When beginning to learn how to read the Quran, it can seem very difficult. You seem to reap little result from much effort. It’s no wonder that some of us find it so difficult that we begin to procrastinate, or even give it up totally.
When the tiredness is gone, we feel like taking it up again, but then after some more effort the cycle repeats itself. Often we may find ourselves taking it up and leaving it off again and again without learning or progressing much from all that effort.
Imagine that someone starts learning to read Quran with the best of intentions and enthusiasm. ‘Finally, I’ll be able to recite the words of Allah, in sha Allah!’ It’s a firm belief in the heart. After a few weeks of study, however, he doesn’t seem to be making any progress at all. Reading a page of the Quran is still not possible for him. The words look as difficult as Chinese.
Slowly the enthusiasm begins to dwindle, cracks start to form on the firm belief. Finally, after about a month, he gives it up. But he takes it up again after three months, and then gives it up after another month of struggle.
This cycle is repeated for, say, two years. In that two years, he has spent a total of six months studying how to read the Quran, but he is still not able to read a page.
Read: Confused by the Qur’an? So Was I
Now consider that his resolve didn’t break in the very first try. He continued, no matter how difficult. What do you think would have happened if he continued unwaveringly for six months? If his intention was correct, and he had even a slight bit of tendency towards learning, he would have become a fluent reciter, by Allah’s will.
Why?
Because, when learning any new skill, the most difficult phase is the first. A child takes quite some time to learn to crawl, but from there, he soon learns to stand up on his own, and then very soon he is walking on his two feet, and soon after that he is actually running.
The same is true for starting any kind of motion, as students of physics will know. The most energy needs to be spent to get something in motion, but once in motion, you don’t need as much effort to make it continue.
But do we remember this when we start learning to read Arabic? Satan becomes very busy when you attempt that. He hates it, he becomes crazy to somehow make you stop. He makes it look so difficult you lose all hope. That’s why before even starting to read Quran, we say – Audhu billahi min ash-shaytan-ir-Rajeem.
Being given the immensely precious gift of becoming a reciter of Allah’s Book – that’s a very huge honor. And for attaining that place of honor, you need to prove that you deserve it, you need to earn it.
Once you have given the proof of your patience, sincerity and dedication, then it will be given to you, it will come to you quite easily, because Allah said, in no less than four verses of the Quran (translation):
And We have certainly made the Quran easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember? (Quran, 54:17)
Source: https://understandquran.com.