: “And for their words God will reward them with Gardens through which rivers flow, wherein they shall abide forever. That is the reward of those who do good.” (5:85)

When you read this verse you will be reminded of this hadith: “Whoever said there is no god but God will enter heaven.” (Musnad al-Bazzar, Hadith No. 10080)

This will make you think about what the relation is between the two. Then, upon reflection, this point will become clear to you that the “words” mentioned in the hadith have been explained in the Quran. That is, the “words” for which one has been promised Paradise, means words of deep realization of the truth and not just the utterance of a particular word. This is called contemplation.