The First and The Quran

الْأَوَّلُ

Al-Awwal — The First

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ

The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you; and (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful

Surah Al-Baqarah (2:185)

Intention

Today, I will read more Quran than yesterday — not for quantity, but because the First chose this month for His Book, and I want to honour that choice.

Reflection

Al-Awwal in Ramadan — He who was before everything was also before the Quran. And yet He chose this month, out of all months, to send His Book down. The First chose Ramadan to begin the revelation. Every time you open the Quran in Ramadan, you are re-enacting the moment Al-Awwal chose to speak to humanity. The Quran in Ramadan is not just reading — it is participating in a cosmic event.

On this verse

Unzila fīhi — it was sent down in it. The Quran and Ramadan are forever linked. You cannot separate the month from the Book.

Du'a

The spring of my heart — rabīʿa qalbī. Just as spring brings life after winter, the Quran brings life after spiritual dormancy.

Hadith

The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to review the entire Quran with Jibrīl once each Ramadan. In his final year, he reviewed it twice.

— Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2308