Virtues of the Quran

عن أبي أمامة الباهلي رضي الله عنه قال: سمعتُ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «اقرؤوا القرآنَ فإنَّه يأتي يوم القيامة شَفِيعًا لأصحابه، اقرؤوا الزَّهرَاوَين البقرةَ وسورةَ آل عِمران، فإنهما تأتِيان يوم القيامة كأنهما غَمَامَتان، أو كأنهما غَيَايَتانِ، أو كأنهما فِرْقانِ من طَيْر صَوافٍّ، تُحاجَّان عن أصحابهما، اقرؤوا سورة البقرة، فإن أخذها بَرَكة، وتركها حَسْرة، ولا تستطيعها البَطَلَة».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged the regular recitation of the Qur’an, for it will intercede on the Day of Judgment for those who recite it and act upon it. He then emphasized the recitation of Surat al-Baqarah and Āl ‘Imrān, referring to them as "Az-Zahrāwayn"—the two radiant ones—due to their light and guidance. The reward of reciting them, reflecting on their meanings, and acting upon their teachings will come on the Day of Judgment in the form of two clouds, or something similar, or two flocks of birds with outstretched wings joined together, offering shade to their companion and defending him. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) further emphasized the importance of consistently reciting Surat al-Baqarah, reflecting on its meanings, and acting upon its teachings. He stated that doing so brings immense blessing and benefit in both this world and the Hereafter, while abandoning it brings regret and sorrow on the Day of Judgment. Among the virtues of this surah is that magicians are unable to harm those who recite it.

• The command to recite the Qur’an frequently, and that it will intercede for its companions on the Day of Judgment—those who recite it, adhere to its guidance, uphold what it commands, and refrain from what it forbids.
• The merit of Surat al-Baqarah and Āl ‘Imrān and their great reward.
• The merit of Surat al-Baqarah and that it protects its companion from magic.

صحيح مسلم (1/ 553) (804). مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح، لعلي القاري (4/ 1460). التنوير شرح الجامع الصغير، لمحمد الصنعاني (2/ 606). شرح الأربعين النووية، لابن عثيمين (ص232). معارج القبول بشرح سلم الوصول إلى علم الأصول، لحافظ الحكمي (2/ 846). التَّحبير لإيضَاح مَعَاني التَّيسير، لمحمد الصنعاني (2/ 9). تطريز رياض الصالحين، لفيصل المبارك (ص579).

عَن أَبي مُوْسى الأَشْعريِّ رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسولُ اللهِ صلى اللهُ عليه وسلم: «مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الْأُتْرُجَّةِ، رِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَطَعْمُهَا طَيِّبٌ، وَمَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ الَّذِي لَا يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ التَّمْرَةِ، لَا رِيحَ لَهَا وَطَعْمُهَا حُلْوٌ، وَمَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ مَثَلُ الرَّيْحَانَةِ، رِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَطَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ، وَمَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ الَّذِي لَا يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الْحَنْظَلَةِ، لَيْسَ لَهَا رِيحٌ وَطَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified the types of people in terms of reciting the Qur’an and benefiting therefrom: First category: The believer who recites the Qur’an and benefits from it is like the citron fruit, good in taste, smell, and color, and has many benefits since he acts upon what he recites and is useful to people. Second category: The believer who does not recite the Qur’an is like a date that tastes good but has no smell. His heart contains faith just like the date contains sweetness in its taste and its inside. It has no smell that could be smelt by people since no recitation could be heard from him to give people comfort. Third category: The hypocrite who recites the Qur’an is like a basil that smells good but tastes bitter, as he did not reform his heart with faith or act upon the Qur’an but he shows up as a believer before people. So, its good smell resembles his recitation and its bitter taste resembles his disbelief. Fourth category: The hypocrite who does not recite the Qur’an is like a colocynth that has no smell and has a bitter taste. Not having a scent is like him not having a smell for not reciting the Qur’an, and its bitter taste is like the bitterness of his disbelief. His inside is void of faith, and his outside is useless; rather, it is harmful.

• Clarifying the merit of the Qur’an bearer who acts upon it.
• Giving examples is one of the teaching methods that makes things easier to understand.
• A Muslim should constantly recite a regular portion of the Book of Allah Almighty.

صحيح البخاري (7/ 77) (5427). صحيح مسلم (1/ 549) (797). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (2/ 227). نزهة المتقين، لجمعٌ من المشايخ (1/ 741). كنوز رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (12/ 568). شرح رياض الصالحين، للعثيمين (4/ 642).

عن عبد الله بن عمرو رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «يقالُ لصاحبِ القرآن: اقرَأ وارتَقِ، ورتِّل كما كُنْتَ ترتِّل في الدُنيا، فإن منزِلَكَ عندَ آخرِ آية تقرؤها».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) reported that it will be said to the reciter of the Qur’an, who acts upon it and devotes himself to it, in terms of recitation and memorization, when he enters Paradise: Read the Qur’an and ascend thereby in the degrees of Paradise. Recite in a measured and calm manner as you used to recite in the worldly life, for your rank will be at the last verse you recite.

• Rewards are given according to the deeds, in terms of their amount and the manner of performing them.
• The Hadīth urges us to recite the Qur’an and master, memorize, ponder, and act upon it.
• Paradise contains numerous ranks and degrees, of which the reciters of the Qur’an attain the highest.

سنن أبي داود (2/ 592) (1464)، سنن الترمذي (5/ 35) (2914)، مسند أحمد (11/ 403) (6799)، السنن الكبرى للنسائي (7/ 272) (8002)، معالم السنن (1/290)، تحفة الأحوذي (8/187)، عون المعبود وحاشية ابن القيم (4/ 237).

عن عبد الله بن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «مَنْ قَرَأَ حَرْفًا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ فَلَهُ بِهِ حَسَنَةٌ، وَالْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا، لَا أَقُولُ {الم} حَرْفٌ، وَلَكِنْ {أَلِفٌ} حَرْفٌ، وَ{لَامٌ} حَرْفٌ، وَ{مِيمٌ} حَرْفٌ».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that any Muslim who recites one letter from the Book of Allah will be credited with a good deed for it, and the reward gets multiplied for him up to tenfold. To illustrate this, he said: "I am not saying that 'Alif-Lām-Mīm' is one letter, but Alif is a letter, Lām is a letter, and Mīm is a letter." Thus, they are three and equal thirty good deeds.

• The Hadīth urges us to recite the Qur’an a lot.
• For every single letter of every word, the reciter receives a good deed multiplied tenfold.
• It shows the vastness of Allah’s mercy and generosity as He multiplies the rewards for His servants, as a favor and bounty from Him.
• It demonstrates the superiority of the Qur’an over other speech and that it is recited as a form of worship because it is the speech of Allah Almighty.

سنن الترمذي (5/ 33) (2910). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (2/ 229). سلسلة الأحاديث الصحيحة، للألباني (7/ 970). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (4/ 655). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمصطفى الخِن وغيره (1/ 742).