The Power of the Word: READ!
A Timeless Commandment
Why rely solely on 1,400 years of history
when the Quran itself evolves with time?
The Quran was revealed for all of humanity
past, present, and future.
"That book, in it no doubt, in it a guidance for the God-conscious."
(Quran 2:2)
The Quran is not merely a historical account; it is a living guide.
The stories within it are not about others,
they are lessons for us, meant for every generation.
The book is for now, aligning with time itself,
just as time changes all things.
The Power of Reading
"Read" is the most powerful word in any language.
Knowledge is the key to life, and reading is the gateway to unlocking it.
This extends beyond the mere act of reading a sacred text,
it is about engaging with life itself.
Reading does not happen only with our eyes
but also with our hearts and minds.
We read while standing, sitting, and even lying on our sides,
contemplating the world around us.
Thus, "Read" is not just the perfect introduction to a book
it is the essence of life itself.
It defines us as humans.
We may not be the fastest or strongest creatures in the animal kingdom,
but we are the most intelligent.
We can tame a lion and move mountains,
all because of this single ability: to read.
The First Command
The Quran interacts with us, speaking directly to our minds and hearts.
It is a divine conversation that awakens our souls.
Reading is more than just reciting words;
it means contemplating, understanding, and deciphering.
It calls for reflection, reasoning, and respect.
It is Allah’s command for us to listen
not only to His words but also to our own consciousness.
An Ever-Renewing Message
Unlike historical records that grow obsolete,
the Quran remains ever-relevant.
Each time a person opens the book, it renews itself,
presenting the most perfect guidance tailored to their moment in time.
Which other Hadith after this could they believe?
If the Quran means to recite,
then reading is the only path to fulfilling this commandment.
Through the Quran, we learn about past prophets and the examples they set
beacons of wisdom to illuminate our own journey.
Their leadership serves as a roadmap,
guiding us toward success and righteousness.
Could there be a greater gift from Allah than "Read"?
Everything Begins with Reading
Every obligation of a Muslim is encapsulated in this one word.
To understand our purpose, to fulfill our duties, to seek knowledge,
and to grow—everything starts with reading.
Below is the very definition of "Read", observe its depth:
Reading is a multi-dimensional cognitive process of decoding symbols for the purpose of deriving meaning (reading comprehension) and/or constructing meaning.It is a means of language acquisition, of communication, and of sharing information and ideas. Readers may use a variety of reading strategies, such as: decoding (to translate symbols into sounds or visual representations of language), using morpheme, semantics, syntax and context cues (to identify the meaning of unknown words), or activating prior knowledge (schemata theory)
Definition: of Read;
The act of one who reads; perusal; also, printed or written matter to be read.
Definition: Study of books; literary scholarship; as, a man of extensive reading.
Definition: A lecture or prelection; public recital.
Definition: The way in which anything reads; force of a word or passage presented by a documentary authority; lection; version.
Definition: Manner of reciting, or acting a part, on the stage; way of rendering.
Definition: An observation read from the scale of a graduated instrument; as, the reading of a barometer.
Definition: Of or pertaining to the act of reading; used in reading.
Definition: Addicted to reading; as, a reading community.
Definition: the act of measuring with meters or similar instruments; "he has a job meter reading for the gas company"
Definition: the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message; "he enjoys reading books"
Definition: a datum about some physical state that is presented to a user by a meter or similar instrument; "he could not believe the meter reading"; "the barometer gave clear indications of an approaching storm"
Definition: a mental representation of the meaning or significance of something
Definition: written material intended to be read; "the teacher assigned new readings"; "he bought some reading material at the airport"
Definition: a particular interpretation or performance; "on that reading it was an insult"; "he was famous for his reading of Mozart"
Definition: a public instance of reciting or repeating (from memory) something prepared in advance; "the program included songs and recitations of well-loved poems"
The Universal Truth of Reading
Reading is not just about words on a page;
it is about engaging with existence itself.
It is the ability to perceive, interpret,
and extract meaning from the world around us.
Whether through scripture, experience, or observation,
reading is what allows us to progress.
The command "Read!" was not meant for a single moment in history.
It was written for me, for you, and for all future generations.
It is the key to unlocking the boundless wisdom of Allah’s creation.