of it to others. Conversely, a person may speak to others at length about the knowledge and states of the heart while being utterly devoid of them himself.

The two Sahīhs report from Abū Mūsā that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“The believer who recites the Quran is like a citron: its taste is pleasant and its fragrance is pleasant. The believer who does not recite the Quran is like a fruit: its taste is pleasant, but it has no fragrance. The hypocrite who recites the Quran is like basil: its fragrance is pleasant, but its taste is bitter. The hypocrite who does not recite the Quran is like a colocynth: its taste is bitter, and it has no fragrance.”

Thus, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained that a person may recite the Quran, uttering the speech of Allah, while being a hypocrite with no faith in his heart. Another may have a believing heart containing knowledge of Allah Most High, affirmation of His oneness, love for Him, and fear of Him to a most exalted degree, yet not recite the Quran, which is the speech of Allah Most High.

For this reason, Jundub ibn ‘Abd Allāh, Ibn ‘Umar, and others said:

“We learned faith, then learned the Quran, and so increased in faith. But you learn the Quran, then learn faith.”