A Glimpse into the Life of the Holy Prophet (sa) – The Recitation of the Holy Qur’an and Fear of God

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God says in the Holy Qur’an, ‘That the learned people fall down on their faces weeping and it increases humility in them.’ [1] In another place it says that at the recitation of a verse: ‘At which do creep the skins of those who fear their Lord.’ [2]

What better example of this can be found than in our Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa), the most God fearing among men. This was his state on listening and reciting the Holy Qur’an. While reciting he would be deeply immersed in its meaning. Once Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) remarked about the grey hair which had started to appear on his head, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) said, ‘Yes, the Surahs Hud, Al-Waqi‘ah, Al-Mursalat, Al-Naba’ and Al-Takwir have made me old.’

These verses describe the punishments meted out to the former people who rejected the messages and the commandments of God. Sometimes the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) used to recite the Holy Qur’an in a deep sad tone for his companions.

…On listening to the word of God, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) would be in an emotional mood and would start to shed tears. One day he asked Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas‘ud (ra) to recite the Holy Qur’an for him. While reciting he came to the verse:

فَكَيۡفَ إِذَا جِئۡنَا مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٖ وَجِئۡنَا بِكَ عَلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ شَهِيدٗا [3]

Which means; ‘And how will it fare with them when We shall bring a witness from every people, and shall bring you as a witness against these.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) could not restrain himself anymore. A constant stream of tears started from his eyes. With the gesture of his hand he told him to stop reciting.

Muhammad (sa) – The Perfect Man (Qadian, India: Nazarat Isha’at, 2015), 130-132.

ENDNOTES

1. The Holy Qur’an, 17:110.

2. The Holy Qur’an, 39:24.

3. The Holy Qur’an, 4:42