The Excellent Qualities of the Qur'an

Uthman reported God’s messenger as saying, “The best among you is he who learns and teaches the Qur’an.” Bukhari transmitted it.

When we were in the Suffa (A kind of verandah at the mosque in Medina where certain poor people lived) God’s mes­senger came out and asked, “Which of you would like to go out every morning to Buthan or al-Aqiq (Two wadis not far from Medina where camels were sold) and bring two large-humped she-camels without being guilty of sin or severing ties of relationship?”

We replied, “Messenger of God, we would all like that.” He said, “Does not one of you go out in the morning to the mosque and teach or recite two verses of God’s Book? That is better for him than two she- camels, and three verses are better for him than three she-camels, and four verses are better for him than four she-camels, and so on than their numbers in camels.”

Abu Hurayrah reported God’s messenger as saying, “Would one of you like, when he returns to his family, to find there three large, fat pregnant she-camels? When we replied that we would, he said, ‘Three verses which one of you recites in his prayer are better for him than three large, fat, pregnant she-camels.’”

Aishah reported God’s messenger as saying, “One who is skilled in the Qur’an is associated with the noble, upright recording angels; and he who falters when reciting the Qur’an and finds it difficult for him will have a double reward.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

a man who, having been given the Qur’an by God, stands reciting it during the night and during the day; and a man who having been given property by God, spends on others from it during the night and during the day. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Musa al-Ashari reported God’s messenger as saying, “A be­liever who recites the Qur’an is like a citron whose fragrance is sweet and whose taste is sweet, a believer who does not recite the Qur’an is like a date which has no fragrance but has a sweet state, a hypocrite who does not recite the Qur’an is like the colocynth which has no fragrance and has a better taste, and the hypocrite who recites the Qur’an is like basil whose fragrance is sweet but whose taste is bitter.”

A version has, “A believer who recites the Qur’an and acts according to it is like a citron, and a believer who does not recite the Qur’an but acts according to it is like a date.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Umar b. al Khattab reported God’s messenger as saying, “By this Book God exalts some peoples and lowers others.” Muslim trans­mitted it.

When a man was reciting sura al-Kahf (Qur’an,18) with a horse tied with two ropes at his side a cloud overshadowed him, and as it began to come nearer and nearer his horse began to take fright. He went and mentioned that to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) in the morning and he said, “That was the Shechina* which came down by reason of the Qur’an.” *The word in Arabic is as-sakina which may be translated calmness; but here it has the article which indicates something more precise.

It may therefore here refer to the Jewish idea of the Shechina which indicates a divine visitation, (Bukhari and Muslim.)

When I was praying in the mosque the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) called me and I did not answer him, but I went to him afterwards and explained that I had been praying, whereupon he asked me whether God had not said, “Respond to God and to the messenger when He calls you,” (Qur’an, 8:24) adding, “Let me teach you the greatest sura in the Qur’an before you leave the mosque.”

He then took me by the hand, and when we were about to go out I reminded him of saying he would teach me the greatest sura in the Qur’an. He said, “It is, ‘Praise be to God, the Lord of the universe’, (Qur’an,1) which is the seven oft-repeated verses and the mighty Qur’an (Qur’an, 15:87) which has been brought to me.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Hurayrah reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not make your houses graveyards*. The devil flies from the house in which sura al-Baqara is recited.” *A house in which there is no prayer or recitation of the Qur’an is here intended. The dead cannot engage in these practices, so such a house is likened to a graveyard.

Abu Umama said he heard God’s messenger say, “Recite the Qur’an, for on the day of resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite it. Recite the two shining ones, Baqara and sura Al Imran (Qur’an, 2 and 3). for on the day of resurrection they will come as two clouds or two shades, or two flocks of birds in ranks* pleading for those who recite them.

Recite sura al-Baqara, for using it produces blessing and abandoning it produces regret, and the slothful are unable to recite it.” *The alternative may indicate that the transmitter was not sure which word was used, “clouds” or “shades”.

An-Nawwas ibn Saman said he heard the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) say, “On the day of resurrection the Qur’an and those who acted according to it will be brought with sura al-Baqara and Al Imran preceding them* like two black clouds or canopies with light between them, or as though they were two flocks of birds in ranks pleading for the one who recited them.” * Mirqat says the pronoun may refer either to the people ahl mentioned, or to the Qur’an, One may therefore read here either ‘them’ or ‘it.’

God’s messenger asked, “Abul Mundhir (this is Ubayy’s Kunya), do you know which verse of God’s Book that you have is greatest?” I replied, “God and His messenger know best.” He repeated his question and I said, “God, there is no god but He, the Living, the Eternal.” Thereupon he struck me on the breast and said, “May knowledge be pleasant for you, Abul Mundhir!”

Fatihat al-Kitab (Qur’an, 1) and the last verses of sura al-Baqara (Qur’an, 2). You will not recite a phrase of them without being given the blessing it contains.

Abu Masud reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone recites the two verses at the end of sura al-Baqara at night they will avert harm from him.” *Or will be enough for him. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abud Darda reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone learns by heart ten verses at the beginning of sura al-Kahf (Qur’an, 18) he will be pro­tected from the dajjal.”

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “Is any of you incapable of reciting a third of the Qur’an in a night?” On being asked how they could recite a third of the Qur’an he replied. “‘Say, He is God, One’ (Qur’an, 112) is equivalent to a third of the Qur’an.”

Aishah said that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) sent a man in charge of an expedition and he would recite for his companions during their prayer, finishing with “Say, He is God, One.” When they returned they mentioned that to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), and he told them to ask him why he did that.

They asked him and he replied, “Because it is a description of the Com­passionate One, and I like to recite it.” Then the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Tell him that God loves him.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said a man told God’s messenger that he liked the sura “Say, He is God, One,” to which he replied, “Your love of it will bring you into paradise.” Tirmidhi transmitted it and Bukhari transmitted some­thing to the same effect.

Uqbah ibn Amir reported God’s messenger as saying, “What won­derful verses have been sent down to-night! The like of them has never been seen. They are ‘Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn’ and ‘Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of men.’” (Qur’an, 113 and 114).

Aishah said that every night when the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) went to his bed he joined his hands and breathed into them, reciting into them, ‘Say, He is God, One’; ‘Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn’; and ‘Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of men.’ Then he would wipe as much of his body as he could with his hands, beginning with his head, his face and the front of his body, doing that three times. (Bukhari and Muslim)

the Qur’an which will contend with men, having an exoteric and an esoteric mean­ing; the trust;* and ties of relationship which will say, ‘God join those who joined me and sever those who severed me’! *Cf. Qur’an, 33:72 It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

Abdallah ibn Amr reported God’s messenger as saying, “The one who was devoted to the Qur’an will be told to recite, ascend and recite carefully as he recited carefully when he was in the world, for he will reach his abode when he comes to the last verse he recites.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasai transmitted it.

Ibn Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Anyone who has nothing of the Qur’an within him is like a ruined house.” Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a sahih tradition.

Abu Said reported God’s messenger as stating, “God who is blessed and exalted says, ‘To him who is so occupied with the Qur’an as to neglect making mention of me and making request of me I will give the most excellent things I give to those who ask.’ The superiority of God’s words over all other words is like God’s superiority over His creatures.” Tirmidhi, Darimi, and Baihaqi, in Shuab al-iman, transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a hasan gharib tradition.

“If anyone recites a letter of God’s Book he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a tenfold reward (Al-Qur’an, 6:160). I do not say that A.L.M are one letter*, but alif is a letter, lam is a letter and mim is a letter.” *These letters occur at the beginning of suras 2, 3, 29, 30, 31 and 32. No satisfactory explanation of their meaning has been given.

A brief discussion of them is given by Abdullah Yusuf Ali in The Holy Qur’an, Text, Translation & Commentary (Lahore, 1934 and later editions), note 25. Sea also pp. 118-120. Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan sahih tradition whose isnad is gharib.

Muadh al-Juhani reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone recites the Qur’an and acts according to its contents, on the day of resurrection his parents will be given to wear a crown whose light is better than the light of the sun in the dwellings of this world if it were among you. So what do you think of him who acts according to this?” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Uqbah ibn Amir said he heard God’s messenger say, “If the Qur’an were put in a skin and thrown into the fire it would not burn.” Darimi transmitted it.

Ali reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone recites the Qur’an, learns it by heart, declares what is lawful in it to be lawful and what is unlawful in it to be unlawful, God will bring him into paradise and make him intercessor for ten of his family all of whom have deserved hell.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying that this is a gharib tradition, and that Hafs ibn Sulaiman the transmitter is not strong, but is declared to be a weak traditionist.

When God’s Messenger once asked Ubayy ibn Kab how he recited in the course of the prayer and he recited Umm al- Qur’an (Al-Qur’an 1), he said, “By Him in whose hand my soul is, nothing like it has been sent down in the Torah, the Injil, the Zabur, or the Qur’an, and it is seven of the oft-repeated verses and the mighty Qur’an (Qur’an, 15:87) which I have been given.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted from “nothing like it has been sent down,” but he did not mention Ubayy ibn Kab. Tirmidhi said this is a hasan sahih tradition.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “Learn and recite the Qur’an, for to one who learns, recites and uses it in prayer at night it is like a bag filled with musk whose fragrance diffuses itself everywhere; and he who learns it and goes to sleep having it within him is like a bag with musk tied up in it.” Tirmidhi, Nasai and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

“If anyone recites in the morning Ha Mim al-Mumin (Al-Qur’an, 40:1-3) to ‘to Him is the final goal’ and the Throne Verse (Al-Qur’an, 2:255) he will be guarded by them till the evening, and if anyone recites them in the evening he will be guarded by them till the morning.” Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a gharib tradition.

“Two thousand years before creating the heavens and the earth God inscribed a book of which He sent down two verses with which He concluded Surat al-Baqara. The devil will not come near a house in which they are recited three nights.” Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a gharib tradition.

Abud Darda reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who recites three verses at the beginning of al-Kahf will be protected from the trial of the dajjal.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan sahih tradition.

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Everything has a heart, and the heart of the Qur’an is Ya Sin (Qur’an, 36). God will record anyone who recites Ya Sin as having recited the Qur’an ten times.” Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a gharib tradition.

Abu Hurayrah reported God’s messenger as saying, “A thousand years before creating the heavens and the earth God recited Ta Ha (Qur’an, 20) and Ya Sin, and when the angels heard the recitation they said, ‘Happy are a people to whom this comes down, happy are the minds which carry this, and happy are the tongues which utter this’.” Darimi transmitted it.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “If someone recites Ha Mim ad-Dukhan (Qur’an, 44) any night, seventy thousand angels will ask forgiveness for him in the morning.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying that this is a gharib tradition and that Umar ibn Abu Khatham the transmitter is declared to be weak. Muhammad, i.e. Bukhari, said his traditions were rejected.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone recites Ha Mim ad-Dukhan on a Thursday night his sins will be forgiven.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying that this is a gharib daif tradition and that Hisham Abul Miqdam its transmitter is declared to be weak.

Al-Irbad ibn Sariya said the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) used to recite al-Musabbihat* before going to sleep, and say they contained a verse which is better than a thousand verses. *These are said to be suras 57, 59, 61, 62, 64, 87 which begin with the perfect, imperfect, or imperative of the verb sabbaha (‘to glorify’). Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted it in mursal form on the authority of Khalid ibn Madan. Tirmidhi said this is a hasan gharib tradition.

Abu Hurayrah reported God’s messenger as saying, “A sura in the Qur’an containing thirty verses interceded for a man till his sins were forgiven. It was ‘Blessed is He in whose hand is the kingdom.’” (Qur’an, 67) Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasai and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

One of the Prophet’s companions set up his tent over a grave without realising that it was a grave, and it contained a man who was reciting the sura, “Blessed is He in whose hand is the kingdom,” up to the end. He went and told the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), who said, “It is the defender; it is the protector which is protecting him from God’s punishment.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.saying this is a gharib tradition.

Jabir said it was the Prophet’s custom not to go to sleep till he had recited “A. L. M The sending down,” (Qur’an, 32) and “Blessed is He in whose hand is the kingdom.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a sahih tradition. The same is said in Sharh as-sunna, but in al-Masabih it is called gharib.

Ibn Abbas and Anas ibn Malik reported God’s messenger as saying that “When is shaken” (Qur’an, 99) is equivalent to half the Qur’an, “Say, He is God, One” (Qur’an, 112) is equivalent to a third of the Qur’an, and “Say, O infidels” (Qur’an, 109) is equivalent to a quarter of the Qur’an. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:, “If anyone says three times in the morning, ‘I seek refuge in God, the Hearer and Knower, from the accursed devil’, and recites three verses at the end of sura al-Hashr (Qur’an, 59), God will put in charge of him seventy thousand angels who will invoke blessings on him till the evening, and if he dies that day he will die as a martyr.

If anyone says them in the evening he will be in that rank.” Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a gharib tradition.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:, ‘If anyone recites two hundred times daily, ‘Say, He is God, One’, the sins of fifty years will be wiped out, unless he is in debt.’ Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it. The latter’s version has “fifty times”, and he did not mention “unless he is in debt.”

He reported the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) as saying, “If anyone who is about to sleep on his bed lies on his right side, then recites ‘Say, He is God, One’ a hundred times, the Lord will say to him on the day of resurrection, ‘My servant, enter paradise to your right’.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), on hearing a man reciting “Say, He is God, One” remarked, “It is certain.” I asked him what was certain, and he replied that it was paradise. Malik, Tirmidhi and Nasai transmitted it.

Farwa ibn Naufal quoted his father as saying that he had asked God’s messenger to teach him something to say when he went to bed, and was told to recite, “Say, O infidels”, for it is a declaration of freedom from polytheism. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

While I was travelling with God’s messenger between *al-Juhfa and al-Abwa a wind and intense darkness enveloped us, whereupon God’s messenger began to seek refuge in God, reciting “I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn” and “I seek refuge in the Lord of men.”(Qur’an, 113 &114) He then said, “Use them, Uqba, when seeking refuge in God, for no one can use anything to compare with them for the purpose.” *Al Juhfa- a village about 82 miles from Mecca.

Al Abwa- a village between twenty and thirty miles nearer Medina than al-Juhfa. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

We went out one rainy and intensely dark night to look for God’s messenger, and when we caught up on him he said to me, “Say.” I asked him what I was to say, and he replied, “If you recite ‘Say, He is God, One’ and al-Muawidhatan (The last 3 suras of the Qur’an) three times morning and evening, they will serve you for every purpose.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasai transmitted it.

Uqbah ibn Amir said that when he asked God’s messenger whether he should recite sura Hud (Qur’an, 11) or sura Yusuf (Qur’an, 12), he told him he could recite nothing more effective with God than “Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn.” Ahmad, Nasai and Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Hurayrah reported God’s messenger as saying, “Expound the Qur’an and take as guide its unusual expressions, they being the things made obligatory in it and the limits set in it.” Transmitted by Baihaqi in Shuab al-iman.

Aishah reported the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) as saying, “Reciting the Qur’an during prayer is more excellent than reciting it at other times, and reciting the Qur’an at a time other than during prayer is more excellent than extolling God and declaring His greatness. Extolling God is more excellent than sadaqa, sadaqa is more excellent than fasting, and fasting is a protection from hell.” Transmitted by Baihaqi in Shuab al-iman.

Uthman ibn ‘ Abdallah ibn Aus ath-Thaqafi, on his grandfather’s authority, reported God’s messenger as saying, ‘A man’s recitation of the Qur’an without using a copy of it produces a thousand degrees of reward, but his recitation while using a copy is double that, reaching two thousand degrees.’ Transmitted by Baihaqi in Shuab al-iman.’

Ibn Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “These hearts be­come rusty just as iron does when water gets to it.” On being asked what could clear them he replied, “A great amount of remembrance of death and recitation of the Qur’an.” Transmitted by Baihaqi in Shuab al-iman.

Aifa ibn Abd al-Kilai told of a man who asked God’s messenger which sura of the Qur’an was greatest and was told that it is “Say, He is God, One.” He asked which verse of the Qur’an was greatest and was told that it is the Throne Verse, “God, there is no god but He, the Living, he Eternal.”

He asked God’s prophet which verse he would like to bring good to him and his people and was told, “The end of sura al-Baqara, for it is one of the treasures of God’s mercy from under His Throne which He gave to this people, and there is no good in this world and the next which it does not include.” Darimi transmitted it.

Abd al-Malik ibn Umair reported in mursal form that God’s mes­senger said, “Fatihat al-Kitab contains healing for every disease.” Darimi and Baihaqi, in Shuab al-iman, transmitted it.

Uthman ibn Affan said, “If anyone recites the end of Al Imran (Qur’an, 3) on a night, the reward for a night spent in prayer will be recorded for him.” Transmitted by Darimi.

“If anyone recites Al Imran on a Friday, the angels will invoke blessings on him till night comes.” Transmitted by Darimi.

Jubair ibn Nufair reported God’s messenger as saying, “God finished sura al Baqara with two verses which I have been given from His treasure which is under the Throne; so learn them and teach them to your womenfolk, for they are a blessing, a means of approach and a supplication.” Darimi transmitted it in mursal form.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:, “Recite sura Hud (Qur’an, 9) on Fridays.” Darimi transmitted it in mursal form.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:, “If anyone recites sura al-Kahf (Qur’an, 18) on Friday, light will shine brightly for him till the next Friday.” Baihaqi transmitted it in al-Daawat al-kabir.

Recite the rescuer, which is A.L.M. The sending down (Qur’an, 32) for I have heard that a man who had committed many sins used to recite it and nothing else. It spread its wing over him and said, “My Lord, forgive him, for he often used to recite me so the Lord most high made it an intercessor for him and said, ‘Record for him a good deed and raise him a degree in place of every sin.’

Khalid said also: It will dispute on behalf of the one who recites it when he is in his grave saying, ‘O God, if I am a part of Thy Book, make me an intercessor for him; but if I am not a part of Thy Book, blot me out of it.’ It will be like a bird putting its wing on him, it will intercede for him and will protect him from the punishment in the grave.

He said the same about ‘Blessed is He.’ (Qur’an, 67) Khalid did not go to sleep at night till he had recited them. Taus said they were given sixty virtues more than any other sura in the Qur’an. Darimi transmitted it.”

Ata ibn Abu Rabah told of hearing that God’s messenger said, “If anyone recites Ya Sin at the beginning of the day, his wants will be supplied.” Darimi transmitted it in mursal form.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:, “If anyone recites Ya Sin (Qur’an, 36) out of a desire for God’s favour, his past sins will be forgiven him; so recite it over those of you who are dying.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shuab al-iman.

37, 45, 47, 48, 50, 61, 67, and 93. The name is most appropriately explained as meaning that this is the section of the Qur’an which contains many shorter suras. Darimi transmitted it.

Ali told that he heard God’s messenger say, “Everything has an adornment, and the adornment of the Qur’an is ar-Rahman” (Qur’an, 57) Transmitted by Baihaqi in Shuab al-iman.

Ibn Masud reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who recites sura al-Waqia (Qur’an, 56) every night will never be afflicted by want.” Ibn Masud used to order his daughters to recite it every night. Transmitted by Baihaqi in Shuab al-iman.

Ali said that God’s messenger used to like this sura, “Glorify the name of thy most high Lord.”(Qur’an, 87)

Abdallah ibn Amr told of a man coming to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and asking him to teach him to recite. On being told to recite three of the suras with A. L.

R (Qur’an, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15) he replied, “I am old, my heart has difficulty in remem­bering, and my tongue is sluggish.” When told that in that case he should recite three with Ha Mim (Qur’an, 40 to 46) he gave the same reply and then asked God’s messenger to teach him to recite a comprehensive sura. He taught him to recite “When is shaken” (Qur’an, 99) up to the end, and the man said, “I swear by Him who has sent you with the truth that I shall never recite more than that.”

Then when the man turned away God’s messenger said twice, “The little man has come into a state of felicity.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “Can one of you not recite a thousand verses daily?” Then when he was asked who could recite a thousand verses daily he replied, “Can one of you not recite ‘Rivalry has distracted you’?”(Qur’an, 102) Baihaqi transmitted it in Shuab al-iman.

Said b. al-Musayyib reported in mursal form that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “If anyone recites ten times ‘Say, He is God, One’, a palace will be built for him in paradise because of it; if anyone recites twenty times two palaces will be built for him in paradise because of it; and if anyone recites it thirty times three palaces will be built for him in paradise be­cause of it.”

Umar ibn al-Khattab said, “I swear by God, messenger of God, that we shall then produce many palaces for ourselves;” to which he replied, “God’s abundant grace is even more comprehensive than that.” Darimi transmitted it.

Al-Hasan reported in mursal form that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “If anyone recites a hundred verses in a night the Qur’an will not argue against him that night; if anyone recites two hundred verses in a night he will be recorded as having spent a night standing in prayer; and if anyone recites five hundred to a thousand verses in a night, in the morning he will have a reward equivalent to a qintar*.

He was asked what a qintar was and replied that it was twelve thousand. *This is the measure to which many different values have been ascribed. Darimi transmitted it.”

Abu Musa al-Ashari reported God’s messenger as saying, “Keep refreshing your knowledge of the Qur’an, for I swear by Him in whose hand my soul is that it is more liable to escape than camels which are tethered.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn Masud reported God’s messenger as saying, “It is wrong for one to say that he has forgotten such and such a verse, for he has been made to forget. Study the Qur’an, for it is more apt to escape from men’s minds than animals.” (Bukhari and Muslim, Muslim adding “which are tethered”.)

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:, “He who studies the Qur’an is like the owner of tethered camels. If he pays attention to them he keeps hold of them, but if he lets them loose they go away.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jundub ibn Abdallah reported God’s messenger as saying, “Recite the Qur’an as long as you can concentrate on it, but when your concentra­tion flags give it up.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

When Anas was asked how the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) recited the Qur’an he replied that he did so prolonging the words. Then he recited “In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful,” prolonging each phrase. Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Hurayrah reported God’s messenger as saying, “God has not listened to anything as He does to a prophet chanting* the Qur’an.” *There are different opinions about the meaning of yataghanna which is here used. While some explain it as in the translation, others prefer to understand it in the sense of yastaghni which means being content with. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “God has not listened to anything as He does to a prophet with a good voice reciting the Qur’an aloud.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “He does not belong to us who does not chant the Qur’an.” Bukhari transmitted it.

When God’s Messenger was on the pulpit he asked him to recite to him and he replied, “Shall I recite to you when it was sent down to you?” He said that he liked to hear it from someone else, so Abdallah recited Surat an-Nisa up to this verse, “How then shall it be when We bring from every people a witness and bring you against them as witness?”(Al-Qur’an, 4:1-41) Then on being told that that was enough for the present, he turned round to him and saw the tears falling from his eyes. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying to Ubayy ibn Kab, “God has commanded me to recite the Qur’an to you.” He asked, “Did God mention me to you by name?” and when he was told that He had, he said, “Have I been mentioned in the presence of the Lord of the uni­verse?”

On being told that he had, tears fell from his eyes. In a version he said God had commanded him to recite to him “Those who disbelieve were not …” (Qur’an, 98). He asked if He had mentioned him by name, and when he was told that He had, he wept. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

God’s-messenger forbade taking the Qur’an into enemy territory. A version by Muslim has, “Do not take the Qur’an with you when travelling, for I cannot guarantee that the enemy will not get it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

I sat with a company of the poor*members of the Emigrants who were sitting close together because of lack of clothing while a reader was reciting to us. God’s messenger came along and stood beside us, and when he did so the reader stopped and gave him a salutation.

He asked what we were doing, and when we told him we were listening to God’s Book he said, “Praise be to God who has put among my people those with whom I have been ordered to keep myself.”(Qur’an,18:28) He then sat down among us so as to be like one of us, and when he had made a sign with his hand they sat in a circle with their faces turned towards him, and he said, “Rejoice, you group of poor Emigrants, in the announcement that you will have perfect light on the day of resurrection.

You will enter paradise half a day before the rich, and that is five hundred years.” *Lit. ‘Weak’. This is said to refer to the people who lived in the Suffa Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Al-Bara ibn Azib reported God’s messenger as saying, “Beautify the Qur’an with your voices.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Sad ibn Ubada reported God’s messenger as saying, “Every man who recites the Qur’an and then forgets it* will meet God on the day of resurrection in a maimed condition.” *This has been explained as referring to one who has learned the Qur’an by heart and later forgets it, or neglects to recite it. Abu Dawud and Darimi trans­mitted it.

Abdallah ibn Amr reported God’s messenger as saying, “The one who recites the Qur’an in less than three nights does not understand it.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

Uqbah ibn Amir reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who recites the Qur’an loudly is like him who gives sadaqa openly, and he who recites the Qur’an quietly is like him who gives sadaqa secretly.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasai transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.

Suhayb reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who treats what the Qur’an prohibits as permissible does not believe in it.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, but said this is a tradition whose isnad is not strong.

Al-Laith ibn Sad quoted Ibn Abu Mulaika who quoted Yala ibn Mamlak as saying that he asked Umm Salamah about the manner in which the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) recited, and she described it in a manner by which it was explained word by word.* *This is explained as meaning that she showed how he pronounced each syllable distinctly, or simply that she gave an illustration of the fine quality of the Prophet’s recitation. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasai trans­mitted it.

Ibn Juraij quoted Ibn Abu Mulaika who reported Umm Salamah as saying, ‘God’s messenger used to make pauses in his recitation. He would say, ‘Praise be to God, the Lord of the universe’, then stop. He would next say, ‘The Compassionate, the Merciful’, then stop.’ Tirmidhi transmitted it, but he said that its isnad is not fully connected, because al-Laith transmitted this tradition from Ibn Abu Mulaika from Yala ibn Mamlak from Umm Salamah, and al-Laith’s tradition is sounder.

God’s messenger came out to us when we were reciting the Qur’an, our number including nomad Arabs and non-Arabs, and said, “Recite, for it is all good; but after you people will come who will straighten it as an arrow is straightened, seeking a reward for it in this world and not waiting for their reward in the next.” Abu Dawud and Baihaqi, in Shuab al-iman, transmitted it.

Hudhayfah reported God’s messenger as saying, “Recite the Qur’an with the modulations and tones of the Arabs, but avoid the modulations of those who recite love poetry and the modulations of the people of the two Books. After my death people will come who will trill when they recite the Qur’an as is done in singing and wailing, but it will go no farther than their throats, and they and those who are charmed by their performance will be led into error.” Baihaqi in Shuab al-iman and Razin in his book transmitted it.

Al-Bara ibn Azib told that he heard God’s messenger say, “Beautify the Qur’an with your voices, for the beautiful voice increases the beauty of the Qur’an.” Darimi transmitted it.

Tawus told in mursal form that when the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was asked who had the most beautiful voice for the Qur’an and whose recitation was most beautiful he replied, “The one of whom you think when you hear him recite that he fears God.” Tawus added that Talq* was like that. * A companion of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) who belonged to al-Yamama. Darimi transmitted it.

‘Abida al-Mulaiki who was a Companion reported God’s messenger as saying, ‘Do not make the Qur’an a pillow,* but recite it as it deserves to be recited during the night and the day. Recite it aloud, chant it and consider its contents, perhaps you may prosper; but do not seek to get reward for it in this world, for it provides rewards.’(i.e., in the next world) *A figure of speech warning against laziness or neglect. Baihaqi trans­mitted it in Shuab’ al-iman.

I heard Hisham ibn Hakim ibn Hizam reciting sura al-Furqan (Qur’an, 25) in a different manner from my way of reciting it, and God’s messenger had taught me to recite it. I nearly spoke sharply to him, but I delayed till he had finished, and then catching his cloak at the neck I brought him to God’s messenger and said, “Messen­ger of God, I heard this man reciting sura al-Furqan in a manner different from that in which you taught me to recite it.”

He told me to let him go and told him to recite. When he recited it in the manner in which I had heard him recite it God’s messenger said, “Thus was it sent down.” He then told me to recite it and when I had done so he said, “Thus was it sent down. The Qur’an was sent down in seven modes of reading, so recite according to what comes most easily.” (Bukhari and Muslim, the wording being Muslim’s.)

I heard a man who recited, and as I had heard the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) reciting differently I took him to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and told him and noticed that he gave a disapproving look. He then said, “Both of you are doing it well, so do not disagree, for your predecessors disagreed and perished.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Ibn Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Gabriel taught me to recite in one mode, and when I replied to him and kept asking him to give me more he did so till he reached seven modes.” Ibn Shihab said he had heard that those seven modes are essentially one, not differing about what is permitted and what is prohibited. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ubayy ibn Kab told of God’s messenger meeting Gabriel and saying, “I have been sent, Gabriel, to a people who are unlettered, among whom are old women and old men, boys and girls, and men who have never read a book.”

He replied, “The Qur’an, Muhammad, has been sent down in seven modes.” In a version by Ahmad and Abu Dawud he said, “They include only what is sufficiently health-giving.” In a version by Nasai the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is quoted as saying that Gabriel and Michael came to him, and when Gabriel had sat down at his right and Michael at his left, Gabriel told him to recite the Qur’an in one mode, and Michael told him to ask more, till he reached seven modes, each mode being sufficiently health-giving. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Imran ibn Husayn said that when he came upon a story-teller who was reciting the Qur’an and then asking for payment he first uttered the words, “We belong to God and to Him do we return” and then told that he had heard God’s messenger say, “When anyone recites the Qur’an, let him ask a reward for it from God, for people will arise who will recite the Qur’an and ask a reward for it from men.” Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Buraydah reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone recites the Qur’an seeking thereby to get a living from people, he will come on the day of resurrection with his face as a fleshless bone.” Baihaqi trans­mitted it in Shuab al-iman.

God’s messenger did not know where suras were to be separated till “In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful,” was sent down. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

When we were in Hims Ibn Masud recited sura Yusuf (Quran, 12) and a man declared that it was not sent down like that. To this Abdallah replied, “I swear by God that I recited it in the time of God’s messenger and he told me I had done it well.” While speaking to him he noticed the smell of wine on him, so he said, “Do you drink wine and declare the Book false?” and then gave him the prescribed beating. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn Abbas said he asked Uthman what had induced them to deal with al-Anfal (Qur’an, 8) which is one of the Mathani* and with Baraa which is one with a hundred verses, joining them without writing the line contain­ing “In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful,” and putting it among the seven long ones.

When he asked again what had induced them to do that, Uthman replied, “Over a period suras with numerous verses would come down to God’s messenger, and when some­thing came down to him he would call one of those who wrote and tell him to put these verses in the sura in which such and such is mentioned, and when a verse came down he would tell them to put it in the sura in which such and such is mentioned.

Now al-Anfal was one of the first to come down in Medina and Baraa was among the last of the Qur’an to come down, and the subject-matter of the one resembled that of the other, so because God’s messenger was taken without having explained to us whether it belonged to it, for that reason I joined them without writing the line containing ‘In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful, and put it among the long suras.’ *Suras with less than a hundred verses, but more than those in al mufassal. Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.”