The Qur’an as Our Living Guide: Acting Upon the Words of Allah

Introduction

The 15^th of the Holy Month of Ramadan marks the blessed birth anniversary of Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (peace be upon him). It is also within the sacred month of the Holy Month of Ramadan  –  the Month of the Qur’an. On the occasion of these two great blessings, we reflect on one of Imam Hasan’s powerful teachings about the true relationship between a believer and the Qur’an: not merely reciting it, but living by it.

Imam Hasan ibn ‘Ali (peace be upon him) said:

قـالَ الحَسنُ بنُ عَلِىٍ عليه السلام: «ما بَقِىَ فِى الدُّنْيا بَقِيَّةٌ غَيْرَ هَذَا القُرآنِ فَاتَّخـِذُوهُ إماما يَدُلُّكُمْ عـَلى هُداكُمْ، وَإنَّ أَحَقَ النّاسِ بِالقُرآنِ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهِ وَإنْ لَمْ يَحْفَظْهُ وَأَبْعَدَهُمْ مِنْهُ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْمَلْ بِهِ وَإنْ كانَ يَقْرَأُهُ.» (ارشاد القلوب، ديلمى، ص102)

“Nothing remains in this world except this Qur’an, so take it as your leader to guide you to your right path. Indeed, the people most worthy of the Qur’an are those who act upon it, even if they have not memorised it; and the furthest from it are those who do not act upon it, even if they recite it.”

Educational Messages of the Hadith for Teens and Youth

1. Measure Your Life Against the Qur’an

Regularly compare your words, behaviour and lifestyle with Qur’anic teachings to grow in self-awareness, because you cannot improve what you do not recognise.

Practical Challenge: At the end of each day this week, ask yourself: “Did my actions today reflect the values of the Qur’an?” and write down one area to improve.

2. Let Recitation Lead to Action

Reading and memorising the Qur’an should prepare you to live it; the ultimate purpose of recitation is practice.

Practical Challenge: For every verse you memorise or read this week, identify one small action that puts it into practice.

3. The Qur’an Is a Guide, Not Just a Book

The Qur’an is meant to lead your choices, not just sit on a shelf.

Practical Challenge: Before making one important decision this week, ask yourself: “Does this agree with what the Qur’an teaches?”

4. Action Is Greater Than Memorisation

Living one verse is better than memorising many without practice.

Practical Challenge: Choose one short verse this week and apply it in your behaviour.

5. Let the Qur’an Shape Your Online Life

Guidance applies both offline and online.

Practical Challenge: Do not post, share, or comment on anything that contradicts Islamic values this week.

6. Stay Close Through Daily Reflection

A small daily connection with Quran keeps your heart alive.

Practical Challenge: Spend five minutes each day reading and thinking about one verse.

Educational Messages of the Hadith for Parents

1. Create Weekly Qur’anic Action Challenges

Help your children – and yourself – move from reading the Qur’an to living it by focusing on one verse at a time.

Practical Challenge: Choose one verse each week as a family and set a simple shared goal to apply its message in daily life.

2. Invest in Recitation, Prioritise Application

Encourage and invest in your children’s recitation and memorisation of the Qur’an, but do not stop there; the main goal is that they live by it, while reading and memorising remain essential foundations for practice.

Practical Challenge: Alongside your child’s memorisation plan, choose one verse each week and discuss together how it can be applied in your family’s daily life.

3. Model Living the Qur’an

Children learn more from what they see than what they hear.

Practical Challenge: Demonstrate one Qur’anic value at home this week and explain it to your children.

4. Make the Qur’an Relevant to Daily Life

Show how its guidance solves real problems.

Practical Challenge: Discuss one family issue using a Qur’anic principle as guidance.

5. Create a Qur’anic Atmosphere at Home

The home environment shapes belief.

Practical Challenge: Set aside one evening this week for short family reflection on a verse.

Educational Messages of the Hadith for Religious Leaders, Teachers and Chaplains

1. Connect Every Topic Back to the Qur’an

Whatever subject you address, link it to relevant Qur’anic verses so people see that the Qur’an speaks to their daily realities.

Practical Challenge: In your next talk or lesson, intentionally refer to at least one Qur’anic verse that directly connects your topic to everyday life.

2. Emphasise Application Over Recitation

Remind communities that the Qur’an demands action.

Practical Challenge: In your next khutbah, explain one practical way to live a specific verse.

3. Encourage Personal Accountability

True connection to the Qur’an transforms character.

Practical Challenge: Invite the congregation to choose one behavioural change inspired by a verse.

4. Lead by Example

Your behaviour validates your words.

Practical Challenge: Publicly commit to one community initiative rooted in Qur’anic justice or compassion.