السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
It’s Friday 8th May 2020. Today I want to touch upon ‘Ramaḍān and The Ḥāfiẓ of The Holy QurꜤān‘.
*** Please keep this strictly between the Ḥuffāẓ and the ꜤUlamā.
If my memory serves me correctly, it was in 1979, when one of my Maktab teachers, Marḥūm Ḥāfiẓ Yūsuf Lorgat رَحْمَةُ الله عليه encouraged me to start the Ḥifẓ of The Qur’ān This was at the Masjid in Daisy Street in the Daisyfield area (Blackburn).
After moving to the Whalley Range area, I attended Masjid-e-Anīsul Islām on Troy Street, where Mawlānā Ismā’īl Māmūn مدظله العالی and Marḥūm Mawlānā Ayyūb Aḥmedjī رَحْمَةُ الله عليه taught me.
When I enrolled at Dārul Uloom Bury, my Ḥifẓ having reached the 11th pārā (juz), continued with Marḥūm Ḥāfiẓ Ismā’īl Bodhānwālā رَحْمَةُ الله عليه, and completed (in 1984) with Mawlānā Farūq Desāi مدظله العالی.
A colleague and I spent Ramaḍān 1984 in the Totterdown Masjid of Bristol, a city on the border of England and Wales. In 1987 and 1989 I was in Portela (Portugal) and Florida (US) in 1996. The Ramaḍāns in between were spent in Blackburn.
1999 was the final year I stood on the Musalla to lead the Tarāwīḥ Ṣalāh. This year, we have the lockdown. My son Sufyaan, who is also Ḥāfiẓ مَا شَآءَ الله, performed 20 Rak’āt for the first 5 nights and then gave me the opportunity to lead 10 Rak’āt. Hence, one could say I came out of retirement after 21 years!
My fellow Ḥuffāẓ, this piece is written as self reflection. This Ramaḍān, I have come to realise what a priceless treasure Almighty Allāh has bestowed us with. Having been given the opportunity of memorising all 30 juz of The Holy Qur’ān, all 6666 Āyahs, how neglectful have I been to my Creator?
The Tarāwīḥ in Ramaḍān is the best chance to recite The Qur’ān to ensure it is still in your memory. Miss out on leading Tarāwīḥ and the chances are that one will forget The Qur’ān. The last 10 days have not been easy.
When I used to pray The Qur’ān softly to myself, I always thought I knew it. When I stood on the Musalla after 21 years, the reality came to light.
Remember my Ḥuffāẓ colleagues, don’t lose hope; be truthful to yourself. I recall our Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā Yūsuf Motālā Ṣāḥib نور الله مرقده advising us once that ‘just as The Qur’ān slips out of memory, just a small effort and it will be back in your memory again‘.
It’s still not too late, there are 15 days to go. Start from tonight. If not, then tomorrow. Pray as much as you can. Remember, we may never get a chance to stand on the Musalla in our local, or any Masjid.
However, a blessing in disguise, we are at home. It’s only your family, so nothing to worry about. In my view, our biggest treasure is The Holy Qur’ān. Let’s value this precious jewel we have been gifted by The Almighty.
Our nafs tells us that ‘You are going for collections for Albania in Ramaḍān so no need to lead Tarāwīḥ‘, or ‘You are going for bayāns to such and such a country so no need to lead Tarāwīḥ‘.
Many of us think we do bayāns or Tafsīr daily, so no need to lead Tarāwīḥ. All these are lame excuses.
I have realised this, maybe after 21 years, but better late than never. I will end by requesting my Ḥāfiẓ colleagues to listen very carefully to the words of this nasheed.
Are we truly worthy of this?
Almighty Allāh assist us in safeguarding the treasure of The Ḥifẓ of The Holy QurꜤān, Āmeen.
Please keep within Ḥuffāẓ and ‘Ulamā.
جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا
Request for DuꜤās
وَالسَّلَامُ Hanif Dudhwala