Allah Himself has commanded the reading of the Quran. How should the Quran be read? What are the virtues and benefits of reading it? What clear guidance do the Quran and Sunnah give on this?

Muslim believers have been instructed to read the Quran with tartil. On reciting the Quran with tartil, Allah says: "And recite the Quran slowly, clearly and beautifully." (Surah Al-Muzzammil, verse 4)

Several hadiths say that the Prophet (PBUH) recited the Quran slowly, clearly and beautifully, and taught his ummah to read it the same way, pausing as they went.

The verse, illustrated by the hadiths, shows clearly how the Quran should be read: with tartil. Tartil means pronouncing the words slowly and correctly. As the words of the Quran are pronounced slowly, one must also reflect deeply on them in order to understand them. (Ibn Kathir)

When Anas (RA) was asked how the Prophet (PBUH) read the Quran, he said the Prophet drew out the words. As an example, he recited "Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim" and said the Prophet lengthened the words Allah, Rahman and Rahim. (Bukhari)

When Umm Salama (RA) was asked the same question, she said the Prophet (PBUH) read each verse separately and paused after each one. He would say "Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alamin" and pause, then "Ar-Rahmanir Rahim" and pause, then "Maliki Yawmiddin" and pause. (Musnad Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)

Hudhayfa ibn al-Yaman (RA) narrated that one night he stood in prayer with the Prophet (PBUH) and saw that he recited in such a way that where a passage of glorification came, he glorified Allah; where a passage of supplication came, he supplicated; and where a passage on seeking refuge in Allah came, he sought refuge. (Muslim)

Abu Dharr (RA) narrated that once, while reciting in the night prayer, the Prophet (PBUH) reached the verse "If You punish them, they are Your servants; and if You forgive them, You are the Mighty, the Wise", and he kept repeating that verse until dawn broke. (Musnad Ahmad)

The Companions and their successors also read the Quran this way. It is also good to recite the Quran in a beautiful, melodious voice. That is why the Prophet (PBUH) said:

"Whoever does not recite the Quran in a beautiful voice is not one of us." (Bukhari)

"Beautify the Quran with your voices." (Ibn Majah)

Because Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (RA) recited the Quran in a sweet voice, the Prophet (PBUH) praised him, saying: "You have been given a voice from the family of Dawud." (Bukhari, Muslim)

"On the Day of Judgement, the companion of the Quran will be told: read and keep ascending. Your place will be where the last verse you read ends." (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)

Uthman ibn Affan (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "The best among you is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it to others." (Bukhari, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Musnad Ahmad, Darimi)

Abu Umamah (RA) narrated that he heard the Prophet (PBUH) say: "Read the Quran, for on the Day of Judgement it will come as an intercessor for its reader." (Muslim, Musnad Ahmad)

Nawwas ibn Sam'an (RA) narrated that he heard the Prophet (PBUH) say: "The Quran and those who acted upon it in this world will be brought forward (before Allah on the Day of Judgement), with Surah Al-Baqarah and Surah Al-Imran preceding it, arguing (with the Lord) on behalf of those who read them." (Muslim, Tirmidhi, Musnad Ahmad)

Aisha (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "The hafiz of the Quran (one who recites it correctly) will be with the honourable, righteous scribes (the angels). And the one who falters while reading the Quran, or finds it hard (because he has not memorised it well), will have two rewards (one for reading and one for the difficulty)." (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Musnad Ahmad, Darimi)

Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "The believer who reads the Quran is like the utrujja (a citrus fruit like an orange), whose smell is good and whose taste is good. The believer who does not read the Quran is like a date, which has no (pleasant) smell but tastes sweet. The hypocrite who reads the Quran is like the fragrant (basil) plant, whose smell is good but whose taste is bitter. And the hypocrite who does not read the Quran is like the makal fruit, which has no (pleasant) smell and a bitter taste." (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Musnad Ahmad, Darimi)

Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "By this Book (the Quran), Allah raises some people (those who act upon it) and by it (through disobedience) brings others down." (Muslim, Ibn Majah, Musnad Ahmad, Darimi)

Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Envy is permitted in two cases: (1) a person to whom Allah has given the Quran (the ability to memorise it), and he reads it and acts on it day and night; and (2) a person to whom Allah has given wealth, and he spends it (in the way of Allah) day and night." (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Musnad Ahmad)

Bara ibn Azib (RA) narrated that one day a man was reciting Surah Al-Kahf, with a horse tied beside him by two ropes. A cloud covered the man, and as it came closer the horse saw it and began to start and leap about. In the morning the man went to the Prophet (PBUH) and described what had happened. Hearing it, the Prophet said: "That was tranquillity, which descended because of your reading of the Quran." (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Musnad Ahmad)

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Whoever reads one letter of the Book of Allah (the Quran) will have one good deed, and one good deed is equal to ten. I do not say that Alif-Lam-Mim is one letter; rather Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter." (So Alif-Lam-Mim, made up of three letters, earns thirty good deeds.) (Tirmidhi)

So there is no room to stay away from reading the Quran. Keeping away from it leaves one like a ruined house. Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "The one who has nothing of the Quran inside him is like a ruined house." (Tirmidhi, Musnad Ahmad, Darimi)

The virtues of reading the Quran are many, so it must be read often, whether one understands it or not. Those who cannot read it fluently must read it slowly, a little at a time, even if it is hard. Believers will then receive the virtues and honour described, equal or even double.

In the hereafter there is a special honour promised to the one who reads the Quran. Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "The one who read the Holy Quran, the hafiz and the one who acted upon it will be told (on the Day of Judgement): keep reading the Quran and keep climbing (to higher ranks). Read clearly and slowly, just as you read in the world, for your place (in Paradise) will be where you finish reading your last verse." (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Musnad Ahmad)

Why must we read the Quran? The hadiths above are answer enough. There is no alternative to reading the Quran for good in this world and the next; it brings peace in this life and salvation in the hereafter.

May Allah grant the Muslim ummah the ability to read the Quran with tartil, slowly and with pauses, in a beautiful and melodious voice, and to act properly on the hadiths. Amin.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.