India Muslims Connect to Quran in Ramadan
“I return home from my work just before iftar, but still I take out time to recite as much Quran as possible during this month. I try to complete the entire holy book during the month,” Uzma Jamali, a human resource executive at a private company in central India, told OnIslam.net.
"This month really binds us together with Almighty. After spending my day at the office, I feel tired but when I recite Quran the fatigue goes away. That is something what I feel in this month."
In India, Muslims have to devote almost the same amount of time to their work during Ramadan as in other months, but they still take out time for reading and recitation of Quran during this month due to their spiritual attachment.
This is the month when the Quran was sent down for Muslims. And Muslims try to dedicate their energies and improving their connections to God through Quran.
Majority of Muslims complete at least one reading of Quran during this month but there are those who complete one reading of the book in just three days.
One of them is Qari Hamza, who has made it a point to devote most of his time during Ramadan to Quran recitation.
“It is the time when I don’t feel like talking to anyone. I just love reciting Quran and spending most of the day in prayers. I think Quran is the gift of God to us,” Hamza told OnIslam.net.
"Just read it any time of the day and feel the peace of mind. I am enjoying this month by reading Quran to the hilt."
Students of thousands of Madarsas in India are also devoting their time in reciting Quran. It is the time of the year when madarsa students are given leave. They are free to spend their time in whatever way they like. And they prefer reading Quran.
“It cleanses your heart and gives a kind of satisfaction when you read it. I think the atmosphere during this month also motivates us to move towards Quran. I spend almost entire night reciting Quran,” said Shams, a student of a madarsa in central India.
Another student Fahad also feels the same. He said that spiritual atmosphere during this month brings us closer to religious activities, which we miss during other months.
“It is the best time of the year for us. We have holidays and our parents love to see what we have learnt during the rest of the year. I prefer to recite Quran after morning prayers,” he added.
Quran Night
In a princely city like Bhopal, people even spend a whole night listening to Quran recitation in a practice that has been going on for decades.
“This practice has been going on in only a few houses. Hafizs (Muslim clerics who recite Quran) take turns to recite the holy book throughout the night,” Tuffel Ahmed, who has attended many such gatherings during Ramadan, told OnIslam.net.
"You can imagine the atmosphere when you get the chance to listen to the holy book at one sitting."
For some, it is time for introspection and solitude. Anwar Jamal feels spiritual highs during this month.
“I feel this month acts as a month for reforming me. You feel complete purification after reading Quran during this month. It also guides us towards truth and enlightens us,” said Jamal.
During Ramadan, many mosques in India also organize Quran translation sessions for Muslims as majority of Muslims in India don’t understand Arabic. This has been started in few select mosques in major cities.
People praised the idea as helping them to get closer to the holy book.
“We have been reading Quran since decades but without understanding it,” said Azam Afzal, who attended many such lectures in the last few years.
"This will not only bring us closer to Allah (God) but also help us in following the teachings in practice in our life."
