The Virtue of the Magnificent Quran

الشيخ أبو بكر محمد

Indeed, all praise is due to Allah; we praise Him, seek His assistance, and ask for His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our souls and our adverse deeds. Whomever Allah guides, no one can misguide, and whomever He misguides, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without any partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.

To proceed: Verily, the most truthful speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad ﷺ. The worst of matters are newly invented ones (in religion), every newly invented matter is an innovation (Bid'ah), every innovation is a misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Fire.

The Holy Quran is the literal speech of Allah; it is His firm rope and His illuminating lamp. Allah the Almighty states:

﴿اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَاباً مُّتَشَابِهاً مَّثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ﴾

"Allah has sent down the best statement: a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. The skins shiver therefrom of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts relax at the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah by which He guides whom He wills. And one whom Allah leaves astray - for him there is no guide." [Surah Az-Zumar: 23]

The Holy Quran is the eternal miracle of Allah lasting until the Day of Resurrection. Allah supported His Messenger Muhammad ﷺ with it and challenged the disbelievers through its text.

Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:

﴿قُل لَّئِنِ اجْتَمَعَتِ الْإِنسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَىٰ أَن يَأْتُوا بِمِثْلِ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ لَا يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيرًا﴾

"Say, 'If mankind and the jinn were to gather in order to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they were to each other assistants.'" [Surah Al-Isra: 88]

When they utterly failed to produce anything like it, Allah the Almighty challenged them further, stating:

﴿أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ قُلْ فَأْتُوا بِعَشْرِ سُوَرٍ مِّثْلِهِ مُفْتَرَيَاتٍ وَادْعُوا مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ﴾

"Or do they say, 'He invented it'? Say, 'Then bring ten surahs like it that have been invented and call upon whomever you can besides Allah, if you should be truthful.'" [Surah Hud: 13]

(Note: The historical context within the original text refers to the polytheistic leaders of Quraish who challenged the divine origin of the revelation, such as Al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah or Umayah ibn Khalaf, who contemplated the Quran and, knowing it could not be human speech, falsely proclaimed it to be mere magic).

Regarding this stubborn denial, Allah revealed:

﴿إِنَّهُ فَكَّرَ وَقَدَّرَ * فَقُتِلَ كَيْفَ قَدَّرَ * ثُمَّ قُتِلَ كَيْفَ قَدَّرَ * ثُمَّ نَظَرَ * ثُمَّ عَبَسَ وَبَسَرَ * ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ * فَقَالَ إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ يُؤْثَرُ * إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا قَوْلُ الْبَشَرِ * سَأُصْلِيهِ سَقَرَ﴾

"Indeed, he thought and deliberated. So may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. Then may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. Then he considered [again]; Then he frowned and scowled; Then he turned back and was arrogant And said, 'This is not but magic imitated [from others]. This is not but the word of a human being.' I will drive him into Saqar." [Surah Al-Muddaththir: 18-26]

All these verses conclusively demonstrate that the Quran is the speech of Allah and the supreme miracle of His Prophet ﷺ. Acknowledgement of this magnificent blessing is firmly rooted in the Sunnah. The Prophet ﷺ declared:

"ألا إنِّي أوتيتُ الكتابَ ومثلَهُ معهُ، ألا يُوشِكُ رجُلٌ شبعان على أريكتِهِ يقولُ عليكُم بِهذَا القُرآنِ فما وجدتُم فيهِ مِن حَلالٍ فأحلُّوه وما وَجدتُم فيهِ مِن حرامٍ فحرِّمُوه"

"Lo! I have been given the Book and its like together with it. Beware! The time is coming when a man with a full stomach resting on his couch will say: 'Keep to this Quran; what you find in it to be permissible, treat as permissible, and what you find in it to be forbidden, treat as forbidden.'" [Authentic Hadith]

The Prophetic Encouragement to Recite and Meditate on the Quran

The Holy Quran and the trustworthy Prophet ﷺ have heavily urged us to consistently recite the text and contemplate its profound meanings. Allah the Almighty states:

﴿الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَتْلُونَهُ حَقَّ تِلاوَتِهِ أُوْلَئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِهِ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ﴾

"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." [Surah Al-Baqarah: 121]

He also says:

﴿أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَى قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا﴾

"Then do they not reflect upon the Quran, or are there locks upon their hearts?" [Surah Muhammad: 24]

The Prophet ﷺ set forth a beautiful parable describing the spiritual state of those who interact with the Quran, stating:

“مَثَلُ المُؤْمِنِ الذي يَقْرَأُ القُرْآنَ مَثَلُ الأُتْرُجَّةِ، رِيحُها طَيِّبٌ وطَعْمُها طَيِّبٌ، ومَثَلُ المُؤْمِنِ الذي لا يَقْرَأُ القُرْآنَ مَثَلُ التَّمْرَةِ، لا رِيحَ لها وطَعْمُها حُلْوٌ، ومَثَلُ المُنافِقِ الذي يَقْرَأُ القُرْآنَ مَثَلُ الرَّيْحانَةِ، رِيحُها طَيِّبٌ وطَعْمُها مُرٌّ، ومَثَلُ المُنافِقِ الذي لا يَقْرَأُ القُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الحَنْظَلَةِ، ليسَ لها رِيحٌ وطَعْمُها مُرٌّ”

"The parable of a believer who recites the Quran is that of a citron which tastes good and smells good. And the parable of a believer who does not recite the Quran is that of a date which has no smell but tastes sweet. And the parable of a hypocrite who recites the Quran is that of basil which smells good but tastes bitter. And the parable of a hypocrite who does not recite the Quran is that of a colocynth which has a bitter taste and no smell." [Sahih Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

Furthermore, Abu Umamah al-Bahili (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:

"اقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ شَفِيعًا لأَصْحَابِهِ"

'Recite the Quran, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection as an intercessor for its companions.'" [Narrated by Muslim, 804]

An-Nawas ibn Sam'an (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: "I heard the Prophet ﷺ say:

"يُؤْتَى بِالْقُرْآنِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَأَهْلِهِ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ بِهِ تَقْدُمُهُ سُورَةُ الْبَقَرَةِ وَآلُ عِمْرَانَ... كَأَنَّهُمَا غَمَامَتَانِ أَوْ ظُلَّتَانِ سَوْدَاوَانِ بَيْنَهُمَا شَرْقٌ أَوْ كَأَنَّهُمَا حِزْقَانِ مِنْ طَيْرٍ صَوافَّ تُحَاجَّانِ عَنْ صَاحِبِهِمَا"

'The Quran will be brought on the Day of Resurrection along with its people who used to act upon it, preceded by Surah Al-Baqarah and Ali 'Imran.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ struck three parables for them which I have not forgotten since. He said: 'As if they were two clouds or two black canopies with light between them, or like two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading on behalf of their companion.'" [Narrated by Muslim, 805]

Equal Rewards for Every Level of Learner

A Muslim must never deprive themselves of the immense reward of reciting and listening to the Quran under any circumstances. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ explicitly highlighted that every believer receives immense blessings relative to their capability and effort, stating:

"الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ القُرْآنَ وَهُوَ مَاهِرٌ بِهِ مَعَ السَّفَرَةِ الْكِرَامِ الْبَرَرَةِ وَالَّذِي يَقْرَأُ القُرْآنَ وَيَتَتَعْتَعُ فِيهِ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ شَاقٌ لَهُ أَجْرَانِ"

"The one who is proficient in the recitation of the Quran will be with the honorable and obedient scribes (angels), and he who recites the Quran and falters in it, finding it difficult, will have a double reward." [Sahih Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

Moreover, Allah the Almighty commanded us to listen attentively to His words when they are read, stating:

﴿وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ﴾

"So when the Quran is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy." [Surah Al-An'am: 204]

The Prophet ﷺ deeply loved listening to the Quran recited by others. He once requested Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, saying: "Recite the Quran to me." Abdullah replied: "O Messenger of Allah, should I recite it to you when it was revealed to you?" The Prophet ﷺ answered: "I love to hear it from someone else."

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud then recited Surah An-Nisa until he reached the verse:

﴿فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَى هَؤُلَاءِ شَهِيدًا﴾

"So how [will it be] when We bring from every nation a witness and we bring you, [O Muhammad], against these people as a witness?" [Surah An-Nisa: 41]

The Prophet ﷺ then said: "That is enough for you now." Abdullah ibn Mas'ud narrated: "I turned to look at him, and behold, his eyes were overflowing with tears."

A Stark Warning Against Abandoning the Divine Book

The Holy Quran is the true source of a Muslim's ultimate bliss, both in this worldly life and the Eternal Hereafter. Accordingly, our Lord issued a stern warning against turning away from or abandoning it, stating:

﴿وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا * وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ عَدُوًّا مِّنَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ هَادِيًا وَنَصِيرًا﴾

"And the Messenger has said, 'O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Quran as [a thing] abandoned.' And flourished thus We have made for every prophet an enemy from among the criminals. But sufficient is your Lord as a guide and a helper." [Surah Al-Furqan: 30-31]

The virtues of this majestic Book are countless. Every Muslim must realize that true spiritual success depends entirely on holding fast to this Book, reciting it throughout the hours of the night and the ends of the day in a manner that pleases Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He).

Written by: Sheikh Abu Bakr Muhammad Morsi Ibrahim Instructor of the Holy Quran and Tajweed at Twaqah Academy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the reward for a Muslim who recites the Holy Quran with difficulty?

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, stated that a person who recites the Quran with difficulty and stumbles through its verses will receive a double reward—one for the recitation and another for their dedication and effort.

How will Surah Al-Baqarah and Ali 'Imran protect their companions on Judgment Day?

According to the Hadith, these two great Surahs will come on the Day of Resurrection like two clouds or two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading and interceding on behalf of those who used to apply them in their lives.

Why did Prophet Muhammad love to listen to the Quran recited by others?

The Prophet declared that he loved to hear the Quran from others. When Abdullah bin Masud recited to him from Surah An-Nisaa and reached the verse of witness, the Prophet’s eyes overflowed with tears out of deep humility.