The Virtue of Reciting the Noble Quran
Preoccupation with the Quran is one of the most virtuous acts of worship, whether by reciting it, pondering on its meanings, or working according to its teachings.
- Categories: Quran Recitations -
Introduction
All the praises and thanks be to Allah Alone. Prayers and peace of Allah be upon our Prophet, Muhammad, and upon all his family and companions.
Preoccupation with the Quran is one of the most virtuous acts of worship, whether by reciting it, pondering on its meanings, or working according to its teachings. The companions, may Allah be pleased with them, have received this Noble Quran, realizing the honor which Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has bestowed upon them. Therefore, they embarked upon it, reciting it for part of the hours of the night, and at the sides of the day. People passed by them at night, while they were reciting the Quran, and their recitation seemed like the buzzing of bees. They made it the nourishment of their souls, the food of their hearts, and the apples of their eyes. Their souls got purified by it, and there secret selves got reformed. We ask Allah, Glorified and Exalted, to bestow His Generosity upon us and make us recite the Noble Quran. We ask Him that it will be our proof on the Day of Resurrection. Allah Almighty says, {Verily, those who recite the Book of Allâh (this Qur’ân), and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and spend (in charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, they hope for a (sure) trade-gain that will never perish. (29) That He may pay them their wages in full, and give them (even) more, out of His Grace. Verily He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate (good deeds and to recompense).} [Surat Fâtir 35:29-30]
{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّـهِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً يَرْجُونَ تِجَارَةً لَّن تَبُورَ ﴿٢٩﴾ لِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۚ إِنَّهُ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ} فاطر: 29-30
Transliteration: Inna allatheena yatloona kitaba Allahi waaqamoo alssalata waanfaqoo mimma razaqnahum sirran waAAalaniyatan yarjoona tijaratan lan taboora (29) Liyuwaffiyahum ojoorahum wayazeedahum min fadlihi innahu ghafoorun shakoorun
Allah Almighty says, {And We send down of the Qur’ân that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islâmic Monotheism and act on it), and it increases the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers) nothing but loss.} [Surat Al-Isrâ’ 17:82]
{وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا} الإسراء: 82
Transliteration: Wanunazzilu mina alqurani ma huwa shifaon warahmatun lilmumineena walayazeedu alththalimeena illa khasaran
The Almighty also says, {verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest.} [Surat Ar-Ra’d 13:28]
{أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ} الرعد: 28
Transliteration: ala bithikri Allahi tatmainnu alquloobu
Allah Almighty says, {O mankind! There has come to you a good advice from your Lord (i.e. the Qur’ân, enjoining all that is good and forbidding all that is evil), and a healing for that (disease of ignorance, doubt, hypocrisy and differences) which is in your breasts,} [Surat Yûnus 10:57]
{يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِّمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ} يونس: 57
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha alnnasu qad jaatkum mawAAithatun min rabbikum washifaon lima fee alssudoori wahudan warahmatun lilmumineena
The Noble Quran (it elevates ranks in Paradise)
The meanings of the words
The Quran holder: he is the one who carries it, preserves it, and who is keen in reciting it. He is the one who acts according to its rules and manners.
Elevate: it means elevate in Paradise according to the sum you memorized from the Quran.
The jurisprudence of the Hadith
- It urges the memorization of the Book of Allah and pondering on it.
- The ranks of the believers in Paradise are according to their deeds and diligence in this worldly life.
The Noble Quran (it includes the sublimity and ranks in this worldly life and the Hereafter)
‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “By this book (the Qur’an), Allah would exalt (to a high status) some peoples and degrade others.” [Reported by Muslim 817]
«إنَّ الله يرفع بهذا الكتاب أقوامًا ويضع به آخرين» رواه مسلم
The jurisprudence of the Hadith
- Knowledge elevates the rank of its holder in this worldly life and the Hereafter.
- Knowledge elevates the rank of the owned slave until it puts him in the courts of kings.
The Noble Quran (one is among the close People of Allah through it)
The jurisprudence of the Hadith
- inciting the recitation of the Quran, increasing reading it, and not to be occupied by other than it.
- Allah, Glorified and Exalted, makes the Quran intercede for its holders, those who used to read it in this worldly life and act according to its teachings.
The Noble Quran (it intercedes on the Day of Judgment)
Abu Umamah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, saying, ‘Recite the Quran, for it comes on the Day of Resurrection as an intercessor to its holder.’“ [Reported by Muslim 804]
«اقرؤوا القرآن، فإنَّه يأتي يوم القيامة شفيعًا لأصحابه» رواه مسلم
The jurisprudence of the Hadith
- It urges on increasing the good deeds and reciting the Quran.
The Noble Quran (it includes the profitable trade with Allah, Glorified and Exalted, and the multiplication of the reward)
The Noble Quran (the teacher and learner are among the best of people)
‘Uthman ibn ‘Affân, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “The best among you is the one who learns the Quran and then teaches it.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari 5027]
«خيركم من تعلَّم القرآن وعلَّمه» رواه البخاري
The jurisprudence of the Hadith
- It incites studying the Quran, teaching it, and pondering on it. Moreover, it urges on knowing its rulings, decrees, and the laws of the previous nations, and what Allah has ordained and prohibited as this leads to success in this worldly life and the Hereafter.
The Noble Quran (through it you will be with the angels: the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven)
Aisha, may Allah be pleased with him her, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Whoever recites the Quran and masters it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven). Moreover, whoever recites the Quran and stutters with it, and it is difficult for him, will have a double reward.” [Reported by Muslim 798]
«الماهر بالقرآن مع السفرة الكرام البررة، والذي يقرأ القرآن ويتتعتع فيه، وهو عليه شاق، له أجران» رواه مسلم
The meanings of the words
Master it: it means he excels in uttering its words perfectly in a way that he does not confuse letters.
The scribes: the messenger angels to the Messengers of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon them all
The righteous: the obeying
Stutter: recites the Quran more than once because of the difficulty in reading and memorizing it.
The jurisprudence of the Hadith
- The rank of the one who is keen in keeping on reciting the Quran is greater than the rank of the one who does not keep on reading it.
- The one who stutters on reading the Quran will be rewarded twice; one for reading it, and one for the difficulty in stuttering in reading it.
Some of the sayings of the companions, may Allah be pleased with them, about the Noble Quran and its reciter
1- Ibn Mas’ûd, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “The reciter of the Quran should be known by his night (as he is awake) while people are asleep. He is to be known by his day (as he is fasting) while people are eating. He is to be known by his crying (out of fear from Allah) while people are laughing, by his piety while people are only sincere. He is known by his silence while people are talking idly, by his submission while people are conceited, and by his sadness while people are rejoicing.”
2- ‘Uthman ibn Affan and Hudhaifa ibn Al-Yaman, may Allah be pleased with them, said, “When the hearts are purified, they will not be satiated from reciting the Quran.”
3- Abdullah ibn Mas’ûd, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “If you seek knowledge, turn the Quran into prose, as it includes the knowledge of those of old and those of later times.”
The etiquette of reciting the Quran
Firstly, the reciter of the Quran should have a pure intention, for the sake of Allah Almighty. He should be away from hypocrisy and showing off, as Allah Almighty says, {Say (O Muhammad): “Verily I am commanded to worship Allâh (Alone) by obeying Him and doing religious deeds sincerely for His sake only.} [Surat Az-Zumar 39:11]
{قُلْ إِنِّي أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللَّـهَ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ الدِّينَ} الزمر: 11
Transliteration: Qul innee omirtu an aAAbuda Allaha mukhlisan lahu alddeena
Secondly, reciting the Quran is one of the best acts of worship. Therefore, one should make his heart present with his mind when reading the Quran to increase his pondering (over the verses). Allah Almighty says, {(This is) a Book (the Qur’ân) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember.} [Surat Sâd 38:29]
{كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ} ص: 29
Transliteration: Kitabun anzalnahu ilayka mubarakun liyaddabbaroo ayatihi waliyatathakkara oloo alalbabi
Thirdly, when starting reciting, one should seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan, Allah Almighty says, {So when you want to recite the Qur’ân, seek refuge with Allâh from Shaitân (Satan), the outcast (the cursed one).} [Surat An-Nahl 16:98]
{فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّـهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ} النحل: 98
Transliteration: Faitha qarata alqurana faistaAAithbiAllahi mina alshshaytani alrrajeemi
Seek refuge means that one should turn to Allah and ask His Help to be protected from the slips and whispers of Satan.
The one who recites the Quran is conversing with Allah Almighty; therefore, he should abide by some matters. Among which are:
1- To sit in a purified place
2- To face the Qibla (the direction of the Ka’ba in Mecca) as possible as he can
3- To sit in submission and reverence; because he is conversing with Allah Almighty
4- He should not read while battling sleep in order not to commit mistakes in recitation
5- To cleanse the mouth with siwak (the Araak toothbrush)
6- To be keen on wearing a clean garment and to put on perfume
7- When passing by the verses of mercy, he asks Allah from His Graces; and when passing by the verses of torment, he seeks refuge with Allah from torture
8- Not to raise the voice if there is someone near reciting the Quran, both are conversing with their Lord, and in order not to confuse him during the recitation
9- To adorn the Quran by his voice, and try to better his voice with no exaggeration
10- There is nothing wrong that the reciter answers back the salutation, if someone salutes him, and then returns to reading the Quran
11- If one is in the mosque and the adhan (call for prayer) takes place, he should cut off the recitation and follow the caller. After the adhan ends, he resumes the recitation.
Here are some images of abandoning the Quran, which include abandoning its recitation:
The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has complained to Allah, Glorified and Exalted, against those who abandon the Quran and turn away from it. Allah Almighty says, {And the Messenger (Muhammad) will say: “O my Lord! Verily, my people deserted this Qur’ân (neither listened to it, nor acted on its laws and orders).} [Surat Al-Furqân 25:30]
{وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَـٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا} الفرقان: 30
Transliteration: Waqala alrrasoolu ya rabbi inna qawmee ittakhathoo hatha alqurana mahjooran
Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “There are different kinds of abandoning the Quran:
- To abandon hearing it, believing in it, and listening to it,
- To abandon working according to it (its rules, laws, teachings…), knowing its permissible and forbidden; even if one reads and believes in it,
- To abandon making it the judge in the basics and branches of religion,
- To abandon pondering over and understanding it, and not knowing what it verses mean,
- To abandon healing the diseases of the hearts by it, all the previous is included in the words of Allah Almighty in the aforementioned verse.”
Note:
There is another kind of abandoning, which has prevailed in our times. It is putting a copy of the Quran in a certain place, to be blessed by merely its presence. It is to be put on a shelf in the house, at the back or front of the car, until it is covered with dust, which is a testimony that it is abandoned. This shows the misbehavior to the Book of Allah.
Finally, we ask Allah to make the Noble Quran a proof for us, not against us. All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists). Prayers and peace of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.
Prepared by: The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs
Center of Abdullah Al-Mutawwa’
Slightly Modified