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Mahmoud Khaleel Al-Husary

Ibn Kathir (Abridged)

Indonesian Islamic Affairs Ministry

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Have you ever wanted to deepen your connection with the Quran by focusing on one verse at a time? Join Dr. Sohaib Saeed in &quot;How to Explore the Quran&quot;, a series of 8 mini-lessons which show you how the resources at Quran.com can help you on your journey of knowledge and life enrichment.
Topics Covered:
<ul>
<li>How to utilize the resources on Quran.com</li>
<li>How to start your journey even if you don’t know Arabic</li>
<li>How to use Quran.com to reflect</li>
<li>And more!</li>
</ul>
Ready to embark on a journey that transforms the way you engage with the Quran? Begin today! We will help you track your progress until you’re done.
We'd love to hear your feedback: <a href="mailto:learningplans@quran.com">learningplans@quran.com</a>

heba

moamen

mohamed

There are different ways to read the Quran, and at different times we might focus more on either quantity or quality.
It is often emphasized that there is reward for reciting every letter of the Quran, so we seek maximum reward by reciting more and more (or reading through the translation).
But have you ever thought about how rewards are multiplied? Spending that same time pondering over one or a few ayat (verses) could bring about as much reward as getting to the end of the surah (chapter).
What’s more, it’s by taking the time to appreciate the meaning of that ayah (literally: a sign from God), and by connecting and reflecting on it, that we will see genuine change in our lives and reach higher levels of faith and practice. This is both an earthly reward and the real aim for our afterlives!
<h3>“By taking the time to appreciate the meaning of that ayah (literally: a sign from God), and by connecting and reflecting on it, we will see genuine change in our lives and reach higher levels of faith and practice.” Dr. Sohaib Saeed</h3>
Quran.com
On Quran.com, we have Reading Mode (in Arabic page format) as well as Translation Mode (ayah by ayah). Whichever you use, we are inviting you to give extra thought to quality reading, even though quantity has its value as well.
<img src="https://images.quran.com/how-to-explore-the-quran%2Freading_mode.png" alt="" />
In this Learning Plan, we will highlight some ways to make best use of the resources on this website, while touching on some key principles in engaging with the Quran.

Slow Down, Dive Deeper

It is very important to recognize that every individual ayah (verse) has a context that lies behind it. In fact, there are two types of context which are particularly important:
(a) What was happening in the society where it was revealed, and any specific event during which it was sent down. This kind of material is reflected in the “Asbab al-nuzul (occasions of revelation)” narrations found in works of Tafsir (Quranic exegesis). We will come back to this later.
(b) The surrounding ayat, the broader passage and discussion, and the whole surah (chapter). Before diving deeper into a particular ayah, you should read around it so you get a clearer sense of its basic point. To whom is it speaking, primarily?
<h3>“It is very important to recognize that every individual ayah (verse) has a context that lies behind it.” Dr. Sohaib Saeed</h3>
If the context is critique of the Meccan disbelievers, that helps you understand it – but you could still find something relevant to yourself by reflecting on the ayah.
It is also possible that the ayah contains some meanings (identified by scholars) or implications (felt by anybody) which go beyond its initial context. As long as these do not conflict with its proper, contextual meaning, they can be valid. This applies especially to the broadest expressions of divine wisdom which I call “Quranic Maxims”.

Focus vs. Context

A scholar who writes an authoritative commentary on the Quran is called a “mufassir (exegete)”. I like to think of these scholars as “explorers and explainers” of the Quran.
<h3>“I like to think of these scholars as “explorers and explainers” of the Quran.” Dr. Sohaib Saeed</h3>
Before they come to put their insights into words, the experts have to go on their own adventure to access the depths of revealed meaning. Then we as non-experts have our own ways to explore the ayah, and that includes benefiting from the work of the scholars.
“What is the first step?”
As we mentioned before, the first step is to get a sense of the context. What point is this ayah making within the surrounding passage?
<h3>“The first step is to get a sense of the context.  What point is this ayah making within the surrounding passage?” Dr. Sohaib Saeed</h3>
Then we can look into some of the historical background, and what has been said in more detail about its meaning, including where there are several opinions. We should think about what this ayah says about our own lives and our surroundings in the modern day, and what we need to do to align ourselves with the guidance it contains.
<h3>“We should think about what this ayah says about our own lives and our surroundings in the modern day, and what we need to do to align ourselves with the guidance it contains.” Dr. Sohaib Saeed</h3>
Before we can do any of this, we first need to be able to read the ayah! So let’s think about language.

Exploring an Ayah

You might already be familiar with the Arabic language of the Quran, which we will discuss in the next section. But for many people, their familiarity is only with the letters and pronunciation, so what I will say here is very relevant and extremely crucial.
The Quran is a message sent by the Almighty to guide us. It goes without saying that this guidance only happens when we understand the message, either in its original language or with the help of translations.
<h3>“The Quran is a message sent by the Almighty to guide us. It goes without saying that this guidance only happens when we understand the message, either in its original language or with the help of translations.” Dr. Sohaib Saeed</h3>
“Will I be rewarded for reading the translation of the Quran?”
It is absolutely a rewardable act to read the translation of the Quran (any reliable one in any language), even though it is only a reflection of the Revealed Text. What translation does is convey the basic meaning; and if you cannot understand the Quran without it, it becomes obligatory for you.
Quran.com
What you can do in Translation Mode on Quran.com is look together at the Arabic text of the Quran (or a transliteration which helps you read it in Roman letters if you can’t read Arabic) and one or more translations into whichever languages you understand.
<img src="https://images.quran.com/how-to-explore-the-quran%2Fsettings.png" alt="" />
<img src="https://images.quran.com/how-to-explore-the-quran%2Ftranslation.png" alt="" />
From the Settings, you can choose (in English) from some of the classic translations from early in the twentieth century, or some which use more up-to-date language. Some are more literal, versus those which make for smoother reading. There are some which come with detailed footnotes so you can get more context and information without having to access the Tafsir sources.
As a starting point, it makes sense to select one translation that you’re comfortable with, but you can explore further by choosing a few to compare. This will open up doors to the language of the ayah, and make you wonder why the translators sometimes follow different interpretations. [Future tools at Quran.com will help answer those questions!]

Translations

Reading Mode at Quran.com is specially designed to enable a smooth Arabic reading experience, together with the range of recitations which are available to play in audio.
No doubt, connecting with the original language of the Quran is the optimal experience for anyone who has the opportunity! You can explore further through Arabic resources on Quran.com, but don’t overlook the value of translations and content in additional languages you understand.
We should all aspire to learn Arabic as much as we can, to bypass our need for translations and to gain access to particular types of Quran reflection which are based on the nuances of its wording. Look out for courses and resources for structured learning of the language.
“Where should I start if I don’t know Arabic?”
Here at Quran.com, a starting point can be to read the Arabic text alongside your native language, and pick up on vocabulary and even some basic grammar in this practical context. You can also use the tooltip to display the meaning of individual words. [We are looking to expand the Arabic learning possibilities on our site.]
<img src="https://images.quran.com/how-to-explore-the-quran%2Ftooltip.png" alt="" />
<img src="https://images.quran.com/how-to-explore-the-quran%2Ftooltip_view.png" alt="" />
For every believer, the connection with an ayah is enhanced by reciting it over and over, and even to memorize it along with its surah if possible. Embedding the Quran in your heart is pure spiritual enrichment, and saving its words in your mind will make it easier to keep coming back to reflect more deeply on its application to your life.
<h3>“Embedding the Quran in your heart is pure spiritual enrichment, and saving its words in your mind will make it easier to keep coming back to reflect more deeply on its application to your life.” Dr. Sohaib Saeed</h3>

The Arabic Quran

As we said earlier, the Quran experts are “explorers and explainers” of the Quran. They share with the rest of us in the first part (diving into the world of the Quran), but then we depend on them to provide authoritative explanations based on an established range of scholarly tools.
Quran.com
Here on Quran.com, you can access several works of Tafsir (scholarly exegesis) in Arabic and other languages. [This collection is set to grow, and we will also reorganize the material to better reflect the fact that those scholars were providing answers to questions about the Quran’s meaning.]
<img src="https://images.quran.com/how-to-explore-the-quran%2Ftafsir.png" alt="" />
You can also find a growing bank of Lessons (within the Reflections category) which come from contemporary teachers of the Quran. These are more about the things which we should learn from the ayah, with some connection to its established meanings.
It is definitely worthwhile to dip into these explanatory resources. A few things to note about the Tafsir texts available:
<ol>
<li>They can range from very simple to quite complex, and there may be points of debate which highlight the openness of the Quranic text to different interpretations. Whenever the meaning was made clear by the Prophet (on whom be peace), the Companions or the consensus of the scholars, this will be provided.</li>
<li>Classical works were not generally written for a lay readership, and they are not always ideally suited to being translated. The translations we feature of Arabic or Urdu works are sometimes abridged, and may contain inaccuracies. [This situation will be overhauled in the near future.]</li>
</ol>

Tafsir and Lessons

By clicking on the speech bubble icon, you can access selected reflections not only from recognized teachers, but from ordinary people whose posts have been approved by the scholar review team at <a href="https://quranreflect.com/">QuranReflect.com</a>
<img src="https://images.quran.com/how-to-explore-the-quran%2Freflection.png" alt="" />
The aim is to help you encounter fresh and unique perspectives on each ayah, beyond what is discussed by scholars in terms of its meanings and rulings. The act of reflection is called “tadabbur” and this is something every believer (and even skeptics) are called to do.
Your exploration of the ayah should not stop at the technical meanings, but you can draw upon a range of techniques (summarized for you within the “Five Lenses to Reflect on the Quran” Learning Plan on Quran.com) to make a meaningful, personal connection.
“How can I use Quran.com to reflect?
The tools on Quran.com facilitate some of the routes to reflection: for example, to look closely at the words of the ayah, and ponder on why those particular words, in that order, were chosen to express the meaning. The Lens of Connections can be supported by our search features. [Topic tags and cross-references will soon be added.]
Our Tafsir resources can help you delve into the “Quranic Worlds” – both the society in which the Book was revealed, and those which it refers to in its purposeful stories. However, you should be ready to look beyond the Tafsir genre to find out more from the works of history, and indeed of science – to help explore the world of creation described in so many ayat.
“How can Lessons and Reflections help me?”
The Lessons category (within Reflections) will help you ponder the relevance of the ayah to our world today, and to your own life. But this doesn’t take away the need to delve into your own soul, and your own experiences, to see how the Quran holds up a mirror to your reality, and mine. Reflection is, at its heart, a deeply personal journey.
<h3>“Reflection is, at its heart, a deeply personal journey.” Dr. Sohaib Saeed</h3>
Once you feel inspired, you can start sharing your own reflections via <a href="https://quranreflect.com/">QuranReflect.com</a>

Reflections

All of this exploration of the ayah and seeking its depths is of no use unless it affects our life, outlook and behavior. The Book of Guidance is not for mere curiosity: it demands devotion and obedience.
<h3>“The Book of Guidance is not for mere curiosity: it demands devotion and obedience.” Dr. Sohaib Saeed</h3>
The Prophet’s ﷺ Companions described their practice as learning only a small passage at the time, and applying its various forms of guidance before moving onto the next. Quality over quantity.
This is in fact how we will most connect with the verses of the Quran, when we start to make them a reality in our lives. After all, the Prophet (on whom be peace) was described as a “walking Quran” – to the extent that this could be seen in his noble character and treatment of all people.
Let’s make the Quran the center and definition of our lives. Let’s use the intelligence, free time, and open resources God has provided us to study His Word and draw closer to Him, bettering ourselves and earning His pleasure.
<h3>“Let’s make the Quran the center and definition of our lives. Let’s use the intelligence, free time, and open resources God has provided us to study His Word and draw closer to Him, bettering ourselves and earning His pleasure.” Dr. Sohaib Saeed</h3>
And may He make Quran.com and its companions sites and apps a means to bring people together to share established knowledge and creative insights about the Quran in the world we live in today.
To learn more, visit: <a href="https://quran.com/about-the-quran">“About the Quran”</a>

Living the Quran

Learn how to explore the Quran and deepen your connection. This short  Learning Plan will show you how the resources at Quran.com can help you on your journey.

How to Explore the Quran

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