Why Don't We Cry When We Read the Quran?

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.

They understood well and implemented His saying, "And it is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice in their decision." For them, the choice between obeying Allah and disobeying Him is not an option.

They awaited the verses as torches to guide them through the darkness. Their souls were like parched land awaiting Allah's speech as they await with anticipation for the rain to drink from it, so that it may bear the most beautiful fruits from the seeds of faith within them. All their effort was focused on how to implement Allah's command as Allah loves.

A heart as pure as this, when touched by revelation, would race, the voice would tremble, and the eyes would shed tears.

What About Us?

Let us be honest, many of us read the Quran with a lazy mindset that wants to evade the commands and prefer fleeting pleasures. Sometimes we differ, we will not implement this command, but Allah is Forgiving and Merciful, and so on.

There is a call in the depths of the soul that reproaches it, saying to it: "Respond to Allah and His Messenger when He invites you to that which gives you life." We hesitate, feel guilty, then ignore this call and its burden, and continue reading. And then we wait for the Quran to affect us as it affected the Companions.

The Decision to Obey

If you want to be affected by the Quran like the Companions, make the bold decision that you will not choose between obeying Allah and disobeying Him, but rather obedience is your only choice. This decision is difficult, but it is very easy if you trust in the wisdom and mercy of Allah, that He does not command you with anything except that it is in your best interest, easing your burden, and being gentle with you in this world and the Hereafter.

In the upcoming episodes, with Allah's permission, we will contemplate models of the Companions' response to Allah's command in the Quran so that we may follow their example, perhaps Allah will revive our hearts as He revived their hearts.

But my brother and my sister, before that, it is necessary to make the decision: there is no choice but obedience. For you are a believer and you are a believer, "And it is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice in their decision."

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.