Al-Madinah Academy

The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allaah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allaah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful. [2:185]

When you read about a command, sincerely intend to implement it, and make every effort.  If you realize you have not been implementing it, do tawbah.

Try to learn about the command, the way it must be fulfilled, the virtue of it and the punishment for not doing it.

And when you, [O Muhammad], do not bring them a sign, they say, "Why have you not contrived it?" Say, "I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This [Qur'an] is enlightenment from your Lord and guidance and mercy for a people who believe." So when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy. And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fear without being apparent in speech - in the mornings and the evenings. And do not be among the heedless. Indeed, those who are near your Lord are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, and they exalt Him, and to Him they prostrate. [7:203-206]

For sajdah verses, do sajdah.  Think about how the story began – the angels were asked to prostrate and they obeyed, iblees was asked the same and he disobeyed.  Muslim narrated in his Saheeh (81) that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “When the son of Adam recites a verse of prostration and prostrates, the Shaytaan withdraws, weeping and saying: Woe unto him – according to the report of Abu Kurayb: Woe unto me – the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate and he prostrated, so Paradise will be his; I was commanded to prostrate and I refused, so Hell is mine.” 

 

There are  15 sajdah verses in the Qur’aan where we should perform sajdah of tilawah when reciting them.  http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/5126; http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/109269

 

How is sajdah of tilawah done? http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/22650

So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me. [2:152]

While reading the Quraan, read it as a message from Allaah to you. 

And present to them an example of two men: We granted to one of them two gardens of grapevines, and We bordered them with palm trees and placed between them [fields of] crops. Each of the two gardens produced its fruit and did not fall short thereof in anything. And We caused to gush forth within them a river. And he had fruit, so he said to his companion while he was conversing with him, "I am greater than you in wealth and mightier in [numbers of] men." And he entered his garden while he was unjust to himself. He said, "I do not think that this will perish - ever. And I do not think the Hour will occur. And even if I should be brought back to my Lord, I will surely find better than this as a return." His companion said to him while he was conversing with him, "Have you disbelieved in He who created you from dust and then from a sperm-drop and then proportioned you [as] a man? But as for me, He is Allaah, my Lord, and I do not associate with my Lord anyone. And why did you, when you entered your garden, not say, 'What Allaah willed [has occurred]; there is no power except in Allaah '? Although you see me less than you in wealth and children, It may be that my Lord will give me [something] better than your garden and will send upon it a calamity from the sky, and it will become a smooth, dusty ground, Or its water will become sunken [into the earth], so you would never be able to seek it." And his fruits were encompassed [by ruin], so he began to turn his hands about [in dismay] over what he had spent on it, while it had collapsed upon its trellises, and said, "Oh, I wish I had not associated with my Lord anyone." And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allaah , nor could he defend himself. [18:32-43]

Stories in the Qur’aan are not for entertainment.  Reflect on the lessons and try to think about how it applies in your life.  Think about the details and contemplate about how the details make the story richer and the lessons more meaningful.