Passion for the Qur’aan-e-Majeed
Extract from Sheikh Mahmoodul Hassan Gongohi Life and Works.(pg 113)
One’s love for Allah Ta’ala naturally expresses itself in the abundant recitation of the Qur’aa-e-Majeed. How else can one express his love in this world? When a lover cannot meet his beloved, he takes solace in the speech and the name of the beloved. The fire of love that burned in the heart of our Hadhrat (RA) was fuelled with the Qur’aan-e-Majeed. There is a famous Arabic saying that, “Whoever loves something, will always speak about it.” Hadhrat (RA) had such a relationship with the Qur’aan Shareef that its recitation was always on his tongue. On journey too, Hadhrat (RA) would always remained engaged in the tilaawat of the Qur’aan. He used to recite slowly with tajweed and ponder over the deep meaning of the Qur’aan. He used to travel on foot from Sahaaranpur to Gangoh (which was 28 miles apart). Once, someone asked him, “What time was used to travel to Gangoh?” He replied, “I don’t know of the time, but I can easily say that I read 20 to 22 paras in that time.” He would leave Saharanpur at Fajr time and reach Gangoh well before Jumu’ah.”
Hadhrat (RA) also had a habit of reciting one Qur’aan daily. He would recite half the Qur’aan in salaah. For hours he would be absorbed in its recitation. Witnessing his recitation in Salaah would aliven the meaning of ” قرة عيني في الصلاة ” (the coolness of my eyes is in salaah) would be before us. We could now really understand the meaning of ” أرحني يا بلال” “(O Bilaal, grant me peace with salaah). When we saw Hadhrat (RA) performing salaah, we felt as though he was completely cut off from this realm and that he was connected with his beloved Allah Ta’ala. Towards the latter portion of his life when he became so ill and weak that whilst walking or standing, he would feel dizzy but when engaged in salaah, he would feel peace and tranquility. He would also feel a certain kind of freshness and alertness. Once during his old age and sickness, Hadhrat (RA) mentioned that for him to rise from sajdah was more difficult than climbing a mountain. Despite this condition, he never left out his nafal salaah and would perform his salaah standing. In Mazaahirul Uloom and Darul Uloom Deoband many students would go to the Musjid at the time of Fajr azaan and engage themselves in the tilaawat of the Qur’aan Shareef. Hadhrat (RA) would go to the Musjid before the Fajr azaan. When the azaan was called out, he would read the sunnats of Fajr and engage himself in tilaawat or tasbeeh. The sound of the students reciting Qur’aan would bring happiness to his heart and soul. Hadhrat (RA) would stress on his followers and disciples the recitation of the Qur’aan Shareef daily and encouraged the Huffaaz to recite a minimum of three paaras in their Sunnah and nafl salaah. i.e. the sunnats of Fajar, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Esha, as well as Awwaabeen, Ishraak, Tahajjud and other Nawaafil.
