Benefits and Virtues of Reciting the Quran
Benefits and Virtues of Reciting the Quran
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Allah Almighty said about Quran: “This is the Book (the Quran), whereof there is no doubt, guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqoon [the pious]” (Quran, 2:2)
Indeed the Book of Allah is not a book like any other, it is the timeless Speech of Allah, not a created thing, and the study guide for life and death and what comes after. Therefore it deserves a more careful study than anyone else’s speech. So, as a Muslim, we should recite Quran daily with better understanding so that we can earn Allah’s blessings in this life and the hereafter.
In a hadith reported by Hazrat Ayesha RadiAllahu anha and narrated by Imam Al-Bukhari,
“..The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم replied, “I do not know how to read.’’ The Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم added, “The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it anymore. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, ‘I do not know how to read.”Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it anymore. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, “I do not know how to read !?” Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said,“
“Read in the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists), created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous.”
(Surah Al-‘Alaq, 96:1-5)
The first revelation that Allah Ta’ala revealed to Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم was the commandment for his people to seek knowledge, through the spirit of Iqra’ (reading). This set the foundational basis of the Prophetic message to humanity. The importance of knowledge is clearly expounded by the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم. This promotion of knowledge for all humankind had enlightened humanity from the ignorance of the Dark Ages.
Allah Ta’ala commanded us to read, to ponder, to analyse and to understand the verse of the Quran. The Quran is indeed a gift for all humankind. Each verse in the Quran is so unique that it can never be rephrased even by a linguist expert. Given that the Quran is very significant for Muslims, let’s appreciate the Quran by taking a first step of reading this final scripture revealed to humanity, even if we have yet to understand the Arabic language.
Here are 5 reasons why we should recite the Quran:
1. You will get rewarded for every letter that you read from the Quran.
Yes! You read it right, not 1 surah, not 1 ayat, not 1 word, but you will be rewarded for each letter that is recited from the verses of the Quran.
Hazrat Ayesha RadiAllahu anha reported:
مَن قَرَأَ حَرْفًا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَلَهُ بِهِ حَسَنَةٌ وَالْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا لاَ أَقُولُ الم حَرْفٌ وَلَكِنْ أَلِفٌ حَرْفٌ وَلاَمٌ حَرْفٌ وَمِيمٌ حَرْفٌ
Whoever recites a letter from Allah’s Book, then he receives the reward from it, and the reward of ten the like of it. I do not say that Alif Lam Mim is a letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter
(Sunan At-Tirmizi)
2. Quran Calms the Soul.
Reciting the Quran is part of remembrance (zikir). It is also a form of Ibadah. When you do zikir, you will attain inner peace and solace as mentioned in the Quran:
الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَتَطمَئِنُّ قُلوبُهُم بِذِكرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلا بِذِكرِ اللَّهِ تَطمَئِنُّ القُلوبُ
“Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah, hearts are assured”
(Surah Ar-Ra’ad, 13:28)
3. You stutter and can’t get it right? No problem. You will be rewarded for that too!
For some of us, the Arabic language is a foreign language. When you are a beginner, you tend to stutter and may find it difficult to read it fluently. Not understanding what you are reading is already frustrating enough, what more to practice to read in different language and letters.
But fear not, Allah Ta’ala is All-Knowing, Most Merciful. He will reward you twice for the hard work of trying to read the verses of the Quran!
Sayidatina Aishah (r.a.) reported:
الذي يقرأ القرآن وهو ماهر به مع السفرة الكرام البررة، والذي يقرأ القرآن ويتتعتع فيه وهو عليه شاق له أجران
“The one who is proficient in the r
ecitation of the Qur’an will be with the honourable and obedient scribes (angels), and he who recites the Qur’an and finds it difficult to recite, doing his best to recite it in the best way possible, will have two rewards.”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari & Muslim)
4. Quran is a Source of Guidance
As a human being, we constantly need someone to talk and to share our problems. While making dua is one of the means to talk to Allah, you can also find answers while reading the Quran. It is one of the ways how Allah communicates with us. He sent down guidance for us 1400 years ago! Allah Ta’ala mentioned in the Quran in a couple of Surahs:
كِتابٌ أَنزَلناهُ إِلَيكَ لِتُخرِجَ النّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُماتِ إِلَى النّورِ
“A Book We have sent down to you so that you may bring forth mankind from the darkness into the light..”.
(Surah Ibrahim, 14:1)
Read the Quran and you will be amazed how it speaks and comforts you and that the answers to your worries may just be in between the lines. Remember, when reciting the Quran, do ensure to find the right source of interpretations and get clarifications from certified Asatizah as well.
5. The Quran is made easy for us.
To this, Allah Ta’ala says in the Quran:
وَلَقَد يَسَّرنَا القُرآنَ لِلذِّكرِ فَهَل مِن مُدَّكِرٍ
And We have certainly made the Quran easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?
(Surah Al-Qamar, 54:17)
Allah Ta’ala, the Most Merciful mentioned in the Quran four times specifically in Surah Al-Qamar, that He had made it easy for us to recite and comprehend, to remind mankind that regardless of who we are, we are constantly in need of reminders from Him. Allah Ta’ala mentioned in Surah As-Sad:
كِتابٌ أَنزَلناهُ إِلَيكَ مُبارَكٌ لِيَدَّبَّروا آياتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الأَلبابِ
[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [Oh Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded
(Surah Sad 38:29)
While it is recommended that we strive to understand the Quran, this does not mean that we can interpret the Quran once we read its translation on our own. We certainly need guidance from credible Asaatizah to explain the tafsir of the Quran. And when you make an effort to read and understand the Quran, Allah Ta’ala will open the gates of knowledge and wisdom for you to understand His beautiful words! Insha’Allah.
