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Question

When reading the Qur'an out loud around other people it can easily creep up in one's mind that this sounds nice etc...Would you know of a du'a that could be recited to help to protect from this problem?

Answer

The thing to always remember is that whatever we recite of the Qur’an is a gift from Allah, the Exalted, and something we should thank Him for.  If we think we sound nice reciting the Qur’an, remember that it is Allah that taught us the Qur’an, and without Him, we would not read a single letter.  We also need to remember that we are supposed to beautify the Qur’an with our voices, as the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, told us.  If we recite with a pleasant voice, we should remember Solamaan’s dua’ that Allah taught us in aayah 19 of surah An-Naml: [translation of the explanation of the meaning]

My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor that You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve.  And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants.

Shaytan can come to a reciter of the Qur’an and try to make them proud of their recitation which can lead to recitation with the intention of showing off which is called “lesser shirk”.  This is something we indeed need to stay away from and ask Allah protection from.

There are two dua’ that are applicable when we have fear of showing off, or fear something will enter our heart when others praise us. The first:

O Allah, We seek refuge in you that we knowingly join partners with you, and we seek forgiveness with you for that which we do unknowingly. Reported by Ahmed and others.

The second is for when someone praises you:

O Allah do not take me [accountable] for what they say, and forgive me for what they do not know and make me better than they assume.