Walk into many Muslim homes today and you will see it. A beautifully decorated showcase, polished weekly, with shelves lined with family photos, souvenirs from travels, and somewhere in the middle, a Quran. Wrapped in velvet. Glistening with gold emboss. Untouched. Unopened. Collecting dust.
We wipe the glass of the cabinet, we arrange the ornaments, but the Quran inside still weeps for attention. What use is a Quran in a showcase if it never enters our hearts? The dust not seen on the Quran, but the Chapters and verses collecting dust.
The Dust That Time Cannot Hide
We live in an age where three hours on TikTok feels like a blink. Netflix binges stretch into midnight. Weekend trips with friends are planned months ahead. Family outings are penciled into our calendars. Yet, when was the last time we gave even 20 minutes to the Quran?
Allah reminds us:
“And the Messenger has said, ‘O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Quran as [a thing] abandoned.’” (Quran 25:30)
Imagine — the Quran itself testifies against us. Not because it was hidden in a drawer, but because it was abandoned while right in front of our eyes.
When We Can Learn Driving but Not the Quran
Here’s the irony. We dedicate one to two years to get a driving license. We spend six months in a professional upskilling course. But when it comes to learning how to recite the Quran properly, we shrug and say, “I don’t have time.” or I don’t have the knowledge.” In Singapore, it’s a lie we tell ourselves and others. Don’t you agree!
Yet what is more urgent, being able to drive from Point A to Point B, or being able to recite the very words that will auto-drive us from this world to Paradise?
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The one who is proficient in reciting the Quran will be with the noble and obedient scribes, and the one who recites the Quran and stammers, finding it difficult, will have two rewards.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
Allah rewards both effort and mastery, but He does not reward neglect.
Solutions for a Dust-Free Relationship with the Quran
So how do we stop this silent cry? Here are practical steps:
- Start small: Dedicate just 5 minutes a day to open the Quran. Even one page read with sincerity is better than none.
- Use technology wisely: Quran apps, tajweed apps, and audio recitations are tools, but they cannot replace your own engagement. Listen, then recite along.
- Join a class: Make time for tajweed or tafsir classes. We carve time for gym memberships and Netflix series, why not for the Book that connects us to Allah?
- Family time with Quran: Replace one weekend movie night with a Quran circle at home. Children will remember what you prioritized.
- Set goals: Aim to finish a juz in a month or to memorize even short surahs with proper tajweed.
Learning with Teachers and Institutions
The Quran was never meant to be learned in isolation. From the earliest generations, Muslims sat with teachers who passed down not just tajweed but the love of the Quran.
In Singapore, MUIS and local mosques actively encourage Muslims to return to Quran literacy. From adult tajweed classes to Quranic literacy programs, opportunities are abundant. Yet the seats are often empty.
Imagine if we filled those classes the way we fill up weekend brunch spots.
Here’s where you can start:
- Mock-Up Example Institute: Darul Ilm Quran Institute — offering structured tajweed, tafsir, and memorisation programs for working adults.
- Mock-Up Teacher Profile: Ustazah Mariam, certified Quran teacher with over 15 years of experience teaching in mosques and madrasahs, now guiding private adult classes for sisters.
A Stern Reminder with Hope
Let us be clear. On the Day of Judgment, the Quran can either intercede for us or stand against us. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Recite the Quran, for it will come as an intercessor for its companions on the Day of Resurrection.” (Sahih Muslim)
But for those who neglect it, the Quran itself will testify: abandoned, dust-covered, forgotten.
The choice is ours. Will we let it gather dust as a decoration, or will we cherish it as a living conversation with Allah?
The Quran may be silent on our shelves, but on that Day, its voice will be loud.
So tonight, before scrolling TikTok or planning another family outing, pause. Take the Quran down. Open it. Read even a single ayah. Let it be the moment the dust finally settles not on the Quran, but on our excuses.
