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Studying the Qur'an with Gabriel "Peace be Upon Him"
Author : Dr. Abdallah Rabab'ah
Date Added : 23-10-2024

Studying the Qur'an with Gabriel "Peace be Upon Him"

 

Mufti Dr. Abdallah Rabab'ah

 

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and the best blessings and the most complete peace be upon our Master Muhammad, and upon his family and all of his companions. 

Gabriel (peace be upon him) used to study the Qur’an with the Prophet (PBUH). Among these meetings were those that occurred during the month of Ramadan and while fasting, where the Prophet (peace be upon him) had reviews and reflections on the Book of Allah in the presence of Gabriel. The secret behind choosing Ramadan for this study is because Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an. Allah the Almighty said (What means): "The month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed, as a guidance for people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion" [Al-Baqarah/185]. It is mentioned in a hadith from Al-Bukhari narrated by Abu Huraira that: "Gabriel used to review the Qur'an with him." The term "review" here means that Gabriel would study with him all the portions of the Qur'an that had been revealed up to that time.

This studying of the Qur’an brought many benefits, as described by Imam Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him), who said: "Studying the Qur'an renews for him (the Prophet) a bond of greater richness of the soul, and such richness is a reason for generosity. Generosity in the Sharia refers to giving what is due to those who are entitled to it, and it is more comprehensive than charity. Moreover, Ramadan is a season of blessings, as Allah’s gifts to His servants increase in it more than in any other time. Therefore, the Prophet (PBUH) sought to follow Allah’s Sunna with His servants. With the combination of time, revelation, the one who descends (Gabriel), and the mutual study, the Prophet’s generosity increased."

This generosity was particularly evident in Ramadan when Gabriel met with the Prophet (PBUH). Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was the most generous of people, and he was most generous during Ramadan when Gabriel would meet him every night and study the Qur'an with him. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was more generous than the wind that is sent forth (in spreading goodness)." [Ahmad]. The hadith indicates many benefits, including:

The significance of Ramadan, as it was specified for the beginning of the Qur'an's revelation, followed by the review of what had been revealed during this month. This necessitates the frequent descent of Gabriel during this time, and with his frequent descent, an abundance of blessings and goodness comes.

From this, we learn that the virtue of a time is gained through an increase in worship during it. Also, the continuous recitation of the Qur’an increases goodness.

It shows the recommendation of increasing acts of worship at the end of life, engaging in mutual study of good and knowledge with a virtuous person, even if he already knows it, as a means of increased reminder and reflection.

It indicates that the nights of Ramadan are better than its days, and that the purpose of recitation is presence of heart and understanding, as the night is the best time for this due to the distractions of the day.

Ibn Al-Jawzi explained the Prophet’s condition and his increased generosity in Ramadan, saying: "His generosity increased in Ramadan for five reasons: The first is that it is a virtuous month, and the reward for charity is multiplied in it, as are other acts of worship." Al-Zuhri said: "One Tasbeeh (glorification of Allah) in Ramadan is better than a thousand Tasbeeh outside of it." The second is that it is the month of fasting, and giving charity helps people with their breaking of the fast and pre-dawn meals. The third is that Allah’s generosity increases during it, as it is mentioned in a hadith that a believer’s sustenance is increased in Ramadan, and that Allah frees a thousand people from the fire each day. The Prophet loved to match his Lord’s Generosity. The fourth is that the frequent generosity was in gratitude for Gabriel's repeated visits every night. The fifth is that his studying the Qur’an every night with Gabriel caused him to have a greater vision of the Hereafter, so he gave away what was in his hands from worldly possessions.”

Gabriel (PBUH) used to visit him every year and review with him what had been revealed. In the year the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away, Gabriel reviewed it with him twice, as established in the hadith narrated by Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her). This indicates the increasing rank of the Prophet in knowledge and closeness to Allah, especially with the mutual study of the Qur'an.

The scholar Al-Zubaidi mentioned several benefits from this hadith, including: "The Prophet’s generosity in Ramadan surpassed his generosity at other times, and the purpose of his studying the Qur’an with Gabriel was to compare and confirm what had been revealed to ensure the preservation and accuracy of the text. This is why it was reviewed twice in his final year."

Thus, fasting individuals should reflect on the wisdom behind Gabriel's review of the Qur'an with the Prophet twice, and they should also beware of neglecting the recitation of the Qur'an, which is unfortunately observed in people’s behavior after Ramadan.

We are, however, encouraged by the increasing attention people are giving to learning, memorizing, and reflecting on the Qur'an, and the hastening to complete its recitation with understanding. Some people complete the Qur'an once in Ramadan, while others do so every week. Let them be among those who compete in good deeds.

In addition, we say: Indeed, these people are on a great reward, and they have immense goodness, but they should not abandon the Qur'an after Ramadan, for Allah condemned those who forsake it. Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "And the Messenger has said: "O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur'an as [a thing] abandoned." [Al-Furqan/30].

As for those who read the Qur'an throughout the year, they are the people of the Qur'an, the people of Allah and His chosen ones. They are the followers of the noble Prophet in studying and teaching the Qur'an, as was done between Gabriel and our beloved Prophet (PBUH).

A Muslim must be devoted to the Qur'an, reciting it as it should be recited, adhering to its lawful and unlawful rulings, acting upon its clear verses, believing in its ambiguous ones, pondering over its marvels, and applying its lessons and stories. The Qur'an was revealed to be acted upon and implemented, although reciting it is itself an act of worship with reward.

We ask Allah The Almighty to help us all make the most of the month of the Qur’an, as He commanded us, where He Says (What means): "Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allah and establish prayer and spend from what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, [can] hope for a transaction [with Allah] that will never perish." [Fatir/29]. All praise is due to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds.

 

The published article reflects the opinion of its author

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Summarized Fatawaa

When is it Sunnah to slaughter the 'aqīqah?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is Sunnah for the 'aqīqah to be slaughtered on the seventh day from the birth of the newborn. According to the sounder position, the day of birth itself is counted as the first of the seven days. Thus, for example, if the child is born on a Saturday, the 'aqīqah is to be slaughtered on the following Friday. If the child is born at night, the count begins from the day that follows. And Allah Almighty knows best.

The Jurisprudential Significance of the Ḥadīth: "Whoever says, at the conclusion of the Fajr Prayer, while crossing his legs, before speaking..."
"Whoever says, at the conclusion of the Fajr prayer, while crossing his legs, before speaking: 'Lā ilāha illā Allāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamdu yuḥyī wa yumītu wa huwa ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr' ten times — ten good deeds will be recorded for him, ten bad deeds will be erased from him, he will be raised ten levels, he will spend that day in protection from everything disliked and guarded from the devil, and no sin will be able to befall him on that day except associating partners with Allah" — does this noble ḥadīth apply to the imam, and what is meant by "extraneous speech"?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It is recommended for both the imam and those praying behind him to recite, immediately after the final salām, the specific remembrance reported in the sunnah to be said before turning away from one's place of prayer. The imam then leaves his praying spot, and the act of "turning" is fulfilled when the imam faces the congregation — even without physically leaving his spot — by positioning his right side toward them and his left side toward the qiblah, and this applies even while he is engaged in supplication.
Al-ʿAllāmah Ibn Qāsim al-ʿAbbādī states in his Ḥāshiyah ʿalā al-Tuḥfah (Vol.2/P.105): "It is most virtuous for the imam, once he has given the salām, to rise from his place of prayer immediately afterward." He adds that an exception must be made for the remembrances that are specifically required to be recited before he turns away. He then notes, citing Sharḥ al-ʿUbāb: "Yes, an exception to this rising immediately after the salām applies to the Fajr prayer, due to the authentic report that the Prophet ﷺ, when he prayed Fajr, would remain seated until the sun rose." He further cites, from al-Khādim, the ḥadīth concerning one who recites, at the conclusion of the Fajr prayer while still in the position of crossing his leg to rise: "Lā ilāha illā Allāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lah..." and the rest of the well-known ḥadīth. He comments that this makes explicit that this particular remembrance is to be recited before the worshipper turns his legs to leave, and the same applies to Maghrib and ʿAṣr, as reported in those contexts as well.
What is meant by "speech" in the relevant ḥadīth is extraneous worldly speech that is not called for after the prayer and for which there is no legitimate excuse. The remembrances reported to be recited upon concluding the prayer, however, do not fall under this category of extraneous speech, since they are themselves required by the sharīʿah.
Al-ʿAllāmah ʿAlī al-Shabrāmalsī states in his Ḥāshiyah ʿalā al-Nihāyah (Vol.1/P.551): "If someone greets a person with salām while he is occupied with reciting this remembrance [i.e., 'Lā ilāha illā Allāh...'], should he return the greeting — without this causing him to forfeit the promised reward, since he is engaged in an obligatory matter — or should he delay returning the greeting until he finishes, this being a legitimate excuse for the delay?" He continues: "I say: the more likely view is the former, and the prohibition on speech is to be understood as applying to extraneous speech for which there is no legitimate excuse. Based on this, should the worshipper give precedence to this remembrance ('Lā ilāha illā Allāh...') or to reciting Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ ('Qul huwa Allāhu aḥad')? This requires consideration, though it is not unlikely that the remembrance takes precedence, given that the Lawgiver urged hastening to it through his words 'while crossing his leg.' This is not considered ordinary speech, since it is not extraneous to what is required after the prayer."
Accordingly, it is recommended for both the imam and those praying behind him to recite this remembrance and to give it precedence over the other remembrances of the prayer, ensuring it is said before they move from their place. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on a young man and a young woman having a love relation for the purpose of getting married?

It is forbidden for a man and a woman to have any kind of relation whether for marriage, or not because it leads to committing sin. Such relations include: private meetings, mixing, gazing, and seclusion (Khulwa). Accordingly, one who is sincere in his intentions should go to the woman`s guardian and ask for her hand in marriage.

How does a praying person prostrate?

All perfect praise be to Allah,The Lord of The Worlds                                                                                                                                                                        It is from Sunnah that he/she sits with both knees on the ground in order to prostrate, then hands, nose and forehead are placed on the same place. In addition, the toes have to touch the ground, and be directed towards the Qiblah (direction of Ka`bah) during prostration. And Allah Knows Best.

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