Advice of Scholars - RECITATION OF THE QUR’ÂN AL-KERÎM

A hadîth-i sherîf, which is written in the commentary to the book Shir’at-ul islâm, states: “The most valuable worship to be done by my Umma is to read the Qur’ân al-kerîm by looking at the Book.” And it is written in Kitâb-ut tibyân: “The best recitation of the Qur’ân al-kerîm is the one done in salât.” [A hadîth, which exists in the ninety-third letter of the third volume of Maktûbât by Hadrat Muhammad Ma’sûm ‘rahmatullâhi ’alaih’, declares: “Recitation of the Qur’ân done in salât is more useful than that which is done outside of salât.” This hadîth-i sherîf is written in Hazînat-ul esrâr together with its sources.] Hadrat Alî ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anh’ stated: “A hundred thawâbs are given for each letter of the recitation of the Qur’ân done when standing in the salât. When it is recited (or read) with an ablution outside the salât twenty-five thawâbs are given for each letter. When it is recited without an ablution ten thawâbs are given. And fewer thawâbs are given if it is recited when walking or doing some work.” Reading one âyat and thinking of its meaning produces much more thawâb than reading the whole Qur’ân and thinking about something else. It is a very ugly bid’at to read the Qur’ân al-kerîm melodiously, which has become customary among the hâfizes recently; it is very sinful. You must read the Qur’ân al-kerîm with a mellifluous and sorrowful voice and with fear of Allah. It is written in Fatâwâ of Bezzâziyya: “A person who reads the Qur’ân al-kerîm melodiously like singing will not be given any thawâb.” It is wâjib to say the A’ûdhu when beginning to read (or recite) a sûra or an âyat. And when beginning to read (or recite) the Fâtiha it is wâjib to say also the Basmala. It is sunna to say the Basmala when beginning (to read or recite) other âyats. A hadîth-i sherîf declares: “When you read the Qur’ân al-kerîm observing the rules of tajwîd, you will be given twenty thawâbs for each letter. You will be given ten thâwabs if you do not follow the rules of tajwîd.” It is one of the gravest sins to forget an âyat after having memorized it. A hadîth declares: “Nûrs rise up to the ’Arsh from a house where the Qur’ân al-kerîm is being read.” Abû Hureyra ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anh’ said: “Baraka and goodness come to a house where the Qur’ân alkerîm is being read (or recited); angels come together there; devils flee from there.” It produces plenty of thawâb to listen to the Qur’ân al-kerîm being read. A hadîth-i sherîf declares: “An âyat one listens to will be a nûr (light) for one on the Day of Rising.”