The Excellence of Reciting the Quran

عن عبدِ الله بن عَمْرو بن العاصِ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا، عنِ النبيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: يُقَالُ لِصَاحِبِ القُرْآنِ: اقْرَأْ وَارْتَقِ وَرَتِّلْ كما كُنْتَ تُرَتِّلُ في الدُّنْيا، فَإنَّ مَنْزِلَتَكَ عِنْدَ آخِرِ آيةٍ تَقْرَؤُها .

‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-‘As (R) reported: The Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The one who was devoted to the Qur’an will be told on the Day of Resurrection “Recite and ascend (in ranks in the Paradise) as you used to recite when you were in the world. Your rank will be at the last Ayah (verse) you recite..

THE EXCELLENCE OF RECITING THE QUR’AN

This hadith encourages us to recite the Qur’an frequently and to memorize it. The Qur’an is our Holy book, the Qur’an is our life, and the Qur’an is the book of Allah who created the universe! He who wants to get information about previous nations, he who wants to learn of the realities about the current age, he who wants to get news about the future generations, and he who wants to get the truth about the universe, life, humanity, the seen and unseen worlds, have to read the Qur’an and Quranic sciences.

Whoever practices what is in the Qur’an and regulates his life according to the Qur’an, earns dignity, wisdom, power, comfort and happiness both in this world and the Hereafter.

The Qur’an has countless meanings as Allah (SWT) says:

“ Say ( O Mohammad to mankind): If the sea were ink for writing the words of my Lord, surely the sea would be exhausted before the words of my Lord would be finished, even if we brought (another sea ) like it for its aid…”

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So, if you want to achieve a high status both in this world and in the next, dedicate yourself to the Qur’an, recite it as much as you can and practice its injunctions in your life. Take heed of the following words of your Creator:

“Verily, this Qur’an guides to that which is most just and right and gives glad tidings to the believers who work deed of righteousness, that they shall have a great reward!..”

“Had We sent down this Qur’an on a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rent asunder by the fear of Allah. Such are the parables which We put forward to mankind that they may reflect…”

The Qur’an will intercede for those who used to recite it and act upon it and defend them on the Day of Resurrection, as the Prophet Mohammad (Saw.) said in the following Hadith:

Abu Umamah (R) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah ( pbuh) saying: “Read the Quran, for it will be the intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection”.

An-Nawwas bin Sam’an (r) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (S) saying: “The Quran and its people, who applied it, will be brought on the Day Resurrection preceded with Surat Al-Baqarah and Surat Al- Imran arguing on behalf of those who applied them.

And the Messenger of Allah (S) declared who is the best amongst the people as following:

“The best amongst you is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it”

On the other hand, when we glance over Islamic history, we see that when Muslim nations, states, tribes and foundations acted upon the teachings of the Qur’an firmly, they found power, dignity and elevation in the several parts of life. But when they abstained from Qur’anic instructions, they regressed, lost their power, and became contempted under the authority of disbelievers. The Prophet Mohammad (S) stated this fact in the following Hadith:

‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (R) reported: The Messenger of Allah (S) said:

“Verily, Allah elevates some nations (people) with this Qur’an and abases others”

The Qur’an informs us of what will happen on the day of Resurrection saying: “It is a day whereon mankind will be like moths scattered about. And the mountains will be like carded wool. Then as for him whose Balance (of good deeds) will be heavy, he will live a pleasant life. But as for him whose Balance (of good deeds) will be light, He will have his home in Hawiyah (pit, i.e. Hell). And what will make you know what it is? (It is) a fiercely blazing Fire”.

These words make us realize how important the following Hadith is, and the importance to increase our good deeds in this life:

Ibn Mas’ud (R) reported: The Messenger of Allah (S) said: “Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah, he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a ten-fold reward.

So, the Prophet Mohammad (S) said in another Hadith: “He who does not memorize any part from the Qur’an he is like the ruined house”

It was because of Hadiths like these that the Messenger of Allah (SA) himself and his companions used to recite Qur’an day and night (especially at the last one-third part of the night) practicing the orders of Allah in their life. Al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib (R) reporting: I heard the Prophet reciting Surat Wat-Teen Waz-Zaitun (Chapter 95) during the ‘Isha prayer. I have never heard anyone reciting it in a more beautiful voice than his! What a nice blessing to hear the Prophet’s voice when he is reciting the Quran!

In the Holy Qur’an Allah (SWT) orders: “When the Qur’an is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy”. That is why listening to Qur’an is obligatory upon every Muslim when it is recited. Rasulullah (S) was a living Qur’an. When a Quranic verse was sent down upon him, at once he was practising what was in it. One day the Messenger of Allah (S) came to Ibn Mas’ud (r) and said:

-Recite the Quran to me!

Ibn Mas’ud (R) said:

- O Messenger of Allah! Shall I recite it to you when it was revealed to you?

He (pbuh) said:

- I like to hear Quran from others

Ibn Mas’ud (R) says:
Then I began to recite Surat An-Nisa. When I reached the Ayah 41: “How will it be when we shall bring a witness from every community and bring you as a witness over them?” (Having heard it) the Prophet (Saw) said:
Enough! Enough!

Ibn Mas’ud (R) said:
When I looked at him, I found his eyes were overflowing with tears!

Tirmidhi, Fada’il Al-Quran 18. Abu Dawud, Witr 20

Al-Kahf: 109

Al-Israa:9

Al-Hashr: 21

Muslim, Musaferin 252

Muslim, Musaferin 253. Tirmidhi, Faza’il Al-Quran 5

Al-Bukhari, Feza’il Al-Quran 21

Muslim, Musaferin 269

Al-Qari’ah: 4-11                                                                                                                              

Tirmidhi, Faza’il Al-Quran 16

Tirmidhi, Faza’il Al-Quran 18

Al-Bukhari, Azan 102. Muslim, Salat 177

Al- A’raf:204

Al-Bukhari, Faza’il Al-Quran 33. Muslim, Musaferin 247