Would you like to understand the Qur’an better? Are you upset with your mechanic, spiritless reading? Do you want to engage in more meaningful and fruitful recitation?
Check these 10 tools and tips offered by Dr. Mohannad Hakeem.
Download
Check Bayan Quran App on IOS or Andriod. It is one of the best apps in giving a word-by-word easy translation, in addition to an opportunity to dive deeper into the meaning of every single word through the Library -> “Word Root” feature.
Pick the translation
My favorite English translation is that of Mohammad Abdel Haleem; you can order your own version from here.
Analyze
Divide the Surah into sections, based on the topic, content, stories, theme
Zoom in
Sometimes you may feel like “zooming in” to a specific segment, verse, or even a word, in order to analyze its roots and appreciate the depth of the meaning of the Arabic and Quranic wording
Zoom out
On the other hand, you can zoom out and look at the Surah from a “macro level”. You may check the Unlocking Taraweeh series here for more information on thematic tafsir. Also you can watch Ustath Nouman Ali Khan’s excellent series on thematic tafsir “Get to know Surah …”
Write
In order to build a personal connection with the Quran, a very unique activity is to write your own thoughts, reflections, and action items BASED on the tafsir that you read.
You are not bringing something new or innovating in the Deen by doing so (this is a very common misconception). You are simply building your own Quran-o-pedia and you are constructing your personal map of Quranic wisdom. Check this link for a handout that I use in some of my Quran understanding workshops
Collect
Use The Hashtag table: Where you can link any verse in the Quran to your own custom “hashtags”
Dive into the Tafsir
The summarized version of Ibn Kathir is a very good place to start. Check it out here.
Listen
Remember that Allah’s book was not revealed in a book format, but in a speech format that was meant to be recited, heard, and transmitted in an “audio” format.
While writing the book and documenting it has saved it from going into waste, scholars have always raised the issue that it should not be kept as a book only.
Join
Join a Quran class in your local community. It does not have to be fancy or advanced. You don’t have to look for a super-scholar or an ijaza teacher (However, when you find NEVER let go of him/her).
There is lots of barakah in reading and learning the Quran in groups and it adds a lot of spirituality to the experience.