The most honorable, precious, and high speech, and exerting efforts for it

In the name of Allah. All praise be to Allah and peace be upon His Messenger. May Allah send peace and blessings upon him, his family, and his Companions.

The honor of knowledge stems from the honor of the content, the status of speech is known by the status of the speaker, and the most honorable, precious, and high speech is Allah's which is truthful in its news and just in its rulings. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it: (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise (Allâh Exalted and Sublime)." [Surat Fussilat: 42].

So, Allah (may He be Exalted) proved the acquittal of the Qur'an from falsehood and shortage because the revealer and speaker of the Qur'an is the Most Wise who managed everything and encompassed everything with His Mercy and Knowledge. He is All-Wise in His Legislation and Creation. Allah never created something in vain nor He legislated something in play, but He created and perfected all things. So, He has all praise in secret and in public, first and at the end for the blessing of the Qur'an.

Allah (may He be Exalted) informed people that the reason of the Qur'an perfection is that it was revealed by Him, and if the Qur'an had come from someone else, people would have found difference and disturbance therein. Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "Do they not then consider the Qur'ân carefully? Had it been from other than Allâh, they would surely have found therein many a contradiction." [Surat An-Nisa': 82].

So, the harmony of its rulings and the authenticity, and the harmony of its news prove they are the words of Allah, and if it had been the speech of someone else, people would have found therein contradictions and lies, but nothing of that has been proven. Since the descent of revelation on the heart of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to be one of the warners, it did not change even with the challenge of Allah to eloquent people in its time to bring something of the like or even bring ten Surahs or even one Surah. Thus, the matter has continued until Allah willed to take it from the chests of people. The Qur'an will continue bright and clear, an illuminating light, a guide to humanity, and witness to all previous messages.

For the greatness of the Qur'an, status, and high rank, the Glorious Qur'an and the Sunnah praised its reciters, raised the status of its memorizers, and those who act according to its rulings. So, it came in the authentic Sunnah some of characteristics which the people of the Qur'an have and placed them in the highest rank. Of which:

Memorizing the Qur'an in the hearts of people and in written lines is a protection for the Nation from aberration and safeguard to its religion and acts of worship such as Salah, Fating, Zakah, and suchlike.

It was reported in the Hadith of Hudhayfah ibn Al Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "Islam will wear out as embroidery on a garment wears out, until no one will know what fasting, Salah, (pilgrimage) rites and charity are. The Book of Allah will be taken away at night, and not one Ayah of it will be left on earth. And there will be some people left, old men and old women, who will say: "We saw our fathers saying these words: 'La ilaha illallah' so we say them too."[1]

The extinction of the features of Islam and its fundamentals is like the wearing out of a garment by the passage of time, and that would not take place but after the removal of the book of Allah from the hearts of people and from the written copies as explained by other narrations.

Al Albany (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) commented on this Hadith saying: The Glorious Qur'an was lifted at the end of time as a preparation to the establishment of the Hour when only bad people exist who do not know anything about Islam or its creed.

The Hadith contains a reference to the greatness of the Qur'an and its existence which is the reason for the existence of the religion and its firm establishment, therefore Allah (Exalted and blessed be He) has undertaken to maintain it until Allah takes it away.[2]

When the people approach the Glorious Qur'an by learning, teaching, and understanding, well-to-do people continue their support to its people, and observe patience for fighting its supporters, and when they do so, the nation achieves more security against all worldly and religious evils.

The people of the Qur'an, its memorizers, and those who act according to it are the closest to Allah and most receiving of His Favors. Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Allah has His own people among mankind. The Companions said: O Messenger of Allah, who are they? He said: The people of the Qur'an are the closest and special people of Allah."[3]

Anyone supports with his action, effort, money or something else the people of Allah shall have the great reward and gain the great closeness to Allah, for the most beloved people to Allah are the most useful to His Righteous servants.

The supporters of the Qur'an are given priority in the world, in the life of Al Barzakh (transition period between the world and the Hereafter), and in the Hereafter. As for the world, leading people in Salah is one of the most priorities and one of the greatest noble deeds. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The person who is best versed in the recitation of the Book of Allah should lead the prayer."[4]

As for the Prophet's saying: (lead the Prayer), it came in the order form. `Amir ibn Wathilah narrated that Nafi` ibn `Abdul-Harith met `Umar in `Asfan whom `Umar appointed as a ruler of Makkah. He said: Whom did you appoint as a ruler of the people of the valley? He said: Ibn Abza. He said: Who is Ibn Abza? He said: one of our freed slaves. He said: So, have you appointed a freed salve over them? He said: He is a good reciter to the book of Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted) and he is a scholar of the rulings of inheritance. `Umar said: Verily, your Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Verily, Allah elevates some people with this Qur'an and abases others."[5]

So, memorizing and learning the Qur'an promoted the freed slave and made him over many noble people.

Ibn Al Jawzy said in Al Mushkal: Allah raises the memorizers and those who act according to the Qur'an and abases those who waste its right and who neglect it.[6]

The learner and teacher of the Qur'an are the best and the most honorable of people. It was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari from the Hadith of `Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The best among you those who learn the Qur'an and teach it."[7]

In another narration: "The best among you is the one who learns the Qur'an and teaches it."[8]

The outward meaning of the Hadith is: Righteousness is for those who learn and teach the Qur'an including those who help and support teaching and learning it.

Indeed, the memorizers of the Qur'an who act according to it without exaggeration nor roughness: Deserving the honor which Allah commanded and made a reason for His Honor to them. It was reported in Sunan Abu Dawud from the Hadith of Abu Musa Al Ash`ary (may Allah be pleased with him) who said the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "It is out of reverence to Allah in respecting an aged Muslim, and the one who commits the Qur'an to memory and does not exaggerate pronouncing its letters nor forgets it after memorizing, and to respect just rulers."

One of best ways to honor them is to encourage and support them, and help them in a way that ensures this goodness.[9]

The memorizer of the Qur'an is given priority in burying to those who are not or was less than him. It was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari on the authority of Jabir ibn `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) collected every two martyrs of Uhud in one piece of cloth, then he would ask: Which of them had more of the Quran? When one of them was pointed out for him, he would put that one first in the grave and say: I will be a witness on these on the Day of Resurrection. He ordered them to be buried with their blood on their bodies and they were neither washed nor was a funeral prayer offered for them." If martyrdom, though its greatness, did not equate between them, the one who memorized the Qur'an was given priority to others, that showed the great status of the memorizer of the Qur'an.[10]

`Abdullah ibn Buraydah reported from his father who said: "I was sitting with the Prophet (peace be upon him). I heard him saying: The memorizer of the Qur'an will be cast on the Day of Recompense when the grave splits as a pale man. The Qur'an will say to him: Do you know me? He will say: I do not know you. It says: I am your companion, the Qur'an which made you thirsty in hot days and made you wake up at night. Every merchant will follow his commerce, and today you shall be behind your commerce. So, he shall be given kingdom by his right, eternity with his left, a crown of dignity will be placed on his head, and his parents shall be worn two garments which the people of the world never saw. They will say: Why have we worn these? It will be said: Because your son memorized the Qur'an, then it will be said to him: Read and rise in the stairs of Paradise and its chambers. So, he shall rise as long as he is reciting."[11]

This Hadith contains benefits, of which:

* The Qur'an entertains the alienation of its reciter when coming out of the grave. Indeed, it is an hour of great fear and formidable horror for its danger, which Allah mentioned in His Saying about John the Baptist (peace be upon him): "So Peace on him the day he was born the day that he dies and the day that he will be raised up to life (again)!" [Surat Maryam: 15].

* This favor is given to those who act according to the Qur'an, who recites it much and whom Qur'an urged to fast and pray all time long.

* The greatest trade a person engages in is what is related to his religion, what is most useful and the best provision; and acting according to the Qur'an is the highest and the noblest. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Verily, those who recite the Book of Allâh (this Qur'ân), and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and spend (in charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, they hope for a (sure) trade-gain that will never perish." [Surat Fatir: 29].

* Its owner is given unpredictable rewards and worn the crown of dignity. It indicates the status which the reciter of the Qur'an should be in. It was reported in Sunan At-Tirmidhy on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "On the Day of resurrection the man of the Qur'an (who is devoted to it deeply) will come and the Qur'an will say, "O Lord! Let him have a pair of garments." He will be made to wear a crown of honor. It will say, "O Lord, increase it." So he will be made to wear a robe of honor. Then it will say, "O Lord, be pleased with him." So, He will be pleased with him. It will be said: "Recite and ascend (a rank)", with every verse a piety will be added."[12]

* Everyone supports and encourages the People of the Qur'an shall have a great reward. Parents are going to wear two garments that are more precious than the world and that in it without doing anything because the memorizer is their son. So, who supports and encourages those children and the houses of teaching the Qur'an and its teachers shall have more reward.

* The memorizer of the Qur'an is a winner with the intercession of the Qur'an on the Day of Resurrection. It was reported in Sahih Muslim from the Hadith of Abu Umamah Al Bahily (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying: "Read the Qur'an, for it will come as an intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection. Recite the two bright ones, Surat Al Baqarah and Surat Ali `Imran, for they will come on the Day of Resurrection as if they were two clouds, or as if they were two shadows, or as if they were two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading on behalf of their reciters [or memorizers]."[13]

`Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Fasting and Qur'an intercede (i.e. for the Muslim) before Allah on the Judgment Day. Fasting will say: O Lord, I prevented him from his food and physical desires during the day, so, make me intercede for him. And the Qur'an will say: I prevented him from sleeping at night, so, make me intercede for him. He (the Messenger) said: So, Allah accepts their intercession."[14]

This favor is given to a memorizer who stays up at night for Salah; may Allah make you and me from that type of people.

* The Qur'an memorizers win the highest degrees of Paradise. `Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "One who was devoted to the Qur'an will be told to read, rise, and recite as you were reciting in the world, for your status will be at the last Ayah you recite."[15]

This Hadith contains a clear reference to the virtue of strong memorization and the command of its people, but rather is apparent with no other possibility because there is nothing but memorization and reading at that moment.

* One who is proficient in the Qur'an, who memorizes it well, and recites it well is in the same degree of honorable angels. It was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim on the authority of `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): "The example of him (a believer) who recites the Qur'an and masters it by heart is with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven).And such a person exerts himself to learn the Qur'an by heart, and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward."[16]

Sa`id ibn Mansur reported: "And the example of the one who recites it without memorizing it and it is difficult for him..."[17]

The meaning is: The one who acts upon it and deems its lawful matters lawful and the unlawful forbidden as explained by other narrations.[18]

In general, every virtue to the memorizer of the Qur'an is for those who memorize it well and acts according to its ordinances, may Allah make you and us from this type.

Reciting and studying the Qur'an are reasons for Allah's Mention to His Servants, sending down tranquility upon them, including them with mercy from every side, and replacing their bad deeds with good ones.

It was reported in Sahih Muslim from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Any group of people that assemble in one of the Houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying the Qur'an, tranquility will descend upon them, angels will surround them, and Allah will make mention of them to those (the angels) in His proximity."[19]

In another narration: "There is no group gathered to mention Allah, seeking only the pleasure of Allah, but a caller from heaven calls them saying: Stand up and leave for you are forgiven and your bad deeds were replaced good deeds."

The best type of Dhikr is reciting the Glorious Qur'an and studying it.[20]

If we take that for granted, this great favor and reward is not only for those who learn the Qur'an and teach it, but anyone helps the people of the Qur'an, learners and teachers, by guiding, intercession, sponsorship, buildings or any kind of help; all these types are included in the favor reported in the previous Hadiths. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever guides someone to virtue shall have the same reward or its doer."

So, whoever calls or contributes in learning and teaching the Qur'an shall have the same reward of the doer according to the text of the Hadith. Likewise, the one who pays of his precious money for learning and teaching the Qur'an shall have the greatest reward if his intention is solely for Allah.[21]

And peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.

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[1] Reported by Ibn Majah (4049), Ibn Hibban (6853), and Al Hakim (4 / 520) who ranked it as authentic according to the conditions of Muslim; and it is reported in As-Silsilah As-Sahihah, No. (87).

[2] As-Silsilah As-Sahihah (1 / 86).

[3] Reported by Ahmad (12292), Ibn Majah, (215), and Al Albany graded it as authentic in Sahih Al Jami` (2165).

[4] Reported by Muslim (673).

[5] Reported by Muslim (817).

[6] (1 / 104).

[7] Reported by Al Bukhari (5027).

[8] Reported by Al Bukhari (5028).

[9] Reported by Abu Dawud (4843), and Al Albany graded it as good in Sahih Al Jami` (2199).

[10] Reported by Al Bukhari (1343).

[11] Reported by Ahmad (22950), Abu `Ubayd in Fada'il Al Qur'an (1 / 53), Ibn Abu Shaybah (10 / 493), Ad-Darimy (2 / 543), Ibn Kathir and Ibn Hajar graded it as good. Bashir ibn Al Muhajir is one of the narrators of the Hadith who was graded as a weak narrator by Imam Ahmad, whereas Ibn Hajar said: He is truthful with soft speech, as was reported in At-Taqrib.

[12] Reported by At-Tirmidhy (2915), and Al Albany graded it as good in Sahih Al Jami` (8030).

[13] Reported by Muslim (804).

[14] Reported by Ibn Al Mubarak in Az-Zuhd (114), Ahmad (6626), and Al Hakim (2036).

Al Bayhaqy also reported this Hadith on his authority in Ash-Shi`ab (3 / 378), and it is found in Sahih At-Targhib (1 / 238).

[15] Reported by Abu Dawud (1464) and Al Albany graded it as authentic in As-Silsilah As-Sahihah (2253).

[16] Al Bukhari (4653) with his own wordings, and Muslim (798).

[17] At-Tafsir from Sunan Sa`id ibn Mansur (1 / 70).

[18] See it in Shi`ab Al Iman of Al Bayhaqy (2 / 344 and the following pages).

[19] Reported by Muslim (2699).

[20] Reported by Ahmad (12453) on the authority of Anas, and it has similar Hadiths from more than one companion to deem it authentic; see: As-Silsilah As-Sahihah (2210).

[21] Reported by Muslim (1893).