The Sunni Association in Iraq / The Virtue of Reciting the Quran

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

The Virtue of Reciting the Glorious Quran

All praise is due to Allah, morning and evening, and prayers and peace be upon His Prophet who recited the Quran in measured recitation. As for what follows:

Reading the Quran is a great act of closeness to Allah the Almighty, and reciting it carefully is obligatory for every Muslim. Allah the Exalted says: "And recite the Quran with measured recitation." (And read what is easy [for you] from the Quran.) It is an intercessor for its companions. In Muslim, from Abu Umamah al-Bahili, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Read the Quran, for it will come as an intercessor for its companions on the Day of Resurrection. Read the two bright ones, Al-Baqarah and Al-Imran, for on the Day of Resurrection, they will come as two clouds or two shades, or two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading for their companions. Read Al-Baqarah, for taking it is a blessing and abandoning it is a cause of regret, and the magicians cannot handle it." The magicians refer to sorcerers. Those who recite it are bestowed with blessings and profit in trade (Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allah and establish prayer and spend [in His cause] out of what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, [can] expect a profit that will never perish.)

Those who recite it with proficiency and perfection are among the angels, especially if they have memorized it. In Bukhari, from Aisha, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "The one who recites the Quran and has memorized it, is with the noble, righteous scribes (angels), and the one who recites the Quran and struggles with it, having it difficult for him, will have a double reward." And in Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi, from Abdullah bin Amr, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "It will be said to the companion of the Quran, 'Read and ascend (in Paradise) and recite as you used to recite in the world. For your position will be at the last verse you recite.'" And in Tirmidhi, from Abu Hurairah, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "The Quran will come on the Day of Resurrection and say, 'O Lord, adorn him.' So, he will be adorned with a crown of honor. Then it will say, 'O Lord, please him.' So, He will be pleased with him. Then it will be said, 'Read and ascend, and you will be increased in status with every verse.'"

Those who cannot recite skillfully should exert effort and will have a great reward. In Muslim, from Aisha, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "The one proficient in the Quran will be with the noble, righteous scribes (angels), and the one who recites the Quran and stumbles over it, finding it difficult, will have a double reward." And in Tirmidhi, from Ibn Mas'ud, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah will have a good deed, and a good deed gets a tenfold reward. I do not say that Alif Lam Meem is one letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter, and Meem is a letter." And in the Sahihain, from Abu Musa, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "The example of a believer who recites the Quran is like an orange, whose fragrance and taste are sweet. The example of a believer who does not recite the Quran is like a date, which has no fragrance but has a sweet taste. The example of a hypocrite who recites the Quran is like basil, whose fragrance is sweet but its taste is bitter. And the example of a hypocrite who does not recite the Quran is like a colocynth, which has neither fragrance nor taste." See, may Allah have mercy on you, how the effect of the Quran on a hypocrite is such that even his scent becomes pleasant, though he is a hypocrite, because it is the scent of the great Quran.

It is best to recite the Quran at night, especially during prayer (Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words.) And in the early hours of the day, before, during, and after the Fajr prayer, Allah the Almighty says: "(And the Quran of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.)

Reading the Quran is a great honor and a significant advantage. Ibn al-Salah said: It has been reported that the angels were

 not given the virtue of reciting the Quran, and they are eager to listen to it from humans. So, reciting the Quran is an honor that Allah has bestowed upon humans.

Abdulmalik bin Umair said: It was said that the most intelligent of people are the reciters of the Quran. And Ibn Rajab said: The greatest thing by which one can attain the love of Allah among the voluntary acts is reciting the Quran, especially with contemplation. Ibrahim al-Maqdisi advised his student Ibn Abdaldayem, saying: Increase in reciting the Quran and do not leave it, for what you seek will be facilitated for you in proportion to your recitation. Some scholars said: We engaged with the Quran, and blessings and goodness overwhelmed us in this world.

And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and prayers and peace be upon His noble Prophet and his family; his followers altogether.