The Holy Quran: The Ultimate Friend We Choose to Ignore

You’re lying in bed, scrolling through your phone for the third hour straight. Videos you won’t remember. Memes that mean nothing. Comments from strangers you’ll never meet.

Your Quran? It’s on the shelf. Or in a drawer. Or on your nightstand under a pile of books. Hasn’t been opened in weeks. Maybe months. You’re not even sure.

Meanwhile, your heart feels empty. Your anxiety is through the roof. You’re dealing with problems you don’t know how to solve. Relationships falling apart. Career stress crushing you. Doubts creeping in. Depression settling like fog.

And the entire time, sitting three feet away from you, is a book that contains the literal words of Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He). A book that addresses your exact struggles. A book that promises to intercede for you on the Day when you’ll need it most. A book that would transform everything if you just opened it.

But you don’t. None of us do. Not really. We scroll instead.

The Friend Who Knows Your Name

Let me tell you something that should shatter your heart. The Quran isn’t just a book. It’s not just guidance. It’s not just rules and stories. According to authentic Islamic teachings documented by scholars throughout history, the Quran is alive. It’s aware. It knows you personally.

On the Day of Judgment, according to the hadith narrated by Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) and recorded by Imam at-Tirmidhi in Jami’ at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2914, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The Quran will come on the Day of Resurrection and will say, ‘O Lord, adorn him.’ So he will be made to wear a crown of nobility. Then it will say, ‘O Lord, give him more.’ So he will be clothed with a garment of nobility. Then it will say, ‘O Lord, be pleased with him.’ So Allah will be pleased with him.”

Read that again. The Quran will speak. It will advocate for you. It will ask Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) to honor you, clothe you in nobility, and be pleased with you.

But here’s the devastating part documented in another authentic hadith recorded by Imam Muslim in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 805. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: “Recite the Quran, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for its companions.”

Its companions. The people who spent time with it. Who made it part of their daily lives. Who turned to it in hardship and gratitude. Who treated it like the friend it was meant to be.

Will you be counted among the Quran’s companions? Or will the Quran stand silent on the Day you need it most because you were a stranger to it in this life?

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated something that should make every Muslim weep. According to the hadith recorded by Imam al-Bukhari in Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5000, and by Imam Muslim in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 797, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The one who is proficient in the recitation of the Quran will be with the honorable and obedient scribes (angels), and the one who recites the Quran and finds it difficult to recite, doing his best to recite it in the best way possible, will have a double reward.”

Notice something beautiful here. Even struggling counts. Even stammering through verses you’re trying to learn matters. Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) rewards effort, not just fluency. But you have to try. You have to open the book. You have to make the attempt.

When was the last time you did?

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What You’re Actually Losing

You think neglecting the Quran is just missing out on “religious points” or whatever. Like it’s some optional spiritual bonus you’re skipping. Let me show you what you’re actually losing, documented in authentic Islamic sources that should shake you awake.

You’re losing protection. According to a hadith narrated by Abu Umamah al-Bahili (may Allah be pleased with him) and recorded by Imam Muslim in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 804, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Recite the Quran, for it will come as an intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection. Recite the two bright ones, Al-Baqarah and Surah Aal-e-Imran, for they will come on the Day of Resurrection like two clouds or two shades or two flocks of birds in ranks defending their reciters.”

Defending you. Like shields. Like armies. Like clouds protecting you from the scorching heat of that Day. But only if you recited them. Only if you made them part of your life.

You’re losing healing. Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) Himself says in the Quran:

[Surah Al-Isra, 17:82]
“And We send down of the Quran that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss.”

Healing. Not metaphorical healing. Actual, tangible, spiritual healing for the diseases of your heart. The anxiety that keeps you up at night? The Quran addresses it directly. The depression that weighs on you? The Quran speaks to it. The confusion about your purpose? The Quran clarifies it. The guilt about your past? The Quran shows you the path forward.

But you’re choosing Instagram therapy and TikTok motivation instead. You’re trying to heal a spiritual wound with worldly bandages. It doesn’t work. It never has. It never will.

You’re losing barakah in everything. There’s a reason your time feels wasted, your efforts feel fruitless, your rizq feels tight despite earning money. According to Islamic scholarly consensus documented throughout history, one of the primary sources of barakah in a believer’s life is regular recitation and implementation of the Quran.

When you abandon the Quran, you abandon the source of blessing. Everything becomes harder. Decisions feel unclear. Problems multiply. Peace evaporates. Because you’ve disconnected from the Source.

You’re losing the ability to recognize truth. In an age of deception, misinformation, and manipulated narratives, the Quran is your criterion. Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) calls it Al-Furqan—the criterion between truth and falsehood. When you don’t read it regularly, you lose your ability to distinguish. You start accepting lies as truth. You start doubting what’s clear. You become easy to deceive.

Think about every major mistake you’ve made in the last year. How many could have been avoided if you had been regularly consulting the Quran? How many times did you make a decision without even considering what Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) said about it?

The Companions Who Couldn’t Sleep Without It

Let me paint you a picture of what a real relationship with the Quran looks like, preserved in authentic historical accounts documented by early Islamic scholars.

Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him), the third Khalifa, would complete the entire Quran in a single night during Ramadan. One complete Quran. In one night. Not skimming. Reciting with tajweed, with reflection, with tears.

When he was murdered—assassinated while reciting Quran—his blood spilled on the mushaf open in front of him, specifically on the verse that says “Allah will suffice you against them.” That was his relationship with the Quran. He died with it. Because he lived with it.

Abdullah ibn Masud (may Allah be pleased with him) said something documented in early Islamic sources that should humble every one of us: “Whoever wants to know if he loves Allah should look at his relationship with the Quran. If he loves the Quran, he loves Allah, because the Quran is the speech of Allah.”

Think about that logic. You claim to love Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He). But when He speaks to you—literally addresses you through His revelation—you ignore it for weeks at a time. What does that say about your love?

The early Muslims would weep during Quran recitation. Not fake crying for show. Genuine tears from hearts moved by Allah’s ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) words. According to accounts preserved by scholars, when Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would recite Quran in prayer, his weeping could be heard from the back rows of the mosque.

These weren’t emotional people looking for feelings. These were strong, practical, world-changing leaders whose hearts were so connected to the Quran that it broke them and rebuilt them constantly.

When was the last time a verse moved you to tears? When was the last time you read a verse and thought “Allah ﷻ is speaking directly to me right now about this exact situation”? When was the last time the Quran felt personal?

For most of us? Never. Because we don’t give it a chance to reach that depth.

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The Excuses We Tell Ourselves

“I don’t understand Arabic.”

Okay. So read the translation. You have access to translations in hundreds of languages, with tafsir explaining every verse, available for free on your phone. That excuse doesn’t work anymore.

“I don’t have time.”

You spent three hours on social media yesterday. You binge-watched an entire series last weekend. You scrolled through reels for forty-five minutes this morning. You have time. You’re choosing to spend it elsewhere.

According to time-tracking studies of average social media usage, most people spend between two to four hours daily on their devices. If you dedicated even ten minutes of that to Quran, you’d complete the entire Quran multiple times per year. But you don’t. Because deep down, you don’t want to badly enough.

“I don’t know where to start.”

Start at the beginning. Open Surah Al-Fatiha. Read one page. That’s it. One page. Tomorrow, read another page. You don’t need a complex system. You need to just start.

“I’m too sinful to touch the Quran.”

That’s literally backwards. The Quran is FOR sinners. It’s guidance for those who are lost. Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:

[Surah Az-Zumar, 39:53]
“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'”

This verse is IN the Quran specifically FOR people drowning in sin. If you’re too sinful for the Quran, you’re too sick for medicine. That makes no sense. The sicker you are, the more you need it.

“I tried before and couldn’t stick with it.”

So try again. And when you fail again, try again. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us in a hadith recorded by Imam al-Bukhari in Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 6464, about the believer’s approach to good deeds: persistence despite setbacks. You don’t give up on friendship because you had one awkward conversation. You don’t abandon the Quran because you missed a few days.

Every single excuse you have is just resistance. It’s your nafs, it’s shaytan, it’s your ego protecting itself from transformation. Because here’s what you’re really afraid of: if you actually read the Quran regularly, if you actually let it in, you’d have to change. And change is uncomfortable.

How to Rebuild What You’ve Abandoned

Alright, enough diagnosis. Let’s talk solution. Practical, actionable steps you can take today—right now—to rebuild your relationship with the best friend you’ve been ignoring.

Step One: Set a non-negotiable daily appointment. Pick a time. Every single day. Same time. For most people, right after Fajr works best because you’re already awake for prayer and the house is quiet. Set a timer for ten minutes. Just ten. Read during those ten minutes. Nothing else. No phone. No distractions. Just you and the Quran.

Ten minutes daily is seventy minutes weekly. That’s roughly fifteen to twenty pages. That means you’ll complete the entire Quran in about three to four months just from ten minutes a day. Most people waste ten minutes scrolling before they even get out of bed.

Step Two: Read with meaning, not just for completion. Don’t race through verses trying to finish pages. Read one verse. Read its translation. Think about it for a moment. What is Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) saying here? How does this apply to my life? What is He teaching me?

The early Muslims would spend days on a single surah. Not because they were slow readers. Because they were actualizing it. Living it. Transforming through it.

Step Three: Choose one verse daily to memorize. Just one. When you pray that day, recite it in your salah. When you’re driving, repeat it. When you’re falling asleep, recite it. By the end of the year, you’ll have memorized three hundred sixty-five verses. That’s more Quran than most Muslims memorize in their entire lives beyond what they learned as children.

Step Four: Join a Quran circle or find an accountability partner. According to the authentic hadith recorded by Imam Muslim in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2699, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “No people gather together in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that tranquility descends upon them, mercy envelops them, the angels surround them, and Allah mentions them to those who are with Him.”

Find other people trying to build this relationship. Meet weekly. Recite together. Discuss what you’re learning. Hold each other accountable. The collective energy makes consistency easier.

Step Five: Replace one haram or wasteful habit with Quran. You know that show you binge every night? Replace one episode with Quran. You know that social media app that steals hours? Delete it and fill that time with Quran. You know that music playlist? Switch to Quran recitation.

You can’t just create a void. You have to replace bad with good. Addictions don’t disappear through willpower alone. They’re replaced by better attachments.

Step Six: Make dua for love of the Quran. Ask Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) directly: “Ya Rabb, put love of Your book in my heart. Make the Quran beloved to me. Make me among its companions. Make it my companion in the grave and my intercessor on the Day of Judgment.” Ask sincerely and repeatedly. Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) doesn’t ignore sincere dua.

Step Seven: Listen to Quran recitation constantly. In your car. While cooking. While exercising. While falling asleep. Let the words of Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) become the background soundtrack of your life instead of music or podcasts or silence. Your heart will start recognizing patterns. Memorization becomes easier. Connection deepens naturally.

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The Transformation You’re Missing

Here’s what happens when you actually do this. When you make the Quran your daily companion. When you stop ignoring the best friend you ever had.

Your salah transforms. Suddenly you’re reciting verses you understand. You’re not just going through motions. You’re communicating. You’re connecting. Prayer becomes conversation instead of ritual.

Your decisions become clearer. You’re consulting Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) through His book. When you face a choice, you ask: what does the Quran say about this? Your life aligns with divine guidance instead of your confused feelings.

Your anxiety decreases. Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) says in Surah Ar-Ra’d:

[Surah Ar-Ra’d, 13:28]
“Those who believe and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”

Real rest. Not distraction. Not escapism. Actual peace. The Quran provides it. Nothing else does.

Your character improves. You start embodying what you’re reading. The patience commanded in Surah Al-Asr. The humility described in Surah Al-Furqan. The forgiveness modeled throughout. You become the Quran walking, like Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) described the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) when asked about his character—she said his character was the Quran.

Your death becomes less terrifying. Because you know the Quran will be there. In your grave, according to authentic Islamic teachings, when you’re alone and the questioning begins, the deeds you did in life will manifest. For those who companied the Quran, it will be there bringing light, comfort, and intercession.

The Clock Is Ticking

It’s 3:47 AM now. You’ve read this entire article. Your heart probably feels something. Maybe conviction. Maybe guilt. Maybe hope. Maybe all of it mixed together.

Here’s what matters: what happens next. Because reading an article changes nothing. Taking action changes everything.

So right now—before you close this screen, before you tell yourself “I’ll start tomorrow,” before the resistance kicks in—make a decision. Pick up your phone. Delete one app that’s stealing your time. Download a Quran app if you don’t have one. Set a daily alarm for your Quran time. Read just one page right now before you sleep.

One page. That’s all. Just begin. Because the Quran is waiting. It’s been waiting. Patiently. For weeks, months, maybe years. Waiting for you to come back. Waiting to heal you. Waiting to guide you. Waiting to intercede for you.

Don’t let it wait any longer. Don’t show up on the Day of Judgment and realize the solution to every problem, the answer to every question, the companion for every lonely moment was sitting on your shelf the whole time while you were scrolling through garbage that meant nothing.

The Quran is calling you by name. Will you finally answer?

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Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes. Readers should consult qualified Islamic scholars for specific religious rulings and personal guidance. Verification of hadith authenticity is encouraged through recognized Islamic authorities and institutions.