Pearls of Wisdom
Mumineen are forever bound to the Quran e Samit and the Quran e Natiq-Awliya Kiram AS. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA began a nahdat in the hifz of Quran e Majeed, such that hundreds of hundreds of children and adults have undertaken the journey to memorize the Quran in its entirety,
Rasulallah SAW states, “The Quran’s companion is akin to a roped camel; if its rider keeps the camel roped, it will stay; if he lets it go, it will flee.” Using this analogy as the central theme of today’s discourse, Maula TUS highlighted 7 ways in which a camel’s characteristics shed light on ways to facilitate the Quran’s memorization and revision.
First, a camel can carry large loads and bear the weight even on long journeys. Hifz is no effortless pursuit; it is imperative to carve time out of one’s busy day and make sacrifices to focus on both memorization and revision. Second, camels can withstand and adapt to extreme desert conditions; in one’s hifz journey, no matter one’s varying and changing conditions, no matter one’s age, one should continue in pursuit of their goal. Third, camels are able to consume large quantities of water at once, and remain thirsty; the more one continues to pray, memorize, and revise the Quran, the more their desire to continue to do so grows. Fourth, camels have a nictitating membrane – a transparent, third eyelid – which protects their eye while allowing them to see through a storm. In times of turbulence and uncertainty, the Quran will illuminate the path of one who keeps the Quran as their close companion. Fifth, camels are inherently humble and docile; in this light, if someone points out a weakness, mistake, or error in one’s recitation, they should humbly accept it and correct it, and not become defensive.
Sixth, the camel has an exceptional memory. Maula TUS stressed the importance of both memorization and revision of the Quran, such that one’s efforts do not go to waste. As such, it is imperative to take steps to ensure our memory remains sharp, lest one forgets what they’ve worked so hard to earn. Last, male camels are protective of their mates and ensure they are safeguarded; the male will never let another male copulate with his mate, and will remove any competing male from his herd. Similarly, one who has made the Quran their companion should espouse the values and virtues in the Quran.
The Quran is one of the greatest bounties Allah TA has endowed us with. Maulana Ali AS instilled in Farazdaq gratitude and respect for the Quran, after which Farazdaq devoted himself wholly and entirely to the pursuit of its memorization. Upon becoming a hafiz, and in return for acknowledging the Quran’s inherent and limitless value, Allah TA rewarded him with innumerable bounties. His proficiency of the Arabic language became such that he penned the qasida “Ya Saa’eli” in Imam Zainulabedin’s AS honor which is still recited today. When Imam Husain AS set out for Karbala, Farazdaq encapsulated the state of the people of Kufa in the words, “their [ hearts are with you, but their swords are upon you!”
Another priceless bounty Allah TA gives us is our children: Rasulullah SAW states that the hurmat of the Quran to Allah is akin to that of a parent to the child. The memorization and revision of the Quran is an art requiring tact and dedication, as is raising children. Similar to hifz, if we do not keep our children close, if we do not raise our children with love, mercy, and compassion, and if we do not make sacrifices in raising them, they may stray.
A camel’s seven qualities teaches us how we can enhance our parenting abilities. Parents should raise their children with care and perseverance; children are a blessing, not a burden, and parents should selflessly go out of their way for them to ensure their well-being. Children’s upbringing should be a parent’s priority. It is important to treat children as one’s friends, with humility and understanding; they are yours to grow and nurture, not to boss or control. Protect them by teaching them how to act, live, and pursue their livelihoods in accordance with Islam and Maula’s TUS happiness. Keep them bound to you and Maula’s TUS mohabbat, for if they stray or falter, you too will suffer in the long run.
Exemplifying the analogy set forth in Rasulallah’s SAW hadith, Imam Husain’s AS ahl al bayt and as’haab, notably Abdullah AS, remained bound by their mohabbat, pure character, and integrity. Their mohabbat illuminated the rightful path, even in the most dire of circumstances. When Imam Husain AS did not grant Abdullah AS permission to go to battle, he did not flee; he remembered and presented Imam Hasan’s AS note to Imam Husain AS. Imam Hasan AS had instructed him to open this in the utmost time of need, and what could be a greater time of need than this! Abdullah devoted his every effort to sacrificing himself for Imam Husain AS, ensuring that in this world, and the hereafter he remained bound to his Maula.