The Meaning of this Important Day - Nuzul Al-Quran

On Nuzul Al-Quran, Ustaz Don Daniyal Shares The Meaning Of This Important Day

Today is the 17th day of Ramadan. The most significant event in history occurred on this day where the revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and we now acknowledge this day as Nuzul Al-Quran.

Muslims around the world are delighted to welcome this graceful month of Ramadan; the month during which the gates of Mercy are wide open, the gates of Hell are shut and Satans are chained up.

It is a month chosen by Allah where He favoured this month over all other months by making it the month of mercy and reverence for all the believers. Most importantly, this month is the most superior of months in which Allah revealed His final revelation that is the Quran.

Malaysian Digest would like everyone to ponder and reflect on this momentous event and consider its impact on the Prophet, his Companions, and especially on us today.

In the month of Ramadan, Muslims will put a little more effort in doing good as some of us would recite the Quran everyday and pray the Taraweeh salah in which the Quran is recited.

Allah SWT Prepared This ‘Manual Book’ Or The Quran For Us To ‘Handle With Care’ Of Ourselves – Ustaz Don Daniyal

We spoke to Ustaz Don Daniyal as he explained further on the significance and relevance of this very sacred day.

“The history of Nuzul Al-Quran is true, the accounts of which is recorded in the Al-Quran itself. Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 185: The month of Ramadan in which the Quran was sent down as a Guidance to men and clear roofs of the Guidance and the Discernment of the criterion between right and wrong by God,” said Ustaz Don.

He went on indicating that even in Surah Ad-Dukhan verse 3, Allah says again that indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn mankind.

As explained by Ustaz Don, the history of Nuzul Al-Quran depicts the commencement of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) prophethood, thus marked the beginning of a new era that graced Allah’s earth with the light of truth after it had been covered by the darkness of ignorance.

Therefore, Nuzul Al-Quran is a significant historical event for the whole world in general and for the Muslims in particular.

Nuzul Al-Quran began when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was visited by Jibril a.s. who revealed to him verses 1 to 5 of Surah Al-Alaq in a cave on Mount Hira’. In this incident, Jibril a.s. caught and held the Prophet while saying, “Read!” to which the Prophet replied, “I do not know how to read.”

Jibril a.s. then released him, and caught him again. This process happened 3 times and Prophet Muhammad said, “Sayidina Jibril held me until I found it difficult to breathe.”

Jibril a.s. recited to the Prophet (pbuh), “Read (o’ Muhammad) in the name of your Lord who created all that exists. Created man out of a clot of blood. Read, and your Lord is the most generous. Who taught by the pen. Taught men that which he knew not.” The Prophet then hastily left Cave Hira’. He headed back to his home where he asked his wife Siti Khadijah to cover him with a blanket for his body was trembling.

As told by some scholars for us to take heed on, the idea of Nuzul Al-Quran is when the holy book was revealed in the form of recitation which means the miracles of the Quran is better felt through reading it.

The Prophet received the Quran with difficulty so how do we, today, expect to acquire the knowledge of the Quran easily without putting in a great effort, questioned Ustaz Don.

Celebrate Nuzul Al-Quran Not Just As A Public Holiday, But To Learn How The Quran Can Be A Guide In Life

As we celebrate this day and remember the hstory it entails, we begin to wonder whether our characters are like what’s based in the Qur’an and do we implement it in our lives?

In this day and age, practicing the teachings of the Quran demands a great sacrifice that can metaphorically make us find it “difficult to breathe”.

Therefore, we have to find patience in our dedication to embrace Allah’s religion, advised the prominent young Ustaz.

In the Quran itself, it explains the role and functions it holds. It simply acts as a compass for all Muslims.

“Like all purchased items, it would normally come with a manual book with its do’s and don’ts to abide and this correlates with us humans. We are all God’s creation and so only God knows of our well-being. In reference to Islam, Allah then prepared this ‘manual book’ or the Quran for us to ‘handle with care’ of ourselves,” he relayed.

In Malaysia, where Islam is the federal religion, the response from the Nuzul Al-Quran event is a tradition that is usually celebrated. This can be observed where there are some states who made Nuzul Al-Quran a public holiday for the purpose of celebrating this day, noted the Ustaz.

The fundamental of celebrating Nuzul Al-Quran here in Malaysia is based on the word of Allah from Surah al-Hajj verse 32, "Such (is his state): and whoever respects the signs of Allah, (he is pious) surely it is from the piety of hearts."

“Among the programs that are normally organised during this day are islamic lectures, tadarus and the final recital (khatam) of the Quran, Forum Perdana, and iftar and tarawih prayers with the whole family or relatives and others.

“In my opinion, I strongly encourage programs like these for there is no better way to celebrate Nuzul Al-Quran than with the Quran itself,” said Ustaz Don.

This 19th June, Join In The Malaysia #QuranHour

Malaysians can also join in to celebrate both Ramadan and Nuzul Al-Quran by participating in the Malaysia #QuranHour on the 24th Ramadan or next Monday, 19th June at the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque in Putrajaya organised by Warisan Ummah Ikhlas.

In an effort to encourage Muslims to read the Holy Quran and incorporate the practice in their daily routines, the Malaysia #QuranHour and upcoming World Quran Hour which coincidentally falls on Merdeka, 31st August, aims to create greater awareness about learning to recite and understand the Quran.


The inaugural World #QuranHour was held in Malaysia last year on 11 September in International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). The momentous event saw Muslims in Malaysia join 10 million Muslims from across the globe take part in the programme today by reciting holy verses from the Quran simultaneously for one hour from 9am, according to their respective time zones.

Malaysian Digest was fortunate enough to speak to the CEO of the foundation, Marhaini Yusoff as she shares with us about Malaysia #QuranHour which started with #MalaysiaNgaji campaign in 2015.

Marhaini Yusoff along with the Chairman of BERNAMA“It was based on the concept of Rumah Ngaji, which is a physical centre setup for the public to learn the Quran at no cost. This concept or idea came from Dato’ Hj Hussamuddin Yaacub who is the founder of Yayasan Warisan Ummah Ikhlas as well as CEO of Kumpulan Media Karangkraf,” said Marhaini.

She added that her initial inspiration was the 10-minute reading campaign initiated and implemented by Perpustakaan Raja Tun Uda, Negeri Selangor at that time.

From running these Rumah Ngaji centres, Marhaini was shocked to find out that 9 out of 10 who have interest in learning the Quran had zero knowledge of it.

“They could not even recite it properly, what more to understand and implement its messages in their lives as a Muslim. As for those who can recite the Quran, there is room for improvement especially in understanding and applying it.”

So is the Muslim community in Malaysia gradually losing their ability to relate to the source of true knowledge about their faith; the Quran?

“Ideally, when one recite the Quran and internalize the values, it affects the behaviour. Quranic values are supposed to shape our character rooted by Tauhid and unfortunately, we see Muslims who recite the Quran occasionally are not manifesting the Quranic values,” she relayed.

For example, at the centres, they are not upholding simple values such as cleanliness. They leave it messy and never bother to clean it as their mentality is, toilets are meant to be dirty.

“All these observations made us realize that reciting Quran and living the values taught by Quran are currently taken as two separate things,” noted Marhaini, adding that they have then decided to go beyond just teaching people to recite Quran.

“We know that our country is in need of a transformation when it comes to the Quran. We design this campaign to create an impact so that people truly interact with the Quran by reciting, understanding, and implementing it.

“We want individual attitude and life styles to change as they embrace the Quran and ultimately that should result in a Quranic ecosystem at community and country level,” she added.

Malaysians these days lead a busy life. Their priority in life is such that Quran is a by-the-way thing. So when there are plenty to do and so little time, the Quran gets pushed down the priority list, and some even totally abandon the Quran.

“Indeed there are rooms for improvement when it comes to the Quran for our society and country at large. We cannot make radical changes,” said the CEO, adding that we need to start small yet make it impactful and meaningful.

“For the majority, the main issue is the Quran is for the shelves and not for themselves,” Marhaini lamented.

For some, Quran is for occasional recitations and not for daily self reflection. In retrospect to Nuzul Al-Quran, there are many ways for Malaysians to celebrate this dying tradition.

People are disconnected with the Quran throughout the world and based on observation, Malaysians particularly Muslims here are not entirely connected either.

As highlighted also by Ustaz Don, in this blessed month of Ramadan, we need to be reminded that the verse which highlight fasting did not begin with the command to fast, said Marhaini.

Read surah Al-Baqarah verse 185. It starts with: The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.”

“The highlight is Quran and that Quran is for people and not just Muslims, not just Malaysians but all mankind because it is meant to be a guidance. It cannot be a guide for us if we do not read it, understand it and apply it.

“So our advice to all is, celebrate Nuzul Al-Quran not just on the 17th as a public holiday, but to also question how can the Quran be a guide for me, my family, and my organization,” she concluded.

-mD