“The likeness of the believer who recites the Quran is that of the utrujjah (citron): its fragrance is pleasant and its taste is pleasant. The likeness of the believer who does not recite the Quran is that of the date: it has no fragrance, yet its taste is sweet. The likeness of the hypocrite who recites the Quran is that of the rayḥānah (basil): its fragrance is pleasant but its taste is bitter. And the likeness of the hypocrite who does not recite the Quran is that of the ḥanẓalah (colocynth): it has no fragrance and its taste is bitter.” Agreed upon.

1003 – ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Through this Book Allah elevates some people and casts down others.” Narrated by Muslim.

1004 – Ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, “No envy (1) is justified except in two cases: a man to whom Allah has given the Quran, so he stands with it in prayer during the hours of the night and the hours of the day, and a man to whom Allah has given wealth, so he spends it during the hours of the night and the hours of the day.” Agreed upon.

(Al-ānā’ are the hours—i.e., the various portions—of the night and day.)

1005 – Al-Barā’ ibn ʿĀzib (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: A man was reciting Sūrat al-Kahf while beside him was a horse tied with two long reins. A cloud (2) came over him, drawing nearer and nearer, and the horse began to shy away from it. In the morning he went to the Prophet ﷺ and mentioned what had happened. He said, “That was tranquility which descended for the Quran.” Agreed upon.

(Al-shaṭan—pronounced with an emphatic sh and a plain ṭ—means the rope.)

1006 – Ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever recites a single letter from the Book of Allah will receive one good deed, and the good deed is multiplied tenfold. I do not say that ʾAlif-Lām-Mīm is one letter; rather, ʾAlif is a letter, Lām is a letter, and Mīm is a letter.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhī, who graded it ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ.

(1) In this context ḥasad refers to a lawful form of longing—wishing to possess the same blessing without desiring its removal from one’s brother.

(2) A cloud signifying divine tranquility and mercy.