He was also asked about a man who recites the Quran for fear of forgetting it and in hope of reward: “Is he rewarded for reciting it to review it and guard against forgetting it, or not? A man regarded as knowledgeable has stated that someone who recites it for review, fearing that he might forget it, receives no reward. Is his statement correct?”

He replied:

On the contrary, if he recites the Quran for the sake of Allah Most High, he is rewarded in every case, even if his intention in reciting is to avoid forgetting it. Forgetting the Quran is a sin. If, through his recitation, he intends to fulfil his obligation to keep the Quran memorized and to avoid the prohibited neglect that leads to forgetting it, then he intends to obey Allah. How, then, could he receive no reward?

It is reported in the two Sahih collections that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Keep reviewing the Quran, for it escapes from men’s hearts more readily than livestock escape their tethers.”

He also said, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“The sins of my community were shown to me, and among its evil deeds I saw a man whom Allah grants a verse of the Quran, but who then neglects it until he forgets it.”

And in