5 hadiths on reading and learning the Quran
Reading despite hesitation, reviewing what you learn and preserving your intention: five hadiths to support Quran reading.
Reading the Quran can be easy on some days and laborious at other times. A beginner searches for letters; someone who has memorised discovers they are forgetting; another recites fluently but questions their intention.
These five hadiths address those difficulties without reducing reading to speed or a page count. They encourage learning, revision and sincerity, with a promise of intercession on the Day of Resurrection.
Article contents
Learning the Quran and passing it on
The context of the narration
‘Uthman reports a saying of the Prophet ﷺ about those who learn the Quran and teach it. The account also mentions Abu ‘Abd ar-Rahman as-Sulami, who explains that this teaching led him to devote his time to teaching the Quran:“The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it.”
Read the Arabic text
خَيْرُكُمْ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ وَعَلَّمَهُ
Understanding this hadith
The hadith mentions both learning the Quran and teaching it. We can continue learning while sharing what we know correctly, without explaining a passage or correcting recitation beyond our knowledge.
If you are beginning, finding a class where someone will listen to your reading helps identify errors you cannot hear yourself. Learning a letter, revisiting a word or reciting a few lines correctly are already acts of learning; the aim must not be reserved for those able to read a long surah.
If you are helping a child or relative, choose a passage you know well and have uncertain points checked. Correcting a mistake patiently helps them continue. It is better to acknowledge a limit than confidently transmit a pronunciation you doubt.
The reader who hesitates is not forgotten
The context of the narration
‘Aishah reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned two readers: one is proficient in recitation, the other stumbles and finds reading difficult. Both are mentioned in the same saying:“The one proficient in the Quran is with the noble, righteous messengers. The one who reads the Quran while stumbling over it and finding it difficult receives two rewards.”
Read the Arabic text
الْمَاهِرُ بِالْقُرْآنِ مَعَ السَّفَرَةِ الْكِرَامِ الْبَرَرَةِ وَالَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ وَيَتَتَعْتَعُ فِيهِ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ شَاقٌّ لَهُ أَجْرَانِ
Understanding this hadith
Proficiency in recitation is honoured, and so is the effort of the person who struggles. “Messengers” here translates safarah, generally understood as noble, obedient angels. The second reader’s difficulty therefore does not deprive them of reward.
This saying helps someone ashamed to read slowly before more fluent people. Hesitating over letters is no reason to stop opening the Quran or asking for help. A patient teacher can listen to a few lines, choose one correction and allow time to work on it.
The announcement of two rewards does not invite deliberately maintaining errors. The text describes someone reading despite a real difficulty. Progress remains good; the reward for effort is precisely what allows someone to continue without waiting to be an accomplished reader already.
Revisiting what you have memorised
The context of the narration
Abu Musa reports an instruction of the Prophet ﷺ about retaining the Quran in memory. The comparison uses something familiar to his listeners: a camel can escape when its tether is no longer watched.“Keep reviewing the Quran. By the One in whose hand is my soul, it escapes more quickly than camels from their tethers.”
Read the Arabic text
تَعَاهَدُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَهُوَ أَشَدُّ تَفَصِّيًا مِنَ الإِبِلِ فِي عُقُلِهَا
Understanding this hadith
Memorising once is not always enough to retain something. The image draws attention to the need to return regularly to the learned text rather than being surprised when memory weakens after a long interruption.
You can distinguish new reading from revision. For example, rereading a passage already learned before beginning another helps avoid moving forward while forgetting everything before it.
If you discover a lapse, open the text and revisit the relevant portion. Seeking correction is more useful than comparing yourself with someone who memorises faster. Reciting to a competent listener also helps distinguish a temporary lapse from an established error.
Reading with hope of intercession
The context of the narration
Abu Umamah says he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ encourage reading the Quran. The account then particularly mentions Surahs al-Baqarah and Al ‘Imran. Its first invitation is:“Read the Quran, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection as an intercessor for its companions.”
Read the Arabic text
اقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ شَفِيعًا لأَصْحَابِهِ
Understanding this hadith
The Prophet ﷺ says that the Quran will intercede for its companions on the Day of Resurrection. He links this promise to the instruction to read it.
The word “companions” invites consideration of the relationship maintained with the Quran. Recitation can be accompanied by work towards understanding: reading a translation of the meaning, asking for a passage to be explained and seeking to apply what you have correctly understood. A translation helps an English-speaking reader understand; it does not replace the Arabic text.
Also read: acting in hope of Allah’s mercy.
Not reading solely to be admired
The context of the narration
Abu Hurayrah, questioned by Natil, reports an account of the Prophet ﷺ about the judgement of three men. One learned, taught and recited the Quran. He claims to have done so for Allah, but his true intention is revealed. The passage reports this answer from Allah:“You have lied. You learned knowledge so that people would say, “A scholar,” and you recited the Quran so that people would say, “A reciter.” And that was said.”
Read the Arabic text
كَذَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّكَ تَعَلَّمْتَ الْعِلْمَ لِيُقَالَ عَالِمٌ وَقَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ لِيُقَالَ هُوَ قَارِئٌ فَقَدْ قِيلَ
Understanding this hadith
The account continues with this man’s punishment. It is severe: the appearance of a religious deed is not enough when its aim is reputation. Learning, teaching and reciting remain good, but intention needs examination.
This passage can be reread before publishing a recitation or recording your voice: what do I want others to hear, and why? It does not allow the conclusion that every public recitation is showing off. Teaching and making the text heard may be necessary; the account condemns the aim pursued by the man it describes.
Vigilance must not become a constant search for evidence against yourself. Returning to the intention of reading for Allah, accepting correction and also maintaining private reading are practical choices. Another reader’s heart cannot be judged by their voice or the number of people listening.
Also read: transmitting religious words accurately.
In practice
- You are a beginner or stumble over wordsRead a few lines to a patient person who can correct your reading.Read the hadith on difficulty
- You forget passagesSet aside part of your reading for a passage already learned and check it against the text.Reread the advice on revision
- You are preparing a public recitationReturn to your intention and welcome correction rather than seeking only compliments.Read the account about intention
Sources
- Sahih al-Bukhari · 5027Learning the Quran and passing it on
- Sahih Muslim · 798aThe reader who hesitates is not forgotten
- Sahih al-Bukhari · 5033Revisiting what you have memorised
- Sahih Muslim · 804aReading with hope of intercession
- Sahih Muslim · 1905aNot reading solely to be admired