The Virtues of The Quran
The Virtue Of He Who Learns The Quran And Teaches It
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best of you is he who learns the Quran and teaches it." [Reported by Bukhari]
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: "Will not any of you go to the Masjid and learn or read two verses from the Book of Allah 'The Exalted', Mighty and Glorified be He? (For) 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 the number (of verses read in total) are better than the same number of camels." [Reported by Muslim]
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "There is no envy (acceptable) except in two (cases): a person whom Allah has given the Quran and recites it throughout the night and throughout the day. And a person whom Allah has given wealth, that he gives out throughout the night and throughout the day." [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]
The Virtue Of Reading The Quran
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whosoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah will receive a Hasanah (good deed) from it (i.e. his recitation), and the Hasanah (good deed) is multiplied by ten. I do not say that Alif-Lam-Mim is (considered as) a letter (in reward), rather Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter, and Mim is a letter." [Reported by At-Tirmidhi, Ad-Darami]
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: "He who is skilful in reciting the Quran is with the unveiled, honorable, and pious (i.e. Hur al-Ain). And he who stutters when reading the Quran, (and its recitation) is difficult upon him, will receive two rewards." [Reported by Bukhari]
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Verily he who has nothing of the Quran in his heart, is like a house (which has been) destroyed." [Reported by At-Tirmidhi]
Ibn Imran reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever recites the Quran then let him ask from Allah by it, for there will come a people who recite the Quran and will the ask from people by it."
Tamim ad-Dari reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever recites (in prayer) with a hundred verses in a night, it will be written for him as devout obedience to Allah for the night."
The Intercession Of The Quran For Its Beholder
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Read the Quran. For verily it will come forth on the Day of Resurrection as an intercessor for its readers." [Reported by Muslim]
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: "The Quran and its people, those who implemented it, will he brought forth on the Day of Resurrection, (being) led by Surat al-Baqarah and al-Imran, to support their beholders." [Reported by Muslim]
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: "The Quran is an intercessor (which by Allah's permission) intercedes, and an opponent (which is) truthful. He who appoints it as his leader (then it) will lead him to Paradise. And he who puts it behind him, (then it) will lead him to the Fire." (Reported by Ibn Hibban in his 'Sahih' and AI-Bayhaqi in Shu'ab Al-Iman from Jabir ibn Abdullah. It was also reported by At-Tabarani and AI-Bayhaqi in Shu'ab Al-Iman from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud. The Hadith is Sahih.
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Fasting and the Quran will intercede for the slave on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: 'Oh my Rabb! I prevented him from food and desires, so accept my intercession for him.' And the Quran will say: 'I prevented him from sleep during the night, so accept my intercession for him.' He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "And they will (be allowed to) intercede." [Reported by Ahmad, At-Tabarani, AI-Hakim, and others from Abdullah ibn 'Umar ibn Al-Aas. The Hadith is Sahih]
The Command to Maintain The Quran
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Maintain the Quran. For verily, by He in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is in, it (the Quran) is more intense in escaping (memory) than a camel from its rein." [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: "Verily the likeness of the beholder of the Quran is like that of a reined camel. If he were to undertake it, he would grasp it. And if he were to leave it, it would escape." [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Maintain learning the Quran, by heart for verily it is greater in escaping from the chests of men than camels from their reins." [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]
Improving The Situation Of The Muslims Through The Quran
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Verily Allah raises nations by this book (the Quran) and puts down (i.e. destroys) others by it." [Reported by Muslim]
The Virtue Of The Reciter Of The Quran
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The likeness of the believer who reads the Quran is like that of citron; its taste is delicious and its scent is pleasant. And the likeness of the believer who does not read the Quran is like that of a date; its taste is delicious, yet it has no scent. And the likeness of a hypocrite who reads the Quran is like that of a basil; its scent is pleasant, yet its taste is bitter. And the likeness of a hypocrite that does not read the Quran is like that of a colocynth; its taste is biter and it has no scent." [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]
The Status Of The Beholder Of The Quran That Puts It Into Practice
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It will be said to the beholder of the Quran: 'Recite, ascend, and Rattil (recite slowly and distinctly) as you used to Rattil in the life of this world, for verily your level (in Paradise) is at the last verse you read. [Reported by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi from Abdullah ibn 'Umar ibn Al-Aas. The Hadith is Sahih]
The Descending Of Tranquility Due To The Recitation Of The Quran
From Bara ibn Azib who said: "There was once a man who had a horse tied with two ropes (due to the horse's strength) and was reading Surah Al-Kahf. Then a cloud came over them, such that it began to twirl and come closer. His horse began to flee from it. So when he (the man) woke up he came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and told him (what happened)." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "This is the tranquility that descended due to the Quran." [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]
The Order Of Reciting The Quran For The Sake OF Allah's Face And Not Using It for Worldly Matters And To Eat From It
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Read the Quran, put it into practice, do not abandon it, do not put grudges (upon others) through it, and do not eat and gain wealth through it." [Reported by Ahmad, At-Tabarani, and others from 'Abdul Rahman ibn Shibl. The Hadith is Sahih]
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: "Read the Quran and through it seek the Face (pleasures) of Allah, Exalted be He, before there comes a nation that implements it like an arrow. They read it fast and they do not recite it slowly (to implement)." [Reported by Ahmad and Abu Dawud from Jabir ibn' Abdullah. The Hadith is Hasan]
Favoring The Beautifying Of One's Voice When Reading The Quran
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Engender the Quran with your voices, for verily the voice of beauty[1] increases the beauty of the Quran." [Reported by Al-Hakim from Bara ibn 'Azib. The Hadith is Sahih]
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: "Verily the best of people with regard to voices, is he whom you feel fears Allah, when he recites." [Reported by Ad-Darimi and others. The Hadith is Sahih]
The Virtue Of Surat Al-Fatihah
Abu Said ibn Al-Mu'ala said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: "Shall I not teach you the greatest Surah in the Quran before you leave the Masjid?" So he r took me by my hand until we were about to leave the Masjid, (when) I said: 'Oh Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), you said that you would teach me the greatest Surah in the Quran.' He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Al-Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Alamin (i.e. Surat Al-Fatihah); it is the Seven Repeatedly Recited Verses, and the Grand Quran which has been given to me." [Reported by Bukhari]
The Virtue Of Surat Al-Baqarah
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do not render your houses into graveyards. Verily the devil flees from a house in which Surat Al-Baqarah is read." [Reported by Muslim]
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: "Read Surat Al-Baqarah, for verily grasping it is a blessing, abandoning it is a deterrent, and magicians cannot hear it." [Reported by Muslim]
The Virtue Of Ayat Al-Kursi
From Ubayy ibn Ka'b who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Oh Abu AI-Mundhir, do you know which verse with you from the Book of Allah is (the) greatest?" He said: 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' He said (again): "Oh Abu AI-Mundhir, do you know which verse with you from the Book of Allah is (the) greatest?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Allahu La Ilaha illa Huwal-Hayyul Qayyum (i.e. Ayat al-Kursi). He [Abu Al-Mundhir t said: 'So he struck my chest and said: "Oh Abu Al-Mundhir, Allah will make knowledge please you." [Reported by Muslim]
Abu Umamah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever recites Ayat-ul-Kursi following every obligatory prayer, nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except dying."
The Virtue Of The End Of Surat Al-Baqarah
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whosoever reads the last two verses from Surat Al-Baqarah, in a night, (then that will be) sufficient[2] for him." [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]
The Virtue Of Surat Al-Fatihah And The End Of Surat Al-Baqarah
From Ibn 'Abbas who said: "While Jibril (Gabriel) peace be upon him, was sitting with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he heard the opening of a gate above him. So he raised his head and said: 'This is a gate from the shies that has opened today, which has never opened before this day.' So an angel descended from it (the gate). So he Jibril (peace be upon him) said: "This is an angel that has descended to the earth, which has never descended except today. He gave Salam and said: 'Receive glad tidings [Oh Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) with two lights which have been given to you, that have never been given to a Prophet before you: The Opening of the Book (i.e. Surat Al-Fatihah) and the end of Surat Al-Baqarah. Never do you read a letter from either of the two (Surahs) except that you are given it.[3] [Reported by Muslim]
The Virtue Of Surat Al-Kahf
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whosoever memorizes ten verses from the beginning of Surat Al-Kahf will be protected from Dajjal (His appearance is a major trial and one of the final signs of the Last Day-TRANSLATOR) [Reported by Muslim]
Abu Sa'id reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever recites Surat-ul-Kahf on the Day of Jumu'ah, light will be made to shine for him between the two Jumu'ahs (that Jumu'ah and the one following it)."
The Virtue Of Surat Al-Fath
From Ibn Umar who said: "I came to the Messenger of Allah r and gave him my Salam, where upon he r said: 'There has been a chapter revealed upon me this night, that is more beloved to me than one upon whom the sun has risen.' Then he r recited; 'Verily we have given you (Oh Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)) a manifest victory.'" (i.e. Surah no. 48) For what it contains of signs of forgiveness and victory." [Reported by Bukhari]
The Virtue Of Surat Tabarak
The Messenger of Allah r said: "Verily a Surah in the Quran, (which contains) thirty verses, intercedes for its possessor until he is forgiven, and it (i.e. the Surah) is, 'Exalted be He in Whose Hand is the dominion? '" (i.e. Surah no. 67) (Reported by Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, and others. The Hadith is Sahih)
The Virtue Of Surat Al-Kafirun
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "(The Surah of) 'Say! Oh you disbelievers is equal to one fourth of the Quran." (i.e. Surah 109) (Reported by At-Tabarani from Abdullah ibn Umar AI-Khattab. The Hadith is Sahih.
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: "Read, 'Say! Oh you disbelievers, at your bed (i.e. before sleeping), for verily it is an immunity from Shirk (Association). Reported by Al-Bayhaqi in 'Shu'ab Al-Iman' from Anas ibn Malik t. The Hadith is Sahih.
The Virtue of Surat Al-Ikhlas
From Abu Said Al-Khudri (who said) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said with regard to the Surah of 'Say! He is One.' (i.e. Surah) "By Him in Whose Hand my soul is in, it is equal to one third of the Quran." [Reported by Bukhari]
And from Abu Hurairah (who said) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "'(The Surah of) Say! He is Allah, One', is equal to one third of the Quran." [Reported by Muslim]
Mu'adth bin Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever recites (Qul Huwallahu Ahad) ten times, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise."
The Virtue Of The Mu'awwidthatan[4]
From 'Uqbah ibn 'Amir (who said) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Have you not seen the verses which have been revealed upon me this night, which no one has seen the like thereof before; (they are) 'Says I seek refuge with the Rabb of the Dawn.' (i.e. Surah no. 113), and 'Say! I seek refuge with the Rabb of Mankind.'" (i.e. Surah no. 114) [Reported by Muslim] (36) (And) also from 'Uqbah ibn 'Amir who said:
"While the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and I were going from Al-Juhfah to Al-Abwa', we were overspread by winds and severe darkness. So the Messenger of Allah r began to seek refuge with 'Say! I seek refuge with the Rabb of the Dawn (i.e. Surah no. 113), and 'Say! I seek refuge with the Rabb of Mankind (i.e. Surah no. 114) and said: 'Oh 'Uqbah, seek refuge with them, for no person seeking refuge has sought refuge with anything like them.' [Reported by Abu Dawud in his book of Sunnah. The Hadith is Sahih]
The Virtue of Loving To Hear The Quran From Others
From 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud t who said: "The Prophet r said to me: 'Recite the Quran upon me.' So I said: '(How can I) read the Quran upon you, and (yet) upon you it was revealed?' He r said: 'I like to hear it from others besides me.' So I recited Surat An-Nisa (i.e. Surah no. 4) upon him until I reached the following verse: "How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (Oh Muhammad r) as a witness against these people?" So he r said: 'That is enough for now.' So I turned to him (only to see) his eyes flowing with tears.' [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]
From Anas ibn Malik t, (who said) that the Messenger of Allah r said to Ubayy ibn Ka'b: "'Verily Allah has ordered me to read upon you.' He (Ubayy t) said: 'Has Allah named me for you?!' He said: 'Allah has named you for me.' He (Anas) said: so Ubayy began to weep." [Reported by Muslim]
The Virtue of Studying The Quran
The Messenger of Allah r said: "There is not a group which has gathered in a house from the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it between them, except that tranquility will descend upon them, mercy will befall them, the Angels will encircle them, and Allah will mention them to those who are with Him (i.e. the Angels). And he who falls short (in gaining knowledge and memorizing the Quran) should (be prompt in) action, (in) that which lineage[5] will not hasten him (to do)." [Reported by Muslim]
And Allah has said in His Noble Book:
"Oh Mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that [believer] who has piety. Verily, Allah is Al-Knowing, Al-Aware. [Noble Quran 49:13]
And to conclude, I ask Allah, Mighty and Glorified be He, that He may benefit the Muslims in every vicinity throughout the corners of the vast Islamic world with this Tafsir, and that He may have mercy upon Ibn Kathir, with His Mercy of immensity. For He is capable of doing all things, and in answering He is Al-Worthy. And the last of our supplications is that thankfulness be to Allah, the Rabb of the 'Alamin (mankind, Jinns, and whatsoever exists).
[1] i.e. A beautiful voice fulfilling proper pronunciation and the roles of recitation. [TRANSLATOR]
[2] Meaning it will grant him the reward of night prayer in reciting the Quran. It was said that it meant that it would be sufficient for him (in protection) from al calamities. It was said that it would be sufficient for him from the evil of the devils. And it was said that they (i.e. the recitation of the two verses) would drive the evil of mankind and the devils away from him
[3] Which means that you are given its reward (i.e. the reward of recitation)" Taken from Mukhtasar Sahih Muslim with Sheikh AI-Albani's editing, p.553, Hadith no. 2094.
[4] i.e. Surah 113 (Al-Falaq -The Day Break) and 114 (An-Nas - The People). Mu'awwidthatan literally means the two chapters used in seeking refuge.
[5] For example, if someone is the son of a scholar and falls short in gaining knowledge and memorizing the Quran, then it is upon him to hasten in redeeming himself through studying and hard work, not by relying upon his lineage, i.e. him being the son of a scholar, king, or even being from the descendants of the family of the Messenger r, etc. This meaning is taken from An-Nawawi's explanation of Sahih Muslim [Translator]