Recitation of the Qur'an
تلاوة القرآنReciting, preserving, and holding firmly to the Book of Allah
Qur'an
القرآن الكريمٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ يَتْلُونَهُۥ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِۦٓ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِۦ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَٰسِرُونَ
Those to whom We have given the Book recite it with its true recital. They [are the ones who] believe in it. And whoever disbelieves in it - it is they who are the losers.
Translation: Saheeh International
ٱتْلُ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ
Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.
Translation: Saheeh International
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَٰبَ ٱللَّهِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنفَقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَٰهُمْ سِرًّۭا وَعَلَانِيَةًۭ يَرْجُونَ تِجَٰرَةًۭ لَّن تَبُورَ لِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ غَفُورٌۭ شَكُورٌۭ
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 - That He may give them in full their rewards and increase for them of His bounty. Indeed, He is Forgiving and Appreciative.
Translation: Saheeh International
أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ تَرْتِيلًا
Or add to it, and recite the Qur'an with measured recitation.
Translation: Saheeh International
Hadith
الحديث النبويعَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ الْمُؤْمِنُ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ وَيَعْمَلُ بِهِ كَالأُتْرُجَّةِ طَعْمُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَرِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَالْمُؤْمِنُ الَّذِي لاَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ وَيَعْمَلُ بِهِ كَالتَّمْرَةِ طَعْمُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَلاَ رِيحَ لَهَا وَمَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَالرَّيْحَانَةِ رِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَطَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ وَمَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ الَّذِي لاَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَالْحَنْظَلَةِ طَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ أَوْ خَبِيثٌ وَرِيحُهَا مُرٌّ
Narrated Abu Musa:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The example of a believer who recites the Qur'an and acts on it, like a citron which tastes nice and smells nice. And the example of a believer who does not recite the Qur'an but acts on it, is like a date which tastes good but has no smell. And the example of a hypocrite who recites the Qur'an is like a Raihana (sweet basil) which smells good but tastes bitter. And the example of a hypocrite who does not recite the Qur'an is like a colocynth which tastes bitter and has a bad smell."
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ قَرَأَ حَرْفًا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَلَهُ بِهِ حَسَنَةٌ وَالْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا لَا أَقُولُ الم حَرْفٌ وَلَكِنْ أَلِفٌ حَرْفٌ وَلَامٌ حَرْفٌ وَمِيمٌ حَرْفٌ
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah, he will receive one good deed as ten good deeds like it. I do not say that Alif Lam Mim is one letter, but rather Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter, and Mim is a letter."
عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ الَّذِي لَيْسَ فِي جَوْفِهِ شَيْءٌ مِنْ الْقُرْآنِ كَالْبَيْتِ الْخَرِبِ
Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Verily, one who does not hold anything from the Quran within himself is like a ruined house."
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ نَبِيٌّ إِلاَّ أُعْطِيَ مَا مِثْلُهُ آمَنَ عَلَيْهِ الْبَشَرُ وَإِنَّمَا كَانَ الَّذِي أُوتِيتُ وَحْيًا أَوْحَاهُ اللَّهُ إِلَىَّ فَأَرْجُو أَنْ أَكُونَ أَكْثَرَهُمْ تَابِعًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Every Prophet was given miracles because of which people believed, but what I have been given is Divine Inspiration which Allah has revealed to me. So I hope that my followers will outnumber the followers of the other Prophets on the Day of Resurrection."
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَضْلُ كَلَامِ اللَّهِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الْكَلَامِ كَفَضْلِ اللَّهِ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ
Abu Sa'id reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "The superiority of the words of Allah over all other words is like the superiority of Allah over His creation."
عَنْ دُرَّةَ بِنْتِ أَبِي لَهَبٍ قَالَتْ قَامَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ النَّاسِ خَيْرٌ فَقَالَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ أَقْرَؤُهُمْ وَأَتْقَاهُمْ وَآمَرُهُمْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَأَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَأَوْصَلُهُمْ لِلرَّحِمِ
Dhurrah bint Abi Lahab reported:
A man stood for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, while he was upon the pulpit, and he said, "O Messenger of Allah, who among people are best?" The Prophet said, "The best of people are the most to recite the Quran, the most fearful of Allah, the most enjoining of good, the most forbidding of evil, and the most to maintain family relations."
عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ شِبْلٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ وَلَا تَغْلُوا فِيهِ وَلَا تَجْفُوا عَنْهُ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا بِهِ وَلَا تَسْتَكْثِرُوا بِهِ
Abdur Rahman ibn Shibl reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Recite the Quran and do not exaggerate in it, do not abandon it, do not earn your livelihood from it, and do not accumulate wealth from it."
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَنِ اسْتَمَعَ إِلَى آيَةٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ كُتِبَ لَهُ حَسَنَةٌ مُضَاعَفَةٌ وَمَنْ تَلَاهَا كَانَتْ لَهُ نُورًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Whoever listens to a verse from the Book of Allah Almighty will have a multiplied reward. Whoever recites a verse will have a light on the Day of Resurrection."
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَعَلَّمُوا الْقُرْآنَ وَسَلُوا اللَّهَ بِهِ الْجَنَّةَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتَعَلَّمَهُ قَوْمٌ يَسْأَلُونَ بِهِ الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّ الْقُرْآنَ يَتَعَلَّمُهُ ثَلَاثَةٌ رَجُلٌ يُبَاهِي وَرَجُلٌ يَسْتَأْكِلُ بِهِ وَرَجُلٌ يَقْرَأُهُ لِلَّهِ
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Learn the Quran and use it to ask Allah for Paradise before people learn it to ask for the world. Verily, the Quran is learned for three reasons: a man who uses it to boast, a man who uses it for his livelihood, and a man who recites it for Allah."
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ نِعْمَ الشَّفِيعُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَا رَبِّ حَلِّهِ حِلْيَةَ الْكَرَامَةِ فَيُحَلَّى حِلْيَةَ الْكَرَامَةِ يَا رَبِّ اكْسُهُ كِسْوَةَ الْكَرَامَةِ فَيُكْسَى كِسْوَةَ الْكَرَامَةِ يَا رَبِّ أَلْبِسْهُ تَاجَ الْكَرَامَةِ يَا رَبِّ ارْضَ عَنْهُ فَلَيْسَ بَعْدَ رِضَاكَ شَيْءٌ
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Recite the Quran, for it is the most excellent intercessor on the Day of Resurrection. It will say: O Lord, adorn him with the noblest of ornaments! Thus, he will be adorned with the noblest of ornaments. It will say: O Lord, dress him in the noblest of garments! Thus, he will be dressed in the noblest of garments. It will say: O Lord, crown him with the noblest of crowns! O Lord, be pleased with him, for after Your pleasure there is nothing!"
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُقَالُ لِصَاحِبِ الْقُرْآنِ إِذَا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ اقْرَأْ وَاصْعَدْ فَيَقْرَأُ وَيَصْعَدُ بِكُلِّ آيَةٍ دَرَجَةً حَتَّى يَقْرَأَ آخِرَ شَيْءٍ مَعَهُ
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "It will be said to the companion of the Quran when he enters Paradise: Recite and ascend! Thus, he will recite and ascend one level for each verse until he recites the last one with him."
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ الصِّيَامُ وَالْقُرْآنُ يَشْفَعَانِ لِلْعَبْدِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَقُولُ الصِّيَامُ أَيْ رَبِّ مَنَعْتُهُ الطَّعَامَ وَالشَّهَوَاتِ بِالنَّهَارِ فَشَفِّعْنِي فِيهِ وَيَقُولُ الْقُرْآنُ مَنَعْتُهُ النَّوْمَ بِاللَّيْلِ فَشَفِّعْنِي فِيهِ قَالَ فَيُشَفَّعَانِ
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Fasting and the Quran will intercede for the servant on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: O Lord, I prevented him from food and desires during the day, so let me intercede for him. The Quran will say: O Lord, I prevented him from sleeping during the night, so let me intercede for him. Thus, they will both intercede for him."
عَنْ أَبِي مَالِكٍ الأَشْعَرِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الطُّهُورُ شَطْرُ الإِيمَانِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ تَمْلأُ الْمِيزَانَ وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ تَمْلآنِ أَوْ تَمْلأُ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَالصَّلاَةُ نُورٌ وَالصَّدَقَةُ بُرْهَانٌ وَالصَّبْرُ ضِيَاءٌ وَالْقُرْآنُ حُجَّةٌ لَكَ أَوْ عَلَيْكَ كُلُّ النَّاسِ يَغْدُو فَبَائِعٌ نَفْسَهُ فَمُعْتِقُهَا أَوْ مُوبِقُهَا
Abu Malik at-Ash'ari reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Cleanliness is half of faith and al-Hamdu Lillah fills the scale, and Subhan Allah and al-Hamdu Lillah fill up what is between the heavens and the earth, and prayer is a light, and charity is proof, and endurance is a brightness and the Holy Qur'an is a proof on your behalf or against you. All men go out early in the morning and sell themselves, thereby setting themselves free or destroying themselves.
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنَّ لِلَّهِ أَهْلِينَ مِنَ النَّاسِ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ هُمْ قَالَ هُمْ أَهْلُ الْقُرْآنِ أَهْلُ اللَّهِ وَخَاصَّتُهُ
It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said:
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Allah has His own people among mankind.' They said: 'O Messenger of Allah, who are they?' He said: 'The people of the Qur'an, the people of Allah and those who are closest to Him.'"
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَ الرَّجُلَيْنِ مِنْ قَتْلَى أُحُدٍ فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ أَيُّهُمْ أَكْثَرُ أَخْذًا لِلْقُرْآنِ فَإِذَا أُشِيرَ لَهُ إِلَى أَحَدِهِمَا قَدَّمَهُ فِي اللَّحْدِ وَقَالَ أَنَا شَهِيدٌ عَلَى هَؤُلاَءِ وَأَمَرَ بِدَفْنِهِمْ بِدِمَائِهِمْ وَلَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَمْ يُغَسِّلْهُمْ
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) shrouded every two martyrs of Uhud in one piece of cloth and then he would ask, "Which of them knew more Qur'an?" When one of them was pointed out he would put him first in the grave. He said, "I am a witness on these." Then he ordered them to be buried with blood on their bodies. Neither did he offer their funeral prayer nor did he get them washed.
عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ مِنْ أَحْسَنِ النَّاسِ صَوْتًا بِالْقُرْآنِ الَّذِي إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُوهُ يَقْرَأُ حَسِبْتُمُوهُ يَخْشَى اللَّهَ
Jabir reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Verily, among the people who recite the Quran with the best voice are those who, when you hear them, you consider them in awe of Allah."
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ لَمْ يَتَغَنَّ بِالْقُرْآنِ وَزَادَ غَيْرُهُ يَجْهَرُ بِهِ
Narrated Abu Salama:
Abu Huraira said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'Whoever does not recite Qur'an in a nice voice is not from us,' and others said extra, (that means) to recite it aloud."
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ صَاحِبِ الْقُرْآنِ كَمَثَلِ صَاحِبِ الإِبِلِ الْمُعَقَّلَةِ إِنْ عَاهَدَ عَلَيْهَا أَمْسَكَهَا وَإِنْ أَطْلَقَهَا ذَهَبَتْ
Narrated Ibn 'Umar:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The example of the person who knows the Qur'an by heart is like the owner of tied camels. If he keeps them tied, he will control them, but if he releases them, they will run away."
وَأَنَا تَارِكٌ فِيكُمْ ثَقَلَيْنِ أَوَّلُهُمَا كِتَابُ اللَّهِ فِيهِ الْهُدَى وَالنُّورُ فَخُذُوا بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَاسْتَمْسِكُوا بِهِ
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "...And I am leaving with you two weighty things: the first is the Book of Allah, in which there is right guidance and light, so hold fast to the Book of Allah and adhere to it."
Statements of the Salaf
أقوال السلفاقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ لَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمْ هَذِهِ الْمَصَاحِفُ الْمُعَلَّقَةُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُعَذِّبُ قَلْبًا وَعَى الْقُرْآنَ
Recite the Quran and do not be deceived by depending on the written copies. Verily, Allah will never punish a heart that has preserved the Quran.
Source: Ibn Abī Shaybah, Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 34732 / 34044