Central Khutbah: “If You Want to Change a Person, Bring Them Closer to the Qur’an”
There are books that people read and then forget, and words they hear that gradually lose their meaning over time. But there is one Book that never ceases to speak to the human heart, no matter how many times it is read or how many years a person lives. It is the Qur’an, the Word of Allah, a light that illuminates the path, a healing for hearts, and guidance for those who seek to discover the meaning of life and the way to their Lord.
The Qur’an was not revealed merely for its verses to be memorized, for its recitation to beautify gatherings, or for its copies to be preserved in places of honor. It was revealed to transform people, educate them, improve their conduct, refine their character, and strengthen their connection with Allah.
Allah, Exalted is He, says:
“O mankind! There has come to you an instruction from your Lord, a healing for what is in the hearts, and guidance and mercy for the believers.” (Yunus, 10:57)
In another verse, He says:
“And We send down of the Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy for the believers.” (Al-Isra, 17:82)
Therefore, if you want to change someone, bring them closer to the Qur’an. If you want your child to grow up to become a good person, help them learn to love the Qur’an. If you want your heart to find peace, open the Qur’an. If you want to improve your habits, words, actions, and relationships with others, allow the Qur’an to guide and shape you.
For no matter how powerful a person may be with words, their ability to transform another person’s heart remains limited. True guidance belongs to Allah, and the Qur’an is one of the greatest means through which Allah guides His servants.
Uthman ibn Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, uttered words that remain among the most beautiful descriptions of the relationship between a person and the Qur’an:
“If our hearts were pure, they would never grow tired of the Word of Allah.”
This statement is reported by Abu Nu‘aym in Hilyat al-Awliya and by Ibn al-Qayyim in his works. Its message is profound: a person who truly loves the Qur’an does not regard the time spent in its company as wasted time. They return to it because they find in it what their soul is missing.
Let us reflect on how much time a person can spend listening to what they love, talking to people dear to them, or following content that interests them. They rarely ask themselves how much time they have spent doing so. Yet, when they open the Qur’an, even a few minutes can sometimes feel long. The problem is not that the Qur’an lacks beauty, but that the heart sometimes lacks the readiness to feel it.
That is why Ibn al-Qayyim, while explaining Uthman’s words, pointed out that a pure heart is nourished by the truths of the Qur’an and finds healing in them, whereas a heart burdened by sins may lose its sensitivity to the beauty of the Word of Allah.
But the Qur’an is not a Book reserved only for those who have already attained a high level of faith. On the contrary, it is also a healing for those who feel weak, struggle against their own desires, wish to abandon sin, and seek to find their way back to Allah.
Do not wait for your heart to become perfectly pure before you begin reading the Qur’an. Read it so that, by the permission of Allah, your heart may gradually become purer.
Read it when you are happy and when you are sad, when you are strong and when you are weak, when you understand what you are going through in life and when you feel that you understand nothing of what is happening to you.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“The best of you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it to others.” (Al-Bukhari, 5027)
This hadith did not remain merely a beautiful statement repeated by the early generations of Muslims. They turned it into a way of life.
Abu Abdur-Rahman al-Sulami, a renowned Qur’an reciter from the generation of the Tabi‘un, devoted many years to teaching the Book of Allah. When he mentioned this hadith, he explained that it was precisely this hadith that had kept him committed to teaching.
Imagine the life of a man who devoted a large part of his years to teaching others how to pronounce the verses of Allah correctly, understand their messages, and preserve them in their hearts.
These people understood that the value of knowledge is measured not only by what a person possesses, but also by the good they leave behind.
A Qur’an teacher may never discover how many lives were transformed because of a single lesson they gave. Perhaps they taught someone their first surah, and that person later became a hafiz. Perhaps they taught a child to recite Surah Al-Fatihah correctly, and that child later went on to teach their own children and other people.
How much goodness can spread from a single Qur’an lesson taught with sincerity!
Among the great figures in the science of Qur’anic recitation, Imam Nafi‘ al-Madani holds a special place. He passed away in 169 AH. He was one of the seven great imams of Qur’anic recitation and an eminent teacher of the Qur’an in Medina. His method of recitation continued to be transmitted from generation to generation. Among the best-known transmitters of his recitation are Qalun and Warsh.
Imam Malik is reported to have said that Nafi‘ was the leading authority among the people in Qur’anic recitation.
Biographical works recount a remarkable story according to which the scent of musk emanated from Nafi‘’s mouth. When he was asked whether he applied perfume every time he sat down to teach people, he replied that he did not wear perfume. Rather, he had seen the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, reciting the Qur’an into his mouth in a dream, and from that time onward, he had noticed that fragrance.
This account is reported by Ibn al-Jazari in his work Ghayat al-Nihaya fi Tabaqat al-Qurra. However, the immediate narrator who transmitted this account from Nafi‘ is unidentified, so the authenticity of the event has not been established.
What is firmly established, however, is Imam Nafi‘’s immense contribution to learning and transmitting the Qur’an. His true legacy lies not merely in the remarkable stories found in his biography, but also in the generations of Muslims who learned the Book of Allah through his method of recitation.
This is the true value of a life devoted to the Qur’an: a person passes away, but the goodness they have planted continues to live on.
Similarly, the biography of the pious scholar and hafiz Shu‘ayb ibn Harb al-Mada’ini, who lived in the second century AH, contains an account of a dream in which he saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, accompanied by Abu Bakr and Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both.
According to this account, the Prophet is reported to have said:
“Make room for him, for he is a hafiz of the Book of Allah.”
This narration is recorded by Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi in Tarikh Baghdad and mentioned by Ibn al-Jawzi in Sifat al-Safwa. Since its chain of transmission has not been reliably established, the event cannot be presented as a certain fact or as proof of a special honor received in a dream.
Nevertheless, Shu‘ayb ibn Harb was known for his piety, knowledge, and fear of Allah. His life reminds us that a hafiz of the Qur’an is not merely someone who has memorized its verses, but someone who strives to bring their life into accordance with what they have learned.
A particularly powerful lesson about learning and having great ambitions in life can also be found in the biography of Imam Al-Kisa’i, one of the seven imams of Qur’anic recitation and a great scholar of the Arabic language, who passed away in 189 AH.
Imam Adh-Dhahabi reports that Al-Kisa’i began studying Arabic grammar at a relatively mature age and subsequently attained such a high level of knowledge that he became one of the greatest authorities of his time. Imam Al-Shafi‘i is reported to have said that anyone wishing to gain a deep understanding of Arabic grammar should turn to Al-Kisa’i.
His life offers an important message to everyone who thinks they have started learning too late.
It is never too late to begin learning the Qur’an. It is never too late to improve your relationship with it. And it is never too late to develop new habits.
Whether you are forty, fifty, or sixty years old matters less than what you choose to do with the time you have left.
The value of human ambition lies not only in the desire to succeed in this worldly life, but also in striving to draw closer to Allah with every passing day. The Qur’an teaches us not to surrender to our weaknesses and reminds us that there is always room for growth.
But the greatest value of the Qur’an will not be revealed solely through its influence on our worldly lives.
A day will come when a person leaves behind their family, possessions, status, and everything they pursued in this world. A day will come when empty praise from people will be of no benefit, and a person’s worth will no longer be determined by what they possessed.
On that day, the true value of their relationship with the Book of Allah will become clear.
Narrated by An-Nawwas ibn Sam‘an, may Allah be pleased with him, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“On the Day of Resurrection, the Qur’an will be brought, together with those who used to act upon it. Surah Al-Baqarah and Surah Al-Imran will come ahead of it.”
The Prophet then compared these two surahs to two clouds, two dark canopies with light appearing between them, or two flocks of birds spreading their wings, which will intercede on behalf of the person who recited and acted upon them. (Muslim, 805)
Imagine the greatness of this scene!
On the day when a person will be preoccupied with their own fate and will desperately need the mercy of Allah, the reward for their companionship with the Qur’an will come before them.
The surahs they recited, repeated, and whose teachings they tried to follow will, by the permission of Allah, become a means of intercession and protection for them.
These surahs were not merely words spoken by their tongues. They were verses to which they devoted their time, which they preserved in their hearts, and which guided their actions.
It is particularly important to notice one word used by the Prophet. He did not simply say that the Qur’an would come to those who had learned it, but to those who acted upon it.
This is where the difference lies between merely knowing the words of the Qur’an and truly belonging to the Qur’an.
It is not enough to know the verses about honesty while cheating others in business. It is not enough to memorize the verses about mercy while treating others harshly. It is not enough to learn the teachings concerning the rights of parents, neighbors, and the poor while neglecting those rights.
The Qur’an must become visible in our behavior, our speech, and our relationships with others.
That is why the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“The Qur’an is either a proof for you or against you.” (Muslim, 223)
In another narration reported by Buraydah, may Allah be pleased with him, it is described that the Qur’an will come to the person who followed it on the Day of Resurrection in the form of a pale-faced man and say:
“I am the one who kept you awake during your nights and made you endure thirst during your days.” (Ibn Majah, 3781; Ahmad, 22976)
In a longer version of the account, reported by Ahmad and Ad-Darimi, it is mentioned that a crown of honor will be placed upon the head of the person devoted to the Qur’an, while their parents will be given two garments of honor whose value surpasses that of this world.
When they ask why they have been granted such an honor, they will be told that it is because their child embraced the Qur’an.
The narrations concerning this scene have different chains of transmission, and scholars have assessed them differently. Their authenticity is therefore a matter of scholarly disagreement. Nevertheless, their message strongly encourages learning the Qur’an and acting upon it.
In a separate narration reported by Mu‘adh ibn Anas al-Juhani, it is mentioned that the parents of someone who learns the Qur’an and acts according to its teachings will receive a crown on the Day of Resurrection whose radiance is more beautiful than the light of the sun. (Abu Dawud, 1453)
Scholars differ regarding the authenticity of this narration. Nevertheless, its message reminds us of the responsibility parents carry and the great hope they may have when raising their children in the company of the Book of Allah.
Let us reflect on all the effort parents invest in their children’s education. They care about their schooling, the languages they learn, their sports, their future careers, and their prospects in life. All these efforts are valuable.
But there is something that must never be neglected: helping a child know their Lord, love the Qur’an, learn to recite its verses correctly, and understand the values by which they should live.
A child who learns the Qur’an develops more than just their memory. They learn to distinguish truth from falsehood, good from evil, gratitude from ingratitude, patience from impatience, justice from injustice, and mercy from harshness. They also learn about responsibility and the temporary nature of this worldly life.
That is why a mekteb, or Qur’anic school, is much more than a place where children learn the Arabic letters. Together with the family, it is a place where the foundations of their character are built.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“The one who is proficient in reciting the Qur’an will be with the noble and obedient angels. As for the one who recites the Qur’an with difficulty and struggles with it, they will receive a double reward.” (Muslim, 798)
What immense mercy from Allah!
The reward is not reserved only for those who recite the Qur’an perfectly. Those who struggle with pronunciation, find repetition difficult, and make great efforts to master a few verses are also granted a special reward.
We must therefore never discourage children who progress more slowly, nor adults who are only beginning to learn. Behind a verse recited with difficulty may lie great sincerity, patience, and effort.
No child should give up on the Qur’an simply because it is difficult. No adult should feel ashamed of learning the Arabic letters later in life.
Someone who knows only a few surahs today may learn many more tomorrow. Someone who struggles to read today may, through regular practice, become an excellent reciter. And someone who has memorized the entire Qur’an carries an even greater responsibility: to revise it daily and live according to its teachings.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“It will be said to the companion of the Qur’an: ‘Recite and ascend, and recite clearly as you used to recite in the world, for your rank will be at the last verse you recite.’” (Abu Dawud, 1464; At-Tirmidhi, 2914)
What an honor!
In this worldly life, the person recited the verses, repeated them, guarded against forgetting them, and strove to understand them. In the Hereafter, by the permission of Allah, those verses will become a means of their elevation.
This is why the value of hifz, the memorization of the Qur’an, does not lie solely in the number of pages memorized or in how long it takes to learn the entire Book. Its true value is reflected in sincerity, perseverance, understanding, and a life lived in accordance with the Book of Allah.
Today, people speak a great deal about success, personal development, and great ambitions. They want to become stronger, more educated, more capable, and more successful.
There is nothing wrong with making legitimate efforts to improve one’s worldly life.
But how great are our ambitions when it comes to the Qur’an? How much do we want to progress in its recitation, understanding, and application? How much effort are we willing to invest so that tomorrow we may become better servants of Allah than we are today?
Do not allow your greatest ambition to be limited to what you will leave behind in this world. Let one of your greatest ambitions also be what you will take with you when you stand before Allah.
Let us therefore return to the Qur’an.
Let us return to its recitation, reflection upon its verses, and the practice of its teachings.
Let us ensure that the Qur’an is not merely present on the shelves of our homes, but also present in our daily lives.
Let our children see their parents reciting it. Let our family members hear its verses. And let our behavior confirm that we believe in what we recite.
If you want to transform your heart, bring it closer to the Qur’an.
If you want your child to grow up guided by the most beautiful values, help them learn to love the Qur’an.
If you want to leave behind a legacy that will endure after your death, teach someone the Book of Allah.
And if you wish to be among those for whom the Qur’an will intercede, by the permission of Allah, on the Day of Resurrection, do not be content with merely reciting it. Strive to live according to its teachings.
For a day will come when our worldly conversations will end, the books of our deeds will be closed, and every human being will stand before their Lord.
On that day, we will understand the true value of every verse we recited sincerely, every moment we devoted to the Qur’an, every child we taught, and every sin we abandoned for the sake of the words of Allah.
If our hearts are pure, they will never grow tired of the Qur’an. And if we want our hearts to become purer, the path lies in sincerely returning to the Book of Allah.
O Allah, make the Qur’an the spring of our hearts, the light of our chests, and the means by which our worries and sorrows are removed.
Make us among those who recite it, understand it, memorize it, teach it, and act upon it.
Bless our children, their teachers, and all those who strive to preserve and transmit Your Book.
Do not allow the Qur’an to testify against us on the Day of Resurrection. Rather, make it an intercessor in our favor, a light for us, and a means of attaining Your pleasure.
Amin!
(Central khutbah by the Muslim Religious Leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić on October 16, 2026, at the “Centre Culturel Islamique de Luxembourg” in Mamer)
