Consider a woman whose husband constantly showers her with gifts. Whenever she admires something, he promptly buys it for her. He brings her new clothes every so often and even occasionally surprises her with flowers. Outwardly, it appears that she has a husband who truly adores her.

Yet, step into her heart for a moment. Despite all the luxuries and gifts, there is an emptiness. Her husband is hardly at home – his hours are consumed by work, and the little that remains is spent with friends at the padel court. Even when at home, his gaze is fixed on his phone, not on her. He claims to love her, but his actions tell another story.

For what is love without time? What is affection without attention? Can gifts ever replace the heart’s longing to be heard, to be seen, to be held? That woman may eventually feel that despite all the expensive tokens, her husband has abandoned her emotionally.

Now reflect: how different are we, truly, with the Quraan Majeed?

We profess love for Allah Ta‘ala. We speak of our bond with His Kalaam (Word). Yet many of us place the Quraan Majeed on a high shelf – wrapped in velvet and leather, kissed ceremoniously in Ramadhaan, but left unopened through the months that follow. We may even boast of purchasing the finest leather cover available in the market, but what is the worth of an untouched treasure?

Love is not proven by displays. True love demands time.

If one truly loves Allah Ta‘ala, the Quraan Majeed becomes his companion. Its recitation soothes the tongue, its words echo in the heart, and its guidance shapes life itself. To abandon it – even while adorning it outwardly – is no different from the husband who lavishes gifts but withholds himself.

Allah Ta‘ala explains that on the day of Qiyaamah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) will complain about his Ummah regarding this very neglect:

‌وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا

“And the Messenger will say, ‘O my Rabb! Indeed, my people had taken this Quraan as something abandoned.’” (Surah Furqaan v30)

Let us pause and consider: how much of our day is consumed by our phones, social media feeds, and endless scrolling? Hours slip by in a haze of notifications and updates. Do we spend even half that time, or a quarter of it, with the Quraan Majeed? If our hearts are truly attached, then surely it deserves more than fleeting minutes while everything else enjoys our undivided attention.

The true lover of Allah Ta‘ala is the one who carves out time each day to sit with His Word, just as a devoted husband carves out time to sit with his beloved. Even if life is demanding and hours are scarce, he treasures the moments with the Quraan Majeed, for therein lies his nourishment, his light, his very soul’s connection.

Consider again that woman with her husband. What she yearns for is not the dress or the bouquet, but his gaze, his voice, his nearness. Likewise, Allah Ta‘ala has no need of our ornate Quraan coverings. The decorative covers and costly bindings mean nothing in His sight. What He desires is our attention, our hearts softening to His Words, and our lives aligning with His commands.

If we claim to love Allah Ta‘ala yet cannot spare even a few minutes each day to recite His Quraan, then our claim may well resemble the hollow declaration of the neglectful husband – gifts without presence, words without weight.

Let us not abandon the Quraan Majeed. Let us sit with it daily, even if only for a few verses. Let its words enter our hearts and its commands shape our deeds. For in the end, love is not about what we say or display. Love is proven by the time we give, the attention we devote and the life we live.

uswatulmuslimah