The superiority of the Qur‘an above other kinds of speech
باب فَضْلِ الْقُرْآنِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الْكَلاَمِ
Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Virtues of the Qur'an(view book)
Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "The example of him (a believer) who recites the Qur'an is like that of a citron which tastes good and smells good. And he (a believer) who does not recite the Qur'an is like a date which is good in taste but has no smell. And the example of a dissolute wicked person who recites the Qur'an is like the Raihana (sweet basil) which smells good but tastes bitter. And the example of a dissolute wicked person who does not recite the Qur'an is like the colocynth which tastes bitter and has no smell.
حَدَّثَنَا هُدْبَةُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ أَبُو خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسٌ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ " مَثَلُ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَالأُتْرُجَّةِ طَعْمُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَرِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَالَّذِي لاَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَالتَّمْرَةِ طَعْمُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَلاَ رِيحَ لَهَا، وَمَثَلُ الْفَاجِرِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الرَّيْحَانَةِ رِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَطَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ، وَمَثَلُ الْفَاجِرِ الَّذِي لاَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الْحَنْظَلَةِ طَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ وَلاَ رِيحَ لَهَا ".
Classification
Narrated Ibn 'Umar:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "Your life in comparison to the lifetime of the past nations is like the period between the time of 'Asr prayer and sunset. Your example and the example of the Jews and Christians is that of person who employed laborers and said to them, "Who will work for me till the middle of the day for one Qirat (a special weight)?' The Jews did. He then said, "Who will work for me from the middle of the day till the 'Asr prayer for one Qirat each?" The Christians worked accordingly. Then you (Muslims) are working from the bar prayer till the Maghrib prayer for two Qirats each. They (the Jews and the Christians) said, 'We did more labor but took less wages.' He (Allah) said, 'Have I wronged you in your rights?' They replied, 'No.' Then He said, 'This is My Blessing which I give to whom I wish."
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ دِينَارٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ " إِنَّمَا أَجَلُكُمْ فِي أَجَلِ مَنْ خَلاَ مِنَ الأُمَمِ كَمَا بَيْنَ صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ وَمَغْرِبِ الشَّمْسِ، وَمَثَلُكُمْ وَمَثَلُ الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ اسْتَعْمَلَ عُمَّالاً، فَقَالَ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ لِي إِلَى نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ عَلَى قِيرَاطٍ فَعَمِلَتِ الْيَهُودُ فَقَالَ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ لِي مِنْ نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ إِلَى الْعَصْرِ فَعَمِلَتِ النَّصَارَى، ثُمَّ أَنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ مِنَ الْعَصْرِ إِلَى الْمَغْرِبِ بِقِيرَاطَيْنِ قِيرَاطَيْنِ، قَالُوا نَحْنُ أَكْثَرُ عَمَلاً وَأَقَلُّ عَطَاءً، قَالَ هَلْ ظَلَمْتُكُمْ مِنْ حَقِّكُمْ قَالُوا لاَ قَالَ فَذَاكَ فَضْلِي أُوتِيهِ مَنْ شِئْتُ ".