Al-Tirmidhī also relates from Abū Sa‘īd that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever is kept by reciting the Quran from remembering Me and asking Me, I shall grant him the best of what I give those who ask.”

Likewise, a hadith in the Sunan collections relates that a man asked the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“I am unable to learn any of the Quran, so teach me something that will suffice for my prayer.” He replied: “Say: ‘Glory be to Allah; none has the right to be worshipped but Allah; Allah is Most Great.’”

For this reason, recitation in prayer is obligatory: according to the leading scholars, it is replaced with remembrance only when one is unable to recite. A substitute is inferior to what it replaces.

Furthermore, recitation requires freedom from major ritual impurity, whereas remembrance and supplication do not. An act prescribed only in a more complete state is superior. Thus, because prayer requires freedom from both major and minor ritual impurity, it is superior to recitation alone. As the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Remain steadfast, though you will never do so perfectly, and know that the best of your deeds is prayer.”

For this reason, scholars have explicitly stated that prayer is the best voluntary act of bodily worship. Moreover, anything on which the Quran is written may be touched only by someone in a state of ritual purity.

Scholarly consensus has been reported that recitation is superior. However, a group of spiritual teachers have given preference to remembrance. Some have claimed that it is preferable for the accomplished practitioner who strives diligently, as Abū Hāmid mentions in his books. Others have said that it is preferable for the beginner on the spiritual path, and this is closer to what is correct.