The house in which remembrance of Allah is made and the house in which Allah is not remembered are like the living and the dead.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ مَثَلُ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي يُذْكَرُ اللَّهُ فِيهِ وَالْبَيْتِ الَّذِي لاَ يُذْكَرُ اللَّهُ فِيهِ مَثَلُ الْحَىِّ وَالْمَيِّتِ  

Do not make your houses as graveyards. Satan runs away from the house in which Surah Baqara is recited.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لاَ تَجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ مَقَابِرَ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنْفِرُ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي تُقْرَأُ فِيهِ سُورَةُ الْبَقَرَةِ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ made an apartment with the help of the leaves of date trees or of mats. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out to pray in it. People followed him and came to pray with him. Then they again came one night and waited (for him), but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ delayed in coming out to them. And when he did not come out, they cried aloud and threw pebbles at the door. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out in anger and said to them: By what you have been constantly doing, I was inclined to think that it (prayer) might not become obligatory for you. So you must observe prayer (optional) in your houses, for the prayer observed by a man in the house is better except an obligatory prayer.  

احْتَجَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حُجَيْرَةً بِخَصَفَةٍ أَوْ حَصِيرٍ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي فِيهَا قَالَ فَتَتَبَّعَ إِلَيْهِ رِجَالٌ وَجَاءُوا يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلاَتِهِ قَالَ ثُمَّ جَاءُوا لَيْلَةً فَحَضَرُوا وَأَبْطَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْهُمْ قَالَ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْهِمْ فَرَفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَهُمْ وَحَصَبُوا الْبَابَ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مُغْضَبًا فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَا زَالَ بِكُمْ صَنِيعُكُمْ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيُكْتَبُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالصَّلاَةِ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ صَلاَةِ الْمَرْءِ فِي بَيْتِهِ إِلاَّ الصَّلاَةَ الْمَكْتُوبَةَ  

" Had this (Nafl) prayer become obligatory for you, you would not be able to observe it."  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ اتَّخَذَ حُجْرَةً فِي الْمَسْجِدِ مِنْ حَصِيرٍ فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِيهَا لَيَالِيَ حَتَّى اجْتَمَعَ إِلَيْهِ نَاسٌ فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَهُ وَزَادَ فِيهِ وَلَوْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمْ مَا قُمْتُمْ بِهِ  

O people, perform such acts as you are capable of doing, for Allah does not grow weary but you will get tired. The acts most pleasing to Allah are those which are done continuously, even if they are small. And it was the habit of the members of Muhammad's ﷺ household that whenever they did an act they did it continuously.  

أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ كَانَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَصِيرٌ وَكَانَ يُحَجِّرُهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَيُصَلِّي فِيهِ فَجَعَلَ النَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلاَتِهِ وَيَبْسُطُهُ بِالنَّهَارِ فَثَابُوا ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنَ الأَعْمَالِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَمَلُّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا وَإِنَّ أَحَبَّ الأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَا دُووِمَ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ قَلَّ وَكَانَ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ إِذَا عَمِلُوا عَمَلاً أَثْبَتُوهُ  

That which is done continuously, even if it is small.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ سُئِلَ أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ أَدْوَمُهُ وَإِنْ قَلَّ  

I asked 'A'isha, the mother of the believers, saying O mother of the believers, how did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ act? Did he choose a particular act for a particular day? She said: No. He act was continuous, and who amongst you is capable of doing what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did?  

قُلْتُ يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَمَلُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ هَلْ كَانَ يَخُصُّ شَيْئًا مِنَ الأَيَّامِ قَالَتْ لاَ كَانَ عَمَلُهُ دِيمَةً وَأَيُّكُمْ يَسْتَطِيعُ مَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَسْتَطِيعُ  

The acts most pleasing to Allah are those which are done continuously, even if they are small. and when 'A'isha did any act she did it continuously.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَحَبُّ الأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى أَدْوَمُهَا وَإِنْ قَلَّ قَالَ وَكَانَتْ عَائِشَةُ إِذَا عَمِلَتِ الْعَمَلَ لَزِمَتْهُ  

What is this? They said: It is for Zainab. She prays and when she slackens or feels tired she holds it. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: Untie it. Let one pray as long as one feels fresh but when one slackens or becomes tired one must stop it. (And in the hadith transmitted by Zuhair it is:" He should sit down." )  

دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَسْجِدَ وَحَبْلٌ مَمْدُودٌ بَيْنَ سَارِيَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا قَالُوا لِزَيْنَبَ تُصَلِّي فَإِذَا كَسِلَتْ أَوْ فَتَرَتْ أَمْسَكَتْ بِهِ فَقَالَ حُلُّوهُ لِيُصَلِّ أَحَدُكُمْ نَشَاطَهُ فَإِذَا كَسِلَ أَوْ فَتَرَ قَعَدَ وَفِي حَدِيثِ زُهَيْرٍ فَلْيَقْعُدْ  

A hadith like this has been narrated from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the authority of Anas by another chain of transmitters.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مِثْلَهُ  

It Is Haula' bint Tuwait and they say that she does not sleep at night. Upon this the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: (Oh) she does not sleep at night! Choose an act which you are capable of doing (continuously). By Allah, Allah would not grow weary, but you will grow weary.  

أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّ الْحَوْلاَءَ بِنْتَ تُوَيْتِ بْنِ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَسَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعُزَّى مَرَّتْ بِهَا وَعِنْدَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ هَذِهِ الْحَوْلاَءُ بِنْتُ تُوَيْتٍ وَزَعَمُوا أَنَّهَا لاَ تَنَامُ اللَّيْلَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ تَنَامُ اللَّيْلَ خُذُوا مِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ يَسْأَمُ اللَّهُ حَتَّى تَسْأَمُوا  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to me when a woman was sitting with me. He said: Who is she? I said: She is a woman who does not sleep but prays. He said: Do such acts which you are capable of doing. By Allah, Allah does not grow weary but you will grow weary. The religious act most pleasing to Him is one the doer of which does it continuously. (And in the hadith transmitted by Abu Usama [the words are]:" She was a woman from Banu Asad." )  

دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَعِنْدِي امْرَأَةٌ فَقَالَ مَنْ هَذِهِ فَقُلْتُ امْرَأَةٌ لاَ تَنَامُ تُصَلِّي قَالَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ يَمَلُّ اللَّهُ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا وَكَانَ أَحَبَّ الدِّينِ إِلَيْهِ مَا دَاوَمَ عَلَيْهِ صَاحِبُهُ وَفِي حَدِيثِ أَبِي أُسَامَةَ أَنَّهَا امْرَأَةٌ مِنْ بَنِي أَسَدٍ  

When anyone amongst you dozes in prayer, he should sleep, till sleep is gone, for when one of you prays while dozing he does not know whether he may be asking pardon or vilifying himself.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا نَعَسَ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَلْيَرْقُدْ حَتَّى يَذْهَبَ عَنْهُ النَّوْمُ فَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا صَلَّى وَهُوَ نَاعِسٌ لَعَلَّهُ يَذْهَبُ يَسْتَغْفِرُ فَيَسُبُّ نَفْسَهُ  

When any one of you gets up at night (for prayer) and his tongue falters in (the recitation) of the Qar'an, and he does not know what he is reciting, he should go to sleep.  

عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا قَامَ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَاسْتَعْجَمَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى لِسَانِهِ فَلَمْ يَدْرِ مَا يَقُولُ فَلْيَضْطَجِعْ  

May Allah show mercy to him; he has reminded me of such and such a verse which I had missed in such and such a surah.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ سَمِعَ رَجُلاً يَقْرَأُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ يَرْحَمُهُ اللَّهُ لَقَدْ أَذْكَرَنِي كَذَا وَكَذَا آيَةً كُنْتُ أَسْقَطْتُهَا مِنْ سُورَةِ كَذَا وَكَذَا  

May Allah have mercy upon him; be reminded me of the verse which I had been made to forget.  

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَسْتَمِعُ قِرَاءَةَ رَجُلٍ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ لَقَدْ أَذْكَرَنِي آيَةً كُنْتُ أُنْسِيتُهَا  

The example of a man who has memorised the Qur'an is like that of a hobbled camel. If he remained vigilant, he would be able to retain it (with him), and if he loosened the hobbled camel it would escape.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ صَاحِبِ الْقُرْآنِ كَمَثَلِ الإِبِلِ الْمُعَقَّلَةِ إِنْ عَاهَدَ عَلَيْهَا أَمْسَكَهَا وَإِنْ أَطْلَقَهَا ذَهَبَتْ  

" When one who had committed the Qur'an to memory (or who is familiar with it) gets up (for night prayer) and recites it night and day, it remains fresh in his mind, but if he does not get up (for prayer and thus does not recite it) he forgets it."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ مَالِكٍ وَزَادَ فِي حَدِيثِ مُوسَى بْنِ عُقْبَةَ وَإِذَا قَامَ صَاحِبُ الْقُرْآنِ فَقَرَأَهُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ ذَكَرَهُ وَإِذَا لَمْ يَقُمْ بِهِ نَسِيَهُ  

What a wretched person is he amongst them who says: I have forgotten such and such a verse. (He should instead of using this expression say): I have been made to forget it. Try to remember the Qur'an for it is more apt to escape from men's minds than a hobbled camel.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِئْسَمَا لأَحَدِهِمْ يَقُولُ نَسِيتُ آيَةَ كَيْتَ وَكَيْتَ بَلْ هُوَ نُسِّيَ اسْتَذْكِرُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَلَهُوَ أَشَدُّ تَفَصِّيًا مِنْ صُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ مِنَ النَّعَمِ بِعُقُلِهَا  

Keep refreshing your knowledge of the sacred books (or always renew your knowledge of these sacred books) and sometimes he would mention the Qur'an for it is more apt to escape from men's minds than animals which are hobbled, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: None of you should say: I forgot such and such a verse, but he has been made to forget.  

عَبْدُ اللَّهِ تَعَاهَدُوا هَذِهِ الْمَصَاحِفَ وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ الْقُرْآنَ فَلَهُوَ أَشَدُّ تَفَصِّيًا مِنْ صُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ مِنَ النَّعَمِ مِنْ عُقُلِهِ قَالَ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ يَقُلْ أَحَدُكُمْ نَسِيتُ آيَةَ كَيْتَ وَكَيْتَ بَلْ هُوَ نُسِّيَ  

Wretched is the man who says: I forgot such and such a sura, or I forget such and such a verse, but he has been made to forget.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ بِئْسَمَا لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَقُولَ نَسِيتُ سُورَةَ كَيْتَ وَكَيْتَ أَوْ نَسِيتُ آيَةَ كَيْتَ وَكَيْتَ بَلْ هُوَ نُسِّيَ  

Keep refreshing your knowledge of the Qur'an, for I swear by Him in Whose Hand is the life of Mahammad that it is more liable to escape than camels which are hobbled.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ تَعَاهَدُوا هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَهُوَ أَشَدُّ تَفَلُّتًا مِنَ الإِبِلِ فِي عُقُلِهَا وَلَفْظُ الْحَدِيثِ لاِبْنِ بَرَّادٍ  

God has not listened to anything as He listens to a Prophet reciting the Qur'an in a sweet voice.  

النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ مَا أَذِنَ اللَّهُ لِشَىْءٍ مَا أَذِنَ لِنَبِيٍّ يَتَغَنَّى بِالْقُرْآنِ  

" As He listens to a Prophet reciting the Qur'an in a sweet voice."  

كَمَا يَأْذَنُ لِنَبِيٍّ يَتَغَنَّى بِالْقُرْآنِ  

Allah does not listen to anything, (more approvingly) as He listens to a Prophet reciting loudly the Qur'an in a sweet voice.  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ مَا أَذِنَ اللَّهُ لِشَىْءٍ مَا أَذِنَ لِنَبِيٍّ حَسَنِ الصَّوْتِ يَتَغَنَّى بِالْقُرْآنِ يَجْهَرُ بِهِ  

" He heard it."  

وَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلَمْ يَقُلْ سَمِعَ  

Allah has not heard anything (more pleasing) than listening to the Prophet reciting the Qur'an in a sweet loud voice.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَا أَذِنَ اللَّهُ لِشَىْءٍ كَأَذَنِهِ لِنَبِيٍّ يَتَغَنَّى بِالْقُرْآنِ يَجْهَرُ بِهِ  

This hadith has been narrated by another chain of transmitters but with a slight modification of words.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مِثْلَ حَدِيثِ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ غَيْرَ أَنَّ ابْنَ أَيُّوبَ قَالَ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ كَإِذْنِهِ  

'Abdullah b. Qais or al-Ash'ari has been gifted with a sweet melodious voice out of the voices of the family of David.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ قَيْسٍ أَوِ الأَشْعَرِيَّ أُعْطِيَ مِزْمَارًا مِنْ مَزَامِيرِ آلِ دَاوُدَ  

If you were to see me, as I was listening to your recitation (of the Qur'an) yester-night (you would have felt delighted). You are in fact endowed with a sweet voice like that of David himself.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لأَبِي مُوسَى لَوْ رَأَيْتَنِي وَأَنَا أَسْتَمِعُ لِقِرَاءَتِكَ الْبَارِحَةَ لَقَدْ أُوتِيتَ مِزْمَارًا مِنْ مَزَامِيرِ آلِ دَاوُدَ  

The Apostle of Allah ﷺ recited on his ride Surat al Fath during a journey in the year of the Conquest (of Mecca), and he repeated (the words) in his recitation. Mu'awiya said: If I were not afraid that the people would crowd around me, I would have given a demonstration of (the Prophet's) recitation before you.  

سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ مُغَفَّلٍ الْمُزَنِيَّ يَقُولُ قَرَأَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ عَامَ الْفَتْحِ فِي مَسِيرٍ لَهُ سُورَةَ الْفَتْحِ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ فَرَجَّعَ فِي قِرَاءَتِهِ قَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ لَوْلاَ أَنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ يَجْتَمِعَ عَلَىَّ النَّاسُ لَحَكَيْتُ لَكُمْ قِرَاءَتَهُ  

I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ reciting Surah Fath on his camel on the day of the Conquest of Mecca. He (the narrator) said: Ibn Mughaffal recited it and repeated it. Mu'awiya said: Had there been (no crowed of) people, I would have given a practical demonstration of that which Ibn Mughaffal had mentioned from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.  

رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَوْمَ فَتْحِ مَكَّةَ عَلَى نَاقَتِهِ يَقْرَأُ سُورَةَ الْفَتْحِ قَالَ فَقَرَأَ ابْنُ مُغَفَّلٍ وَرَجَّعَ فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ لَوْلاَ النَّاسُ لأَخَذْتُ لَكُمْ بِذَلِكَ الَّذِي ذَكَرَهُ ابْنُ مُغَفَّلٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ  

(The Holy Prophet) was reciting Surat al-Fath as he was travelling on his mount.  

عَلَى رَاحِلَةٍ يَسِيرُ وَهُوَ يَقْرَأُ سُورَةَ الْفَتْحِ  

That was tranquillity which came down at the recitation of the Qur'an.  

كَانَ رَجُلٌ يَقْرَأُ سُورَةَ الْكَهْفِ وَعِنْدَهُ فَرَسٌ مَرْبُوطٌ بِشَطَنَيْنِ فَتَغَشَّتْهُ سَحَابَةٌ فَجَعَلَتْ تَدُورُ وَتَدْنُو وَجَعَلَ فَرَسُهُ يَنْفِرُ مِنْهَا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ تِلْكَ السَّكِينَةُ تَنَزَّلَتْ لِلْقُرْآنِ  

I heard al-Bara' as saying that a man recited al-Kahf when an animal was there in the house and it began to take fright. And as he looked around, he found a cloud overshadowing it. He mentioned that to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Upon this he said: O so and so, recite on (the surah) as- Sakina descends at the (recitation of the Qur'an) or on account (of the recitation) of the Qur'an.  

سَمِعْتُ الْبَرَاءَ يَقُولُ قَرَأَ رَجُلٌ الْكَهْفَ وَفِي الدَّارِ دَابَّةٌ فَجَعَلَتْ تَنْفِرُ فَنَظَرَ فَإِذَا ضَبَابَةٌ أَوْ سَحَابَةٌ قَدْ غَشِيَتْهُ قَالَ فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ فُلاَنُ فَإِنَّهَا السَّكِينَةُ تَنَزَّلَتْ عِنْدَ الْقُرْآنِ أَوْ تَنَزَّلَتْ لِلْقُرْآنِ  

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of al-Bara' with a slight modification of words.  

سَمِعْتُ الْبَرَاءَ يَقُولُ فَذَكَرَا نَحْوَهُ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُمَا قَالاَ تَنْقُزُ  

I was afraid lest it should trample (his son) Yahya. I stood near it (the horse) and saw something like a canopy over my head with what seemed to be lamps in it, rising up in the sky till it disappeared. I went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the next day and said: Messenger of Allah, I recited the Qur'an during the night in my enclosure and my horse began to jump. Upon this the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: You should have kept on reciting, Ibn Hudair. He (Ibn Hudair) said: I recited. It jumped (as before). Upon this the Messenger of Allah ﷺ again said: You should have kept on reciting, Ibn Hudair. He (Ibn Hudair) said: I recited and it again jumped (as before). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ again said: You should kave kept on reciting, Ibu Hudair. He (Ibn Hudair) said: (Messenger of Allah) I finished (the recitation) for Yahya was near (the horse) and I was afraid lest it should trample him. I saw something like a canopy with what seemed to be lamps in it rising up in the sky till it disappeared. Upon this the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Those were the angels who listened to you; and if you had continued reciting, the people would have seen them in the morning and they would not have concealed themselves from them.  

أَنْ تَطَأَ يَحْيَى فَقُمْتُ إِلَيْهَا فَإِذَا مِثْلُ الظُّلَّةِ فَوْقَ رَأْسِي فِيهَا أَمْثَالُ السُّرُجِ عَرَجَتْ فِي الْجَوِّ حَتَّى مَا أَرَاهَا قَالَ فَغَدَوْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بَيْنَمَا أَنَا الْبَارِحَةَ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ أَقْرَأُ فِي مِرْبَدِي إِذْ جَالَتْ فَرَسِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ اقْرَإِ ابْنَ حُضَيْرٍ قَالَ فَقَرَأْتُ ثُمَّ جَالَتْ أَيْضًا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ اقْرَإِ ابْنَ حُضَيْرٍ قَالَ فَقَرَأْتُ ثُمَّ جَالَتْ أَيْضًا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ اقْرَإِ ابْنَ حُضَيْرٍ قَالَ فَانْصَرَفْتُ وَكَانَ يَحْيَى قَرِيبًا مِنْهَا خَشِيتُ أَنْ تَطَأَهُ فَرَأَيْتُ مِثْلَ الظُّلَّةِ فِيهَا أَمْثَالُ السُّرُجِ عَرَجَتْ فِي الْجَوِّ حَتَّى مَا أَرَاهَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ تِلْكَ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ كَانَتْ تَسْتَمِعُ لَكَ وَلَوْ قَرَأْتَ لأَصْبَحَتْ يَرَاهَا النَّاسُ مَا تَسْتَتِرُ مِنْهُمْ  

A believer who recites the Qur'an is like an orange 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 taste; and the hypocrite who recites the Qur'an is like a basil whose fragrance is sweet, but whose taste is bitter; and a hypocrite who does not recite the Qur'an is like the colocynth which has no fragrance and has a bitter taste.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ مَثَلُ الأُتْرُجَّةِ رِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَطَعْمُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَمَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ الَّذِي لاَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ مَثَلُ التَّمْرَةِ لاَ رِيحَ لَهَا وَطَعْمُهَا حُلْوٌ وَمَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ مَثَلُ الرَّيْحَانَةِ رِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَطَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ وَمَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ الَّذِي لاَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الْحَنْظَلَةِ لَيْسَ لَهَا رِيحٌ وَطَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ  

" hypocrite" (Munafiq), there it is" wicked" (fajir).  

عَنْ قَتَادَةَ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ غَيْرَ أَنَّ فِي حَدِيثِ هَمَّامٍ بَدَلَ الْمُنَافِقِ الْفَاجِرِ  

One who is proficient in the Qur'an is associated with the noble, upright, recording angels; and he who falters in it, and finds it difficult for him, will have two rewards.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَاهِرُ بِالْقُرْآنِ مَعَ السَّفَرَةِ الْكِرَامِ الْبَرَرَةِ وَالَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ وَيَتَتَعْتَعُ فِيهِ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ شَاقٌّ لَهُ أَجْرَانِ  

" He who finds it hard (to recite the Qur'an) will have a double reward."  

وَقَالَ فِي حَدِيثِ وَكِيعٍ وَالَّذِي يَقْرَأُ وَهُوَ يَشْتَدُّ عَلَيْهِ لَهُ أَجْرَانِ  

Allah has commanded me to recite the Qur'an to you. He said: Did Allah mention me to you by name? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Allah made a mention of your name to me. (On hearing this) Ubayy b. Ka'b wept.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لأُبَىٍّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَقْرَأَ عَلَيْكَ قَالَ آللَّهُ سَمَّانِي لَكَ قَالَ اللَّهُ سَمَّاكَ لِي قَالَ فَجَعَلَ أُبَىٌّ يَبْكِي  

Allah has commanded me to recite to you:" Those who disbelieve were not..." (al-Qur'an, xcviii. 1). He said: Did He mention me by name? He (the Prophet said): Yes. Upon this he shed tears (of gratitude).  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لأُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَقْرَأَ عَلَيْكَ { لَمْ يَكُنِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا} قَالَ وَسَمَّانِي لَكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَبَكَى  

I heard Anas saying that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Ubayy the same thing.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لأُبَىٍّ بِمِثْلِهِ  

The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon (him) asked me to recite the Qur'an. He said: Messenger of Allah, (how) should I recite to you whereas it has been sent down to you? He (the Holy Prophet) said: I desire to hear it from someone else. So I recited Surat al-Nisa' till I reached the verse: How then shall it be when We shall bring from every people a witness and bring you against them as a witness?" (verse 41). I lifted my head or a person touched me in my side, and so I lifted my head and saw his tears falling (from the Holy Prophet's eyes).  

قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ اقْرَأْ عَلَىَّ الْقُرْآنَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَيْكَ أُنْزِلَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَشْتَهِي أَنْ أَسْمَعَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِي فَقَرَأْتُ النِّسَاءَ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغْتُ { فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَى هَؤُلاَءِ شَهِيدًا} رَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي أَوْ غَمَزَنِي رَجُلٌ إِلَى جَنْبِي فَرَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي فَرَأَيْتُ دُمُوعَهُ تَسِيلُ  

" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was on the pulpit when he asked me to recite to him."  

عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَزَادَ هَنَّادٌ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ اقْرَأْ عَلَىَّ  

Should I recite it to you while it has been sent down or revealed to you? He (the Holy Prophet) said: I love to hear it from someone else. So he ('Abdullah b. Mas'ud) recited to him (from the beginning of Surat al Nisa' up to the verse:" How shall then it be when We bring from every people a witness and bring you as a witness against them?" He (the Holy Prophet) wept (on listening to it). It is narrated on the authority of Ibn Mas'ud through another chain of transmitters that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said that he had been a witness to his people as long as (said he): I lived among them or I had been among them.  

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ اقْرَأْ عَلَىَّ قَالَ أَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَيْكَ أُنْزِلَ قَالَ إِنِّي أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَسْمَعَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِي قَالَ فَقَرَأَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَوَّلِ سُورَةِ النِّسَاءِ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ { فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَى هَؤُلاَءِ شَهِيدًا} فَبَكَى قَالَ مِسْعَرٌ فَحَدَّثَنِي مَعْنٌ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ حُرَيْثٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْهِمْ مَا دُمْتُ فِيهِمْ أَوْ مَا كُنْتُ فِيهِمْ شَكَّ مِسْعَرٌ  

I was in Hims when some of the people asked me to recite the Qur'an to them. So I recited Surah Yusuf to them. One of the persons among the people said: By Allah, this is not how it has been sent down. I said: Woe upon you! By Allah, I recited it to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he said to me: You have (recited) it well. I was talking with him (the man who objected to my recitation) that I sensed the smell of wine from him. So I said to him. Do you drink wine and belie the Book (of Allah)? You would not depart till I would whip you. So I lashed him according to the prescribed punishment (for the offence of drinking wine).  

لِي بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ اقْرَأْ عَلَيْنَا فَقَرَأْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ سُورَةَ يُوسُفَ قَالَ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ وَاللَّهِ مَا هَكَذَا أُنْزِلَتْ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَيْحَكَ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ قَرَأْتُهَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ لِي أَحْسَنْتَ فَبَيْنَمَا أَنَا أُكَلِّمُهُ إِذْ وَجَدْتُ مِنْهُ رِيحَ الْخَمْرِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ أَتَشْرَبُ الْخَمْرَ وَتُكَذِّبُ بِالْكِتَابِ لاَ تَبْرَحُ حَتَّى أَجْلِدَكَ قَالَ فَجَلَدْتُهُ الْحَدَّ  

" He said to me: You recited (the Qur'an) well."  

عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَلَيْسَ فِي حَدِيثِ أَبِي مُعَاوِيَةَ فَقَالَ لِي أَحْسَنْتَ  

Would any one of you like, when he returns to his family, to find there three large, fat, pregnant she-camels? We said: Yes. Upon this he said: Three verses that one of you recites in his prayer are better for him than three large, fat, pregnant she-camels.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ إِذَا رَجَعَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ أَنْ يَجِدَ فِيهِ ثَلاَثَ خَلِفَاتٍ عِظَامٍ سِمَانٍ قُلْنَا نَعَمْ قَالَ فَثَلاَثُ آيَاتٍ يَقْرَأُ بِهِنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي صَلاَتِهِ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ ثَلاَثِ خَلِفَاتٍ عِظَامٍ سِمَانٍ