SIx Virtues of the Qur’an

What are the virtues of the Qur'an?

Point 1: The Qur'an is our guidance.

Allah says,

فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدًۭى فَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَىٰ

“Then when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray ˹in this life˺ nor suffer ˹in the next˺.”

If we look at the Qur’an, we can understand that it is “huda” (guidance) for all. Allah also says,

ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًۭى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

“This is the Book! There is no doubt about it—a guide for those mindful ˹of Allah˺”

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ

“Ramaḍân is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the decisive authority.”

The Qur’an should live in our hearts, minds, and souls, present in every aspect of our lives.

Point 2: The Qur'an is guidance not only for humans, but for the jinn as well.

• قُلْ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ أَنَّهُ ٱسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ فَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْءَانًا عَجَبًۭا يَهْدِىٓ إِلَى ٱلرُّشْدِ فَـَٔامَنَّا بِهِۦ ۖ وَلَن نُّشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَآ أَحَدًۭا

• وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَآ إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوٓا۟ أَنصِتُوا۟ ۖ فَلَمَّا قُضِىَ وَلَّوْا۟ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِم مُّنذِرِينَ

• قَالُوا۟ يَـٰقَوْمَنَآ إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا كِتَـٰبًا أُنزِلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مُوسَىٰ مُصَدِّقًۭا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ يَهْدِىٓ إِلَى ٱلْحَقِّ وَإِلَىٰ طَرِيقٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ

Point 3: The Qur'an offers help for everything we go through in life.

It was sent to strengthen the Prophet ﷺ and to strengthen us. When you read the Qur'an in the midst of hardship, you will find something in it to help you stay strong. Consider this verse:

وَفِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ

“In heaven is your sustenance and whatever you are promised."

Whoever reads this verse should never grieve over a deal that fell through, a business that failed, or a job they didn't get — Allah tells us that our provision (rizq) is already written, so why be upset over what was never meant for us? As the Prophet ﷺ reminded us, elsewhere in the Qur'an: فَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَىٰ — that whoever follows His guidance will neither go astray nor suffer.

Allah also says:

مَآ أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ إِلَّا فِى كِتَـٰبٍ مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّبْرَأَهَآ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ

“No calamity ˹or blessing˺ occurs on earth or in yourselves without being ˹written˺ in a Record before We bring it into being. This is certainly easy for Allah."

If you fall ill, are in an accident, lose your home to a fire, or lose someone you love, remember this verse: Allah had already written this for you, and He will reward you for your patience.

We are human, and we will feel sad at times — Allah placed these emotions within us, and Islam does not ask us to suppress them. Even the Prophet ﷺ experienced 'aam al-huzn (the Year of Sorrow) when he lost his wife and his uncle, yet he remained strong and content with what Allah had decreed.

You may feel sadness, but strive to be content with what Allah has given you. The Qur'an helps us stay on the right path and remain strong.

Point 4: Anything the Qur'an touches becomes special.

Allah says, “Indeed, ˹it is˺ We ˹Who˺ sent this ˹Quran˺ down on the Night of Glory.”

Allah also says, “Ramaḍân is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the decisive authority."

Laylat al-Qadr is special because the Qur'an was revealed in it. Ramadan is special for the same reason.

The Prophet's ﷺ enduring miracle until the end of time is the Qur'an, and it is one of the greatest honors given to this ummah.

If everything the Qur'an touches becomes special, then a person who holds onto the Qur'an — and is held onto by it — becomes special too, both to Allah and to the ummah. Always reflect on how the Qur'an can make you a better, more meaningful person.

Point 5: The Prophet ﷺ complained that the Qur'an would be abandoned (mahjura).

وَقَالَ ٱلرَّسُولُ يَـٰرَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِى ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ مَهْجُورًۭا

“The Messenger has cried, “O my Lord! My people have indeed received this Quran with neglect.”

A portion of this ummah would abandon the Qur'an — neither engaging with it nor trying to understand it.

Mahjura may also describe reading the Qur'an with the lips while it never reaches the heart or translates into action. Ask yourself: could this describe you?

To avoid being among those the Prophet ﷺ was complaining about, we must read the Qur'an, understand it, and put it into practice — striving to become people of the Qur'an (ahl al-Qur'an).

Point 6: There are many ahadith on the virtues of the Qur'an.

• Whoever recites a letter of the Qur'an [receives a reward for it].

• Whoever recites the Qur'an and is proficient in it [will be with the noble, righteous angels].

• Recite the Qur'an, for it will come on the Day of Judgment [interceding for its companions].

May Allah make us among those defended by the Qur'an on the Day of Judgment, with it standing on our side.