The Text Is the Skin, Understanding Is the Substance

Many people feel that they already understand simply because they are able to repeat what they have memorised.

Yet remembering the text is not the same as understanding its substance.

TEXT is the wording, letters, arrangement of verses and sounds that are read and memorised.

SUBSTANCE is the meaning, purpose, guidance and truth that the text is intended to convey.

Allah gives an analogy:

كَمَثَلِ ٱلْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًا

“Like a donkey carrying books.”

— Al-Jumu‘ah 62:5

Books can be carried.

Texts can be memorised.

Verses can be repeated again and again.

But none of this proves that their substance has been understood.

Allah also asks:

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ

“Do they not deeply reflect upon the Quran?”

— Muhammad 47:24

If the purpose of revelation were merely to remember its wording, there would be no need for Allah to call upon human beings to deeply reflect upon it and open their hearts to it.

The Prophet ﷺ also warned about people who:

يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ لَا يُجَاوِزُ تَرَاقِيَهُمْ

“They recite the Quran, but it does not go beyond their throats.”

This is where the distinction lies:

TEXT remains on the tongue.

SUBSTANCE reaches understanding.

TEXT can be repeated.

SUBSTANCE must be realised.

TEXT can be memorised.

SUBSTANCE must be understood.

TEXT shows the path.

SUBSTANCE is what is meant to be discovered through that path.

Memorisation remains important because it preserves the text.

But do not make preserving the skin a substitute for reaching the substance.

Like a durian:

The skin protects the substance.

But the purpose of opening the durian is to reach what is inside.