The Virtues of reciting the Qur’an

Indeed
to reflect on Allah’s verses is a form of worship that will draw one close to
Allah Most High. This reflection is not a reckless and wandering one, rather it
includes a study of the classical tafseer(explanation) of the verses being
pondered over, as this would fulfil Ibnul-Qayyim’s great advice, “Such as reflecting over a book which a
person has memorised and he expounds it so that he may understand what its
author intends by it.”

Indeed
the Book of Allah is not a book like any other, it is the timeless Speech of
Allah, not a created thing, the study guide for life and death and what comes
after. Therefore it deserves a more careful study than anyone else’s speech. It
necessitates that its reader return to the early narrations of those who
witnessed its revelation and heard its explanation by the one deputed by Allah
to rehearse and explain His Words to humanity (SAW). For if one would try to
ponder over the meanings of the verses without having done this study, then
surely the filth of the time that he lives in and his ignorance of the correct
application and understanding that the early Muslims had would cause him to
understand some things not intended by Allah Most High, and therefore he would
go astray, thinking to be worshipping Allah. So every sincere Muslim who hopes
to earn Allah’s Love by reciting and reflecting over Allah’s Book, then let him
hold tight to the meanings explained by the Prophet (SAW), and those taught by
the companions and their immediate followers, and the early scholars of Islam.

So
dear brother and sister Muslim! Know that reciting and pondering over the Book
of Allah, devoting your time regularly to its study and implementation has
tremendous benefits in this life and the Next, so let us now look to just a few
of them to attach ourselves more firmly to Allah’s Majestic Words. Each benefit
stands as enough of an encouragement to shun any laziness we have and dedicate
ourselves to the Qur’an.

1
– Reading and reflecting over the Qur’an fulfils an Islamic duty.

Indeed
the Prophet (SAW) summarised this Religion with his statement: “The Religion is naseehah
(sincerity)!” So then Tameem ibn Aws, may Allah be pleased with him, then said,
“We asked, ‘To whom?’” He said: “To Allah, HIS BOOK, His Messenger, the leaders
of the people, and their common folk.”
[Muslim]

 The
sincerity that is due to the Book of Allah includes its regular recitation,
learning the rules of tajweed and reciting it beautifully, learning about its
tafseer and the reasons for its revelation, affirming that it is the Truth, the
perfect Speech of Allah and not part of the creation, honoring it and defending
it, abiding by the orders and prohibitions found in it, teaching it and calling
to it. So by reading and reflecting over the Qur’an, one fulfills an obligation
and is rewarded for that.

2
– The Qur’an will be a proof for us on the Day of Judgment.

This
is due to the statement of the Messenger: “And the Qur’an is a proof for you or against you.” [Muslim]

So
one of two things will occur with this proof, the Book of Allah. It will either
be in your favor, a proof for you on the Day when you will need every single
good deed, or it will be something standing against you, the very Speech of
your Creator, a proof against you! Who could be saved from the terrors of that
Day if Allah’s own Speech is against him?!?!

3
– The Qur’an will intercede for us on the Day of Judgment.

The
proof: Aboo Umaamah relates that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)
said: “Read the
Qur’an, for verily it will come on the Day of Standing as an intercessor for
its companions.” [Muslim]

4
– Your status in this life will be raised.

In
Saheeh Muslim, we find a lovely story, about how a man from the people of
Jannah, ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, understood this principle. Some men came to
question him during his khilaafah about the leadership of Makkah, they asked, “Who do you use to govern
Makkah?” He said, “Ibn Abzaa.” They asked, “And who is Ibn Abzaa?” Umar
replied, “A freed slave from those we freed.” They remarked, “You left a freed
slave in charge of the people of the Valley (the noble tribes of the
Quraysh)!?!?” So he answered them, “Verily he is a reader of the Book of Allah
and is knowledgeable about the obligations of the Muslims. Haven’t you heard
the statement of your Messenger: “Verily Allah raises some people by this Book
and lowers others by it.”

5
– You will be from the best of the people.

‘Uthmaan,
may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet (SAW) said: “The best of you are the ones
who learn the Qur’an and teach it to others”
[Al-Bukhari]

6
– There are ten rewards for each letter you recite from the Qur’an.

As
an authentic hadith in At-Tirmithee proves: “Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah,
he will have a reward. And that reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not
saying that “Alif, Laam, Meem” is a letter, rather I am saying that “Alif” is a
letter, “laam” is a letter and “meem” is a letter.”

So increase your recitation of the Qur’an to gain
these merits, and to gain the following merit as well.

7
– The reciters of the Qur’an will be in the company of the noble and obedient
angels.

‘Aa’ishah,
may Allah be pleased with her, relates that the Prophet (SAW) said: “Verily the one who recites
the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of
the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty,
stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have TWICE that
reward.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

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