Virtues of Reciting the Quran, Its Importance and Etiquette: In Light of Hadith
At a glance
- Each letter of the Quran read earns one good deed, and each good deed is multiplied 10 times (Tirmidhi 2910).
- On the Day of Judgement the Quran will come as an intercessor for those who recited it (Sahih Muslim 804).
- Seek refuge in Allah before reciting, read slowly and clearly, and try to understand the meaning.
Hearing the Quran recited brings calm to the heart, a feeling almost every Muslim knows. The reason is clear: the Quran is the word of our Lord, the Owner of this universe. This article explains the virtues of reciting the Quran, its importance, the correct rules and etiquette of recitation, and what can be said after finishing, in simple language with references to Quran verses and sahih hadith. The number of every hadith is given so that you can check it yourself.
What kind of worship is reciting the Quran?
Tilawat means reading the Quran aloud. It is a distinct and honoured act of worship. Reciting the Quran in prayer is part of its obligatory acts, while reciting outside prayer is voluntary (nafl) worship that brings reward for every letter. The Quran is not only for reading; it is guidance to understand, follow and apply in life. That is why trying to learn the meaning is just as important as recitation.
In Surah Fatir (35:29-30), Allah says that those who recite the Book of Allah, establish prayer and give in charity hope for a trade that will never fail; Allah will give them their full reward and increase it from His bounty.
Virtues of reciting the Quran in light of sahih hadith
Many sayings about the virtues of the Quran circulate, and not all of them are reliable. Below are only the well-known virtues from sahih sources.
1. Ten good deeds for every letter
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah gets one good deed, and each good deed is multiplied 10 times. Alif-Lam-Mim is not one letter; rather Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter. (Jami at-Tirmidhi 2910; graded sahih by Al-Albani)
This means that even a short surah offers hundreds of good deeds. So even 10 minutes of recitation a day is a huge gain.
2. An intercessor on the Day of Judgement
Abu Umamah al-Bahili (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: read the Quran, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection as an intercessor for its companions. The same hadith specially encourages reading Surah Al-Baqarah and Surah Al Imran. (Sahih Muslim 804)
3. Double reward for those who struggle
Aisha (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: the one who is skilled in the Quran will be with the noble, righteous scribes (the angels). And the one who stumbles while reading the Quran and finds it hard will get two rewards. (Sahih Muslim 798; Sunan Abu Dawud 1454)
This is great news for those who started learning the Quran as adults or whose pronunciation is still weak. Keep reading regularly without shame.
4. Learning and teaching the Quran is the best work
Uthman (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: the best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it. (Sahih al-Bukhari 5027)
5. Peace of heart and mercy
Surah Ar-Ra'd, verse 28, says that hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. And Surah Al-Isra, verse 82, calls the Quran a healing (shifa) and mercy for the believers. This mainly refers to relief from diseases of the heart, doubt and restlessness.
Virtue of listening to Quran recitation
Even if you can't read yourself, listening attentively is an act of worship. Allah says: when the Quran is recited, listen to it attentively and remain silent so that you may receive mercy. (Surah Al-A'raf 7:204)
So avoiding talk, scrolling through other things on the phone or joking while the Quran is being recited is part of good manners. Listening to a good reciter also helps correct your own pronunciation.
Rules and etiquette of Quran recitation
Every Muslim should know the rules of reciting the Quran. Following the steps below makes recitation beautiful and respectful.
| Step | What to do | Evidence or reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Read in a state of purity, with wudu if possible | Most scholars require wudu to touch the mushaf |
| 2 | Choose a clean and quiet place | To keep your focus |
| 3 | Begin with A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim | Surah An-Nahl 16:98 |
| 4 | Say Bismillah at the start of a surah (except Surah At-Tawbah) | The written practice of the Quran |
| 5 | Read slowly, clearly and with tarteel | Surah Al-Muzzammil 73:4 |
| 6 | Keep pronunciation and makhraj correct; if you make a mistake, correct it and read again | To avoid changing the meaning |
| 7 | Try to understand the meaning | The Quran was revealed for reflection |
| 8 | End with praise of Allah and seeking forgiveness | See the du'a below |
A few practical tips:
- Fix a time every day. 10-15 minutes after Fajr or before sleeping: being regular matters more than reading a lot.
- Correct your recitation with a teacher. Reading to the mosque imam or a qari even once a week quickly improves pronunciation.
- Read slowly, not fast. Reading correctly and attentively is better than covering more pages.
How to recite the Quran with its meaning
For those who don't understand Arabic, reciting with the meaning is the most useful habit. You can start like this:
- First recite a few verses in Arabic.
- Then read the meaning of those verses from a reliable translation in your language.
- If possible, learn the context of the verses from a simple tafsir.
- Write down one lesson from each day's verses and try to act on it.
Reliable websites and apps such as Quran.com give the Arabic text, translations in Bangla, English and other languages, and audio from many reciters together. Reading along while listening also improves pronunciation.
Du'a after reciting the Quran
Many people mention a specific du'a for the end of recitation. However, scholars point out that no special du'a only for completing the Quran or finishing a recitation is authentically proven.
What is proven is that Aisha (RA) narrated: the Prophet (PBUH) ended any gathering, Quran recitation or prayer with these words:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ
Transliteration: Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika, la ilaha illa anta, astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk.
Meaning: Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise is Yours. There is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.
(An-Nasa'i, As-Sunan al-Kubra and Amal al-Yawm wal-Laylah; graded sahih by Al-Albani in Silsilah as-Sahihah 3164)
Common misconceptions about Quran recitation
- "There is no reward if you don't understand"—not correct. According to hadith there is reward in every letter. But trying to understand multiplies the benefit.
- "Better to stop reading if you make mistakes"—not correct. The hadith promises a double reward for reading with difficulty; just keep learning.
- "Reading a lot in Ramadan is enough"— reading more in Ramadan is better, but regular recitation all year round is what is desired.
- Spreading fabricated or unsourced virtues. Many "virtues" circulate on social media without any source. If a hadith has no book and number, verify it before sharing.
Final word
The virtues of reciting the Quran are immense: a good deed for every letter, intercession on the Day of Judgement and peace of heart in this world. Recite every day, even a little, following the etiquette, with correct pronunciation and an effort to understand the meaning. If you have doubts about any ruling, ask a reliable scholar.
FAQ
How much reward is there for each letter of the Quran?
In the hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (RA), the Prophet (PBUH) said that whoever reads one letter of the Book of Allah gets one good deed, and each good deed is multiplied 10 times. He explained that Alif-Lam-Mim is not one letter; Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter. (Jami at-Tirmidhi 2910)
Do people who stumble while reading the Quran also get reward?
Yes. According to Sahih Muslim (798), the one who is skilled in the Quran will be with the noble angels, and the one who stumbles and finds it difficult gets a double reward. So keep reading and learning regularly without feeling ashamed until your recitation is correct.
Can I recite the Quran without wudu?
Scholars say wudu is not a condition for reciting from memory, though reciting with wudu is better. For touching a printed mushaf (copy of the Quran) while reading, most scholars hold wudu to be required. For rulings in special situations, consult a reliable scholar.
Which du'a should I read after reciting the Quran?
Many scholars note that no specific du'a only for finishing a recitation or completing the Quran is authentically proven. However, Aisha (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) ended a gathering, a recitation or a prayer with 'Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika, la ilaha illa anta, astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk' (An-Nasa'i, As-Sunan al-Kubra; graded sahih by Al-Albani).
Is there virtue in listening to the Quran?
Yes. In Surah Al-A'raf, verse 204, Allah says that when the Quran is recited, listen to it attentively and remain silent so that you may receive mercy. So listening attentively to recitation is also a means of gaining mercy.