The Book of the Excellence of the Holy Quran

يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كَانَ لِي مَالٌ وَرِثْتُهُ وَ لَمْ أُنْفِقْ مِنْهُ دِرْهَماً فِي طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ثُمَّ اكْتَسَبْتُ مِنْهُ مَالًا فَلَمْ أُنْفِقْ مِنْهُ دِرْهَماً فِي طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ فَعَلِّمْنِي دُعَاءً يُخْلِفُ عَلَيَّ مَا مَضَى وَ يَغْفِرُ لِي مَا عَمِلْتُ أَوْ عَمَلًا أَعْمَلُهُ قَالَ قُلْ قَالَ وَ أَيَّ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَقُولُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ قُلْ كَمَا أَقُولُ- يَا نُورِي فِي ك

35. Ali ibn abu Hamza has narrated from certain individuals of his people from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Once a man came to Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) and said, ‘O Amir al- Mu’minin, I inherited a property but did not give even one dirham in obedience to Allah, the Most Majestic

يَا سَعْدُ تَعَلَّمُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّ الْقُرْآنَ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِي أَحْسَنِ صُورَةٍ نَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا الْخَلْقُ وَ النَّاسُ صُفُوفٌ عِشْرُونَ وَ مِائَةُ أَلْفِ صَفٍّ ثَمَانُونَ أَلْفَ صَفٍّ أُمَّةُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَرْبَعُونَ أَلْفَ صَفٍّ مِنْ سَائِرِ الْأُمَمِ فَيَأْتِي عَلَى صَفِّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فِي صُورَةِ رَجُلٍ فَيُسَلِّمُ فَيَنْظُرُونَ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْحَلِيمُ

1. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-‘Abbas from h n Fadl ibn Shadhan ‘Abd al-Rahman from Sufyan al-Hariri from his father from Sa’d al-Khaffaf from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “O Sa’d, learn the Holy Quran; on the Day of Judgment the Holy Quran will come in the best form that people may have ever

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّكُمْ فِي دَارِ هُدْنَةٍ[3] وَ أَنْتُمْ عَلَى ظَهْرِ سَفَرٍ وَ السَّيْرُ بِكُمْ سَرِيعٌ وَ قَدْ رَأَيْتُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَ النَّهَارَ وَ الشَّمْسَ وَ الْقَمَرَ يُبْلِيَانِ كُلَّ جَدِيدٍ وَ يُقَرِّبَانِ كُلَّ بَعِيدٍ وَ يَأْتِيَانِ بِكُلِّ مَوْعُودٍ فَأَعِدُّوا الْجَهَازَ[4] لِبُعْدِ الْمَجَازِ- قَالَ فَقَامَ الْمِقْدَادُ بْنُ الْأَسْوَدِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ مَا د

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘O people, you live in peacetime during a fast moving journey. You have seen night, day, sun and moon turn every new into old, every far near, and bring the

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ الْعَزِيزَ الْجَبَّارَ أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ كِتَابَهُ وَ هُوَ الصَّادِقُ الْبَارُّ فِيهِ خَبَرُكُمْ وَ خَبَرُ مَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ وَ خَبَرُ مَنْ بَعْدَكُمْ وَ خَبَرُ السَّمَاءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ وَ لَوْ أَتَاكُمْ مَنْ يُخْبِرُكُمْ عَنْ ذَلِكَ لَتَعَجَّبْتُمْ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from Sama’a ibn Mehran who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd (a.s.) has said, the Majestic, the Almighty, has revealed to you His book. It is truthful and virtuous. In it there is news about you, the news of those before you, the news about

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَنَا أَوَّلُ وَافِدٍ عَلَى الْعَزِيزِ الْجَبَّارِ- يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ كِتَابُهُ وَ أَهْلُ بَيْتِي ثُمَّ أُمَّتِي ثُمَّ أَسْأَلُهُمْ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ بِأَهْلِ بَيْتِي.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘I will be the first to arrive before the Majestic, the Almighty on the Day of Judgment, His book and my family, then my followers whom I will ask about what they have done to the book of Allah and my family.’”

إِنَّ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ فِيهِ مَنَارُ الْهُدَى وَ مَصَابِيحُ الدُّجَى فَلْيَجْلُ جَالٍ بَصَرَهُ وَ يَفْتَحُ لِلضِّيَاءِ نَظَرَهُ فَإِنَّ التَّفَكُّرَ حَيَاةُ قَلْبِ الْبَصِيرِ كَمَا يَمْشِي الْمُسْتَنِيرُ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ بِالنُّورِ.

“In this Quran is the lighthouse of guidance and torches for dankness. One must brighten his eyes and open them in such light; thinking is life for the seeing eyes just as light helps one walking in the dark.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ كَانَ فِي وَصِيَّةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَصْحَابَهُ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الْقُرْآنَ هُدَى النَّهَارِ وَ نُورُ اللَّيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْ جَهْدٍ وَ فَاقَةٍ[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘It is in the will of Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) to his companions, “You must know that the Holy Quran is guidance during the day and light in the dark night against the existing hardships and poverty.”’

شَكَا رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص وَجَعاً فِي صَدْرِهِ فَقَالَ ص اسْتَشْفِ بِالْقُرْآنِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- وَ شِفاءٌ لِما فِي الصُّدُورِ[2].

“Once a man complained to the Holy Prophet for having pain in his chest and he (a.s.) said, ‘Seek a cure from the Holy Quran; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, “It is a cure for that which is in the chest (the heart).”’

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا وَ اللَّهِ لَا يَرْجِعُ الْأَمْرُ وَ الْخِلَافَةُ إِلَى آلِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَ عُمَرَ أَبَداً وَ لَا إِلَى بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ أَبَداً وَ لَا فِي وُلْدِ طَلْحَةَ وَ الزُّبَيْرِ أَبَداً وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُمْ نَبَذُوا الْقُرْآنَ وَ أَبْطَلُوا السُّنَنَ وَ عَطَّلُوا الْأَحْكَامَ وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص- الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى مِنَ الضَّلَالِ وَ تِبْيَانٌ مِنَ الْعَمَى وَ اسْتِقَالَةٌ مِنَ الْعَثْرَ

8. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from certain individuals of his people from al- Khashshab in a marfu’ manner from the Imam (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘I swear by Allah, Khilafat (leadership after the Holy Prophet) will never return to the family of abu Bakr and ‘Umar. It will

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الْقُرْآنَ زَاجِرٌ وَ آمِرٌ يَأْمُرُ بِالْجَنَّةِ وَ يَزْجُرُ عَنِ النَّارِ.

‘The Holy Quran forbids and commands, it commands (people to go) to paradise and prohibits (people from going) to the fire.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أُعْطِيتُ السُّوَرَ الطِّوَالَ مَكَانَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَ أُعْطِيتُ الْمِئِينَ مَكَانَ الْإِنْجِيلِ وَ أُعْطِيتُ الْمَثَانِيَ مَكَانَ الزَّبُورِ وَ فُضِّلْتُ بِالْمُفَصَّلِ ثَمَانٌ وَ سِتُّونَ سُورَةً وَ هُوَ مُهَيْمِنٌ عَلَى سَائِرِ الْكُتُبِ وَ التَّوْرَاةُ لِمُوسَى وَ الْإِنْجِيلُ لِعِيسَى وَ الزَّبُورُ لِدَاوُدَ[1].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The longer chapters of the Holy Quran were given to me as alternative to Torah, the chapters of one hundred verses in place of Injil, al-Mathani (Chapter 1) in place of al-Zabbur, in addition I was favored with sixty eight detailed chapters. It is dominant over other books, Torah was

يَجِي‌ءُ الْقُرْآنُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِي أَحْسَنِ مَنْظُورٍ إِلَيْهِ صُورَةً فَيَمُرُّ بِالْمُسْلِمِينَ فَيَقُولُونَ هَذَا الرَّجُلُ مِنَّا فَيُجَاوِزُهُمْ إِلَى النَّبِيِّينَ فَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ مِنَّا فَيُجَاوِزُهُمْ إِلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ فَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ مِنَّا حَتَّى يَنْتَهِيَ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَيَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ فُلَانُ بْنُ فُلَانٍ أَظْمَأْتُ هَوَاجِرَهُ‌[2] وَ أَسْهَرْتُ

“On the Day of Judgment the Holy Quran will come in the best shape and form. He will pass by the Muslims who will say, ‘This man is from us.’ He will pass toward the prophets who will say that he is of us, then he will pass toward the special angels who will say that he is one of us until he is before the Lord of Majes

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ الدَّوَاوِينَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ثَلَاثَةٌ دِيوَانٌ فِيهِ النِّعَمُ وَ دِيوَانٌ فِيهِ الْحَسَنَاتُ وَ دِيوَانٌ فِيهِ السَّيِّئَاتُ فَيُقَابَلُ بَيْنَ دِيوَانِ النِّعَمِ وَ دِيوَانِ الْحَسَنَاتِ فَتَسْتَغْرِقُ النِّعَمُ عَامَّةَ الْحَسَنَاتِ وَ يَبْقَى دِيوَانُ السَّيِّئَاتِ فَيُدْعَى بِابْنِ آدَمَ الْمُؤْمِنِ لِلْحِسَابِ فَيَتَقَدَّمُ الْقُرْآنُ أَمَامَهُ فِي أَحْسَنِ صُورَةٍ فَيَ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘On the Day of Judgment there will be three books of records: the book of the record of the good deeds, the book of the record of the bounties and the book of the record of the evil deeds. The records of the good deeds and the bounties will be compared and (in a particular case) the rec

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌ لَوْ مَاتَ مَنْ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَ الْمَغْرِبِ لَمَا اسْتَوْحَشْتُ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَكُونَ الْقُرْآنُ مَعِي وَ كَانَ ع إِذَا قَرَأَ- مالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ‌ يُكَرِّرُهَا حَتَّى كَادَ أَنْ يَمُوتَ.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘Having the Holy Quran with me I will have no fear or anxiety, even if everyone between the East and West may all die.’ On reading verse four of Chapter 1, “The owner (of the kingdom) on the Day of Judgment,” repeatedly he seemed as if he were about to die.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا جَمَعَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَ الْآخِرِينَ إِذَا هُمْ بِشَخْصٍ قَدْ أَقْبَلَ لَمْ يُرَ قَطُّ أَحْسَنُ صُورَةً مِنْهُ فَإِذَا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَ هُوَ الْقُرْآنُ قَالُوا هَذَا مِنَّا هَذَا أَحْسَنُ شَيْ‌ءٍ رَأَيْنَا فَإِذَا انْتَهَى إِلَيْهِمْ جَازَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ الشُّهَدَاءُ حَتَّى إِذَا انْتَهَى إِلَى آخِرِهِمْ جَازَهُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ هَذ

"When Allah (azwj) will gather together [the people of] the first and last [generation], they will be in the presence of a person whom they have never seen a more beautiful form than him. When the believers look at him, and he is the Quran, they will say, 'This is from us; this is the most beautiful thing we have ever

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرْآنِ فِي أَعْلَى دَرَجَةٍ مِنَ الْآدَمِيِّينَ مَا خَلَا النَّبِيِّينَ وَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ فَلَا تَسْتَضْعِفُوا أَهْلَ الْقُرْآنِ حُقُوقَهُمْ فَإِنَّ لَهُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْجَبَّارِ لَمَكَاناً عَلِيّاً.

‘The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘People of the Holy Quran are of the highest degree among men, except the prophets and the messengers of Allah, thus, you should not consider them weak in the matters of their rights; with Allah, the Most Majestic, the Almighty, they have a special status.’”

الْحَافِظُ لِلْقُرْآنِ الْعَامِلُ بِهِ مَعَ السَّفَرَةِ الْكِرَامِ الْبَرَرَةِ.

‘One who has memorized the Holy Quran and acts upon it will be with the honorable and righteous angels.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ تَعَلَّمُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ صَاحِبَهُ فِي صُورَةِ شَابٍّ جَمِيلٍ شَاحِبِ اللَّوْنِ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ الْقُرْآنُ‌[1] أَنَا الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَسْهَرْتُ لَيْلَكَ وَ أَظْمَأْتُ هَوَاجِرَكَ وَ أَجْفَفْتُ رِيقَكَ وَ أَسَلْتُ دَمْعَتَكَ أَئُولُ مَعَكَ حَيْثُمَا أُلْتَ وَ كُلُّ تَاجِرٍ مِنْ وَرَاءِ تِجَارَتِهِ وَ أَنَا الْيَوْمَ لَكَ مِنْ وَرَاءِ تِجَارَةِ كُلِّ تَاجِرٍ وَ

3. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: ‘‘The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Learn the Holy Quran; on the Day of Judgment it will come to his friends in the form of a most beautiful young person of pale complexion and will speak to his friend saying, “

مَنْ قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ وَ هُوَ شَابٌّ مُؤْمِنٌ اخْتَلَطَ الْقُرْآنُ بِلَحْمِهِ وَ دَمِهِ وَ جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَعَ السَّفَرَةِ الْكِرَامِ الْبَرَرَةِ وَ كَانَ الْقُرْآنُ حَجِيزاً عَنْهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ كُلَّ عَامِلٍ قَدْ أَصَابَ أَجْرَ عَمَلِهِ غَيْرَ عَامِلِي فَبَلِّغْ بِهِ أَكْرَمَ عَطَايَاكَ قَالَ‌ فَيَكْسُوهُ اللَّهُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ حُلَّتَيْنِ مِنْ حُلَلِ الْجَنَّ

“If a young believing person reads the Holy Quran, it mixes with his flesh and blood. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, will include him among the honorable and virtuous carriers of the message of Allah and on the Day of Judgment the Holy Quran will be his supporter. The Holy Quran will say, ‘O Lord, every worke

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ أَحَقَّ النَّاسِ بِالتَّخَشُّعِ فِي السِّرِّ وَ الْعَلَانِيَةِ لَحَامِلُ الْقُرْآنِ وَ إِنَّ أَحَقَّ النَّاسِ فِي السِّرِّ وَ الْعَلَانِيَةِ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَ الصَّوْمِ لَحَامِلُ الْقُرْآنِ ثُمَّ نَادَى بِأَعْلَى صَوْتِهِ يَا حَامِلَ الْقُرْآنِ تَوَاضَعْ بِهِ يَرْفَعْكَ اللَّهُ وَ لَا تَعَزَّزْ بِهِ فَيُذِلَّكَ اللَّهُ يَا حَامِلَ الْقُرْآنِ تَزَيَّنْ بِهِ لِلَّهِ يُزَيِّنْكَ اللَّهُ بِهِ

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The one expected to be the most humble in private and in public is the carrier of the Holy Quran, the one expected the most to perform prayer and fast in private and in public is the carrier of the Holy Quran. Then he called out loud, “O carrier of the Holy Quran, be humble with the h

النَّاسُ أَرْبَعَةٌ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ مَا هُمْ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ أُوتِيَ الْإِيمَانَ وَ لَمْ يُؤْتَ الْقُرْآنَ وَ رَجُلٌ أُوتِيَ الْقُرْآنَ وَ لَمْ يُؤْتَ الْإِيمَانَ وَ رَجُلٌ أُوتِيَ الْقُرْآنَ وَ أُوتِيَ الْإِيمَانَ وَ رَجُلٌ‌ لَمْ يُؤْتَ الْقُرْآنَ وَ لَا الْإِيمَانَ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَسِّرْ لِي حَالَهُمْ فَقَالَ أَمَّا الَّذِي أُوتِيَ الْإِيمَانَ وَ لَمْ يُؤْتَ الْقُرْآنَ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ

“People are of four kinds. I (the narrator) then asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, who are they?’ The Imam said, ‘A man who has received belief but not the Holy Quran, a man who has received the Holy Quran but not belief, a man who has received both belief and the Holy Quran and a man who has re

قُلْتُ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ الْحَالُّ الْمُرْتَحِلُ‌[3] قُلْتُ وَ مَا الْحَالُّ الْمُرْتَحِلُ قَالَ فَتْحُ الْقُرْآنِ وَ خَتْمُهُ كُلَّمَا جَاءَ بِأَوَّلِهِ ارْتَحَلَ فِي آخِرِهِ وَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنْ أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ الْقُرْآنَ فَرَأَى أَنَّ رَجُلًا أُعْطِيَ أَفْضَلَ مِمَّا أُعْطِيَ فَقَدْ صَغَّرَ عَظِيماً وَ عَظَّمَ صَغِيراً.

“Once I asked Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) ‘What deed is more virtuous?’ He said, ‘Al-Hall al- Murtahal .’ I then asked, ‘What is al-Hall al-MurtahalT The Imam said, ‘It is one who opens the Holy Quran and completes reading, whenever he begins he arrives at the end of the Holy Quran.’ The Imam said that the Messenger of Al

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ فَهُوَ غَنِيٌّ وَ لَا فَقْرَ بَعْدَهُ وَ إِلَّا مَا بِهِ غِنًى‌[4].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once said to me, ‘If anyone reads the Holy Quran, he is wealthy and there is no poverty thereafter, otherwise, he will never be wealthy.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ يَا مَعَاشِرَ قُرَّاءِ الْقُرْآنِ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيمَا حَمَّلَكُمْ مِنْ كِتَابِهِ فَإِنِّي مَسْئُولٌ وَ إِنَّكُمْ مَسْئُولُونَ إِنِّي مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ تَبْلِيغِ الرِّسَالَةِ وَ أَمَّا أَنْتُمْ فَتُسْأَلُونَ عَمَّا حُمِّلْتُمْ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ سُنَّتِي.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘O community of the readers of the Holy Quran be pious before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, in the matters of the responsibility that He has placed upon you toward His book. I will be questioned and you will be questioned. I will be questioned about the preaching of the mess

سَمِعْتُ مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ لِرَجُلٍ أَ تُحِبُّ الْبَقَاءَ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ وَ لِمَ قَالَ لِقِرَاءَةِ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ فَسَكَتَ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْدَ سَاعَةٍ يَا حَفْصُ مَنْ مَاتَ مِنْ أَوْلِيَائِنَا وَ شِيعَتِنَا وَ لَمْ يُحْسِنِ الْقُرْآنَ عُلِّمَ فِي قَبْرِهِ لِيَرْفَعَ اللَّهُ بِهِ مِنْ دَرَجَتِهِ فَإِنَّ دَرَجَاتِ الْجَنَّةِ عَلَى قَدْرِ آيَاتِ الْقُرْآنِ يُقَالُ لَه

“I heard Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) asking a man, ‘Do you like to live forever in this world’? The man said, ‘Yes, I do so.’ The Imam asked, ‘Why would you do so?’ The man said, ‘So that I can read {Say, "He is God, the One"}’ The Imam (a.s.) remained calm for a while and after an hour said, ‘O Hafs, if any of our lovers a

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ حَمَلَةُ الْقُرْآنِ عُرَفَاءُ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ الْمُجْتَهِدُونَ قُوَّادُ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةَ[1] وَ الرُّسُلُ سَادَةُ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةَ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The carriers of the Holy Quran will be the most knowledgeable people of paradise, the assiduously working people will be the leaders in paradise and the messengers will be the masters of the people of paradise.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الَّذِي يُعَالِجُ الْقُرْآنَ‌[2] وَ يَحْفَظُهُ بِمَشَقَّةٍ مِنْهُ وَ قِلَّةِ حِفْظٍ لَهُ أَجْرَانِ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Those who face difficulty memorizing the Holy Quran due to lesser ability of memorization will be rewarded twofold.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ شُدِّدَ عَلَيْهِ فِي الْقُرْآنِ كَانَ لَهُ أَجْرَانِ وَ مَنْ يُسِّرَ عَلَيْهِ كَانَ مَعَ الْأَوَّلِينَ‌[1].

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘One for whom memorizing the Holy Quran is difficult, his reward is twofold and those for whom it is easy, they are with the pioneers (the earliest Muslims).”’

يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُؤْمِنِ أَنْ لَا يَمُوتَ حَتَّى يَتَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ أَوْ يَكُونَ فِي تَعْلِيمِهِ.

“It is incumbent on a believer not to die without having learnt the Qur’an or being in the process of learning it.”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ قَرَأْتُ الْقُرْآنَ فَفَلَتَ مِنِّي‌[2] فَادْعُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يُعَلِّمَنِيهِ قَالَ فَكَأَنَّهُ فَزِعَ لِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ عَلَّمَكَ اللَّهُ هُوَ وَ إِيَّانَا جَمِيعاً قَالَ وَ نَحْنُ نَحْوٌ مِنْ عَشَرَةٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ السُّورَةُ تَكُونُ مَعَ الرَّجُلِ قَدْ قَرَأَهَا ثُمَّ تَرَكَهَا فَتَأْتِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِي أَحْسَنِ صُورَةٍ وَ تُسَلِّمُ

“Once I said to abu Abdullah (a.s.) ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I had learned the Holy Quran but now it is gone (forgotten). Pray to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, so I learn it again?’ The narrator has said that the Imam seemed shocked and said, ‘May Allah and all of us help you learn

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ نَسِيَ سُورَةً مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مُثِّلَتْ لَهُ فِي صُورَةٍ حَسَنَةٍ وَ دَرَجَةٍ رَفِيعَةٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَإِذَا رَآهَا قَالَ مَا أَنْتِ مَا أَحْسَنَكِ لَيْتَكِ لِي فَيَقُولُ أَ مَا تَعْرِفُنِي أَنَا سُورَةُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ لَوْ لَمْ تَنْسَنِي رَفَعْتُكَ إِلَى هَذَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘If one forgets a chapter from the Holy Quran it will appear to him in the best form and high position in paradise. When he will see it he will say how beautiful you are! I wish you were mine.’ It will ask, ‘Do you not know me? I am chapter so and so, had you not forgotten me I would ha

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ عَلَيَّ دَيْناً كَثِيراً وَ قَدْ دَخَلَنِي مَا كَانَ الْقُرْآنُ يَتَفَلَّتُ مِنِّي فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- الْقُرْآنَ الْقُرْآنَ إِنَّ الْآيَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ وَ السُّورَةَ لَتَجِي‌ءُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حَتَّى تَصْعَدَ أَلْفَ دَرَجَةٍ يَعْنِي فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَتَقُولُ لَوْ حَفِظْتَنِي لَبَلَغْتُ بِكَ هَاهُنَا.

‘The Holy Quran, the Holy Quran! On the Day of Judgment the chapter and the verse of the Holy Quran will come and say, ‘Had you not forgotten me I would have taken you today to such and such high ranks in paradise.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا كَانَ يَعْلَمُ السُّورَةَ ثُمَّ نَسِيَهَا أَوْ تَرَكَهَا وَ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ أَشْرَفَتْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ فَوْقٍ فِي أَحْسَنِ صُورَةٍ فَتَقُولُ تَعْرِفُنِي فَيَقُولُ لَا فَتَقُولُ أَنَا سُورَةُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا لَمْ تَعْمَلْ بِي وَ تَرَكْتَنِي أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ عَمِلْتَ بِي لَبَلَغْتُ بِكَ هَذِهِ الدَّرَجَةَ وَ أَشَارَتْ بِيَدِهَا إِلَى فَوْقِهَا.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘If a man knows a chapter then forgets it or just leaves it and will enter paradise, it will appear above him in the best form and ask, “Do you know me?” He will say, ‘No, I do not know you. ’ It will say, “I am chapter so and so, you did not follow me and left me. I swear by Allah

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ ثُمَّ نَسِيَهُ فَرَدَدْتُ عَلَيْهِ ثَلَاثاً أَ عَلَيْهِ فِيهِ حَرَجٌ قَالَ لَا[2].

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about a man who reads the Holy Quran and then forgets and I repeated it before him three times asking, ‘Is it an offense on his part?’ The Imam said, ‘No.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّهُ أَصَابَتْنِي هُمُومٌ وَ أَشْيَاءُ لَمْ يَبْقَ شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ[1] إِلَّا وَ قَدْ تَفَلَّتَ مِنِّي مِنْهُ طَائِفَةٌ حَتَّى الْقُرْآنُ لَقَدْ تَفَلَّتَ مِنِّي طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُ قَالَ فَفَزِعَ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ حِينَ ذَكَرْتُ الْقُرْآنَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَنْسَى السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ فَتَأْتِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حَتَّى تُشْرِفَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ د

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I am facing such problems and difficulties that I forget so many good things even some of the Holy Quran.’ The Imam was shocked upon my mentioning the Holy Quran and said, ‘If a man forgets a chapter of the Holy Quran, on the Day of

الْقُرْآنُ عَهْدُ اللَّهِ إِلَى خَلْقِهِ فَقَدْ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ فِي عَهْدِهِ وَ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ مِنْهُ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسِينَ آيَةً.

“The Holy Quran is a covenant of Allah with His creatures. A Muslim must look at his covenant and read fifty verses every day.”

سَمِعْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ آيَاتُ الْقُرْآنِ خَزَائِنُ فَكُلَّمَا فَتَحْتَ خِزَانَةً يَنْبَغِي لَكَ أَنْ تَنْظُرَ مَا فِيهَا.

“I heard Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) saying, ‘Verses of the Holy Quran are treasures, whenever a treasure is opened you should look into it.”’

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ نَوِّرُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ بِتِلَاوَةِ الْقُرْآنِ وَ لَا تَتَّخِذُوهَا قُبُوراً كَمَا فَعَلَتِ الْيَهُودُ وَ النَّصَارَى صَلَّوْا فِي الْكَنَائِسِ وَ الْبِيَعِ‌[1] وَ عَطَّلُوا بُيُوتَهُمْ فَإِنَّ الْبَيْتَ إِذَا كَثُرَ فِيهِ تِلَاوَةُ الْقُرْآنِ كَثُرَ خَيْرُهُ وَ اتَّسَعَ أَهْلُهُ وَ أَضَاءَ لِأَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ كَمَا تُضِي‌ءُ نُجُومُ السَّمَاءِ لِأَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Fudayl ibn ‘Uthman from Layth ibn abu Sulaym in a marfu’ manner from the Holy Prophet who has said the following: “Light up your homes by means of reading the Holy Quran and do not turn them into graves as the Jews and Christi

إِنَّ الْبَيْتَ إِذَا كَانَ فِيهِ الْمَرْءُ الْمُسْلِمُ يَتْلُو الْقُرْآنَ يَتَرَاءَاهُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ كَمَا يَتَرَاءَى أَهْلُ الدُّنْيَا الْكَوْكَبَ الدُّرِّيَّ فِي السَّمَاءِ.

“A house wherein a Muslim reads the Holy Quran is looked upon by the inhabitants of heavens, just as the inhabitants of earth like to look at a shining star in the skies.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ الْبَيْتُ الَّذِي يُقْرَأُ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ وَ يُذْكَرُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيهِ تَكْثُرُ بَرَكَتُهُ وَ تَحْضُرُهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَ تَهْجُرُهُ الشَّيَاطِينُ وَ يُضِي‌ءُ لِأَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ كَمَا تُضِي‌ءُ الْكَوَاكِبُ‌[4] لِأَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ وَ إِنَّ الْبَيْتَ الَّذِي لَا يُقْرَأُ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ وَ لَا يُذْكَرُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيهِ تَقِلُّ بَرَكَتُهُ وَ تَهْجُرُهُ الْمَلَا

3. Muhammad ibn Ahmad and A number of our people have narrated from have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad all from Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Ubayd Allah from ibn al-Qaddah from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘A house wherein the Holy Quran is read, All

مَنْ قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ قَائِماً فِي صَلَاتِهِ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِكُلِّ حَرْفٍ مِائَةَ حَسَنَةٍ وَ مَنْ قَرَأَهُ فِي صَلَاتِهِ جَالِساً كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِكُلِّ حَرْفٍ خَمْسِينَ حَسَنَةً وَ مَنْ قَرَأَهُ فِي غَيْرِ صَلَاتِهِ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِكُلِّ حَرْفٍ عَشْرَ حَسَنَاتٍ. - قَالَ ابْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ وَ قَدْ سَمِعْتُهُ عَنْ مُعَاذٍ عَلَى نَحْوٍ مِمَّا رَوَاهُ ابْنُ سِنَانٍ‌.

“If one reads the Holy Quran in prayer standing Allah will write down for him the reward for one hundred good deeds for each letter. If one reads the Holy Quran in prayer sitting Allah will write down for him the reward for fifty good deeds for each letter and if one reads without being in prayer, Allah will write for

مَا يَمْنَعُ التَّاجِرَ مِنْكُمُ الْمَشْغُولَ فِي سُوقِهِ إِذَا رَجَعَ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ أَنْ لَا يَنَامَ حَتَّى يَقْرَأَ سُورَةً مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ فَتُكْتَبَ لَهُ مَكَانَ كُلِّ آيَةٍ يَقْرَؤُهَا عَشْرُ حَسَنَاتٍ وَ يُمْحَى عَنْهُ عَشْرُ سَيِّئَاتٍ.

“Why should any thing prevent a business man working in the marketplace from reading one chapter from the Quran before going to sleep when he is home? So ten good deeds shall be written for him in the place of every verse he recites, and ten sins shall be wiped out.”

مَنْ قَرَأَ آيَةً مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي صَلَاتِهِ قَائِماً يُكْتَبُ لَهُ بِكُلِّ حَرْفٍ مِائَةُ حَسَنَةٍ فَإِذَا قَرَأَهَا فِي غَيْرِ صَلَاةٍ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِكُلِّ حَرْفٍ- عَشْرَ حَسَنَاتٍ وَ إِنِ اسْتَمَعَ الْقُرْآنَ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِكُلِّ حَرْفٍ حَسَنَةً وَ إِنْ خَتَمَ الْقُرْآنَ لَيْلًا صَلَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ وَ إِنْ خَتَمَهُ نَهَاراً صَلَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الْحَفَظَ

“Al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever reads from the Holy Quran in his prayer in a standing position, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, writes down for him the reward for one hundred good deeds for each letter and if one reads from the Holy Quran without being in prayer, Allah writes down for him the rewa

مَنْ خَتَمَ الْقُرْآنَ بِمَكَّةَ مِنْ جُمُعَةٍ إِلَى جُمُعَةٍ أَوْ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ وَ خَتَمَهُ فِي يَوْمِ جُمُعَةٍ كُتِبَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ وَ الْحَسَنَاتِ مِنْ أَوَّلِ جُمُعَةٍ كَانَتْ فِي الدُّنْيَا إِلَى آخِرِ جُمُعَةٍ تَكُونُ فِيهَا وَ إِنْ خَتَمَهُ فِي سَائِرِ الْأَيَّامِ فَكَذَلِكَ.

“If one, while in Makkah, reads the Holy Quran beginning on a Friday and completes reading the next Friday or within less or more time ending on Friday the reward for it will be written like the reward for a reading commencing from the first ever Friday in the world to the last Friday that there will ever be. The same

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ قَرَأَ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ فِي لَيْلَةٍ لَمْ يُكْتَبْ مِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ وَ مَنْ قَرَأَ خَمْسِينَ آيَةً كُتِبَ مِنَ الذَّاكِرِينَ وَ مَنْ قَرَأَ مِائَةَ آيَةٍ كُتِبَ مِنَ الْقَانِتِينَ وَ مَنْ قَرَأَ مِائَتَيْ آيَةٍ كُتِبَ مِنَ الْخَاشِعِينَ وَ مَنْ قَرَأَ ثَلَاثَ مِائَةِ آيَةٍ كُتِبَ مِنَ الْفَائِزِينَ وَ مَنْ قَرَأَ خَمْسَمِائَةِ آيَةٍ كُتِبَ مِنَ الْمُجْتَهِدِينَ وَ مَنْ قَرَأَ أَلْفَ آيَةٍ

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘One who reads ten verses from the Holy Quran in a night he is not written of the neglectful people. If one reads fifty verses, he is written of those who speak of Allah. If one reads one hundred verses, he is written of the pleading people before Allah. If one reads two hundred verses

مَنِ اسْتَمَعَ حَرْفاً مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ غَيْرِ قِرَاءَةٍ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ حَسَنَةً وَ مَحَا عَنْهُ سَيِّئَةً وَ رَفَعَ لَهُ دَرَجَةً وَ مَنْ قَرَأَ نَظَراً مِنْ غَيْرِ صَوْتٍ‌[4] كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِكُلِّ حَرْفٍ حَسَنَةً وَ مَحَا عَنْهُ سَيِّئَةً وَ رَفَعَ لَهُ دَرَجَةً وَ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ مِنْهُ حَرْفاً ظَاهِراً كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ عَشْرَ حَسَنَاتٍ وَ مَحَا عَنْهُ عَشْرَ سَيِّئَاتٍ وَ رَفَ

who has said the following: “If one listens to the reading of one letter from the book of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, without reading, Allah writes for him the reward for one good deed, deletes one of his evil deeds and raises for him one degree. If one reads looking but without audible voice Allah writes

سَمِعْتُ أَبِي ع يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ خَتْمُ الْقُرْآنِ إِلَى حَيْثُ تَعْلَمُ‌[1].

7. Mansur has narrated from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, “Complete reading of the Holy Quran is reading to the extent that you know.’”

مَنْ قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ فِي الْمُصْحَفِ مُتِّعَ بِبَصَرِهِ وَ خُفِّفَ عَنْ وَالِدَيْهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَا كَافِرَيْنِ.

“If one reads the Holy Quran from a copy, he benefits from his eyesight, and his parents receive relief even if they are unbelievers.”

إِنَّهُ لَيُعْجِبُنِي أَنْ يَكُونَ فِي الْبَيْتِ مُصْحَفٌ يَطْرُدُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ الشَّيَاطِينَ.

T love the presence of a copy of the Holy Quran in a house; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, thereby wards off devils.’”

ثَلَاثَةٌ يَشْكُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَسْجِدٌ خَرَابٌ لَا يُصَلِّي فِيهِ أَهْلُهُ وَ عَالِمٌ بَيْنَ جُهَّالٍ وَ مُصْحَفٌ مُعَلَّقٌ قَدْ وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِ الْغُبَارُ لَا يُقْرَأُ فِيهِ.

“Three things will complain before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy: A Mosque where no one of the neighborhood performs prayer, a scholar among the ignorant people and the copy of the Holy Quran on which dust has accumulated and no one reads it.”