Question

Could you please mention some of the qualities of a reader of the Qur'an insha Allah?  A while ago I saw a really nice hadeeth about that topic (I think it was the companion Ibn Masood, may Allah be pleased with him, who was saying it) and it would be very nice to be reminded of these if possible.  This is not exactly a tajweed question so I apologize for that.

Jazakumu Allah bi kulli khair.

Answer

Assalaam alaikum wa rahmatu Allah.  Wa iyaakum.  There is no need to apologize for such an important question.  Subhana Allah, the manners of a Muslim that reads the Qur’an is extremely important. If we read with correct tajweed without applying the aayaat, we are missing the point of learning the Qur’an.  A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that the Prophet’s manners were the Qur’an (related by Imam Ahmed). 

There are books written on this subject in Arabic, and they are full of wonderful descriptions and advice for those that read and bear the Qur’an.   Al-Haafith Abee Bakr Mohammed bin Al-Husayn bin ‘Abdillahi Al-Aajree (died 360 h.) in his book, “Akhlaaq Hamalati-l-Qur’aan, referred to aayah 121 of surah Al-Baqarah: , [translation of explanation of meaning]: “They recite it with the true recital”, and said that the tafseer of Mujaahid states “they learn it (the Qur’an) with true learning”.  Al-Haafith Abee Bakr Al-Ajree continued saying “the first thing the bearer of the Qur’an should have is taqwa of Allah in secret and open by using piety in his food, drink, clothes and dwelling.  He (bearer of Qur’an) should be knowledgeable about his time and the corruption of his people, he then warns them about their religion, is hard working in his interest, and worried about correcting that which is corrupt in his affairs.’ 

‘He detests joking out of fear of playing, but if he joked, he said the truth.  He has a smiling face, sweet words, he does not praise himself about he has and even more so about that which he doesn’t have.  He protects himself so that his whims which are not pleasing to his Master do not overcome him.  He does not backbite anyone, does not demean, does not swear at anyone, does not enjoy a calamity falling on someone else, does not wrong anyone and does not envy them….”

All these characteristics (and there are many more) are those that are present in the Qur’an, and in our beloved Prophet Mohammed, , so if we recite the Qur’an we should study the aayaat, understand the meaning, and apply them to our lives.  We should read the Qur’an as if it is our mirror, we see what our Master, Allah, praises as good qualities and strive towards them, and see the bad characteristics that are not pleasing to Allah and avoid them. 

The Prophet, , said “The best of you are those that learn the Qur’an and teach it.”   Bukhari and Muslim.

The Messenger of Allah,  also said, “The people of the Qur’an are Allah’s people and His special ones.”  An-Nisaa’I, and Ibn Maajah.

May Allah make us of the people of the Qur’an and of Allah’s special ones.