Riyad as-Saliheen, Book of Virtues

Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "Read the Qur'an, for it will come as an intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection."

[Muslim].

عن أبي أمامة رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول: " اقرءوا القرآن فإنه يأتي يوم القيامة شفيعًا لأصحابه" ((رواه مسلم)).

An-Nawwas bin Sam'an (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "The Qur'an and its people who applied it, will be brought on the Day of Resurrection preceded with Surat Al-Baqarah and Surat Al-'Imran arguing on behalf of those who applied them."

[Muslim].

وعن النواس بن سمعان رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول: "يؤتى يوم القيامة بالقرآن وأهله الذين كانو يعملون به في الدنيا تقدمه سورة البقرة وآل عمران تحاجان عن صاحبهما " ((رواه مسلم)).

'Uthman bin 'Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best amongst you is the one who learns the Qur'an and teaches it."

[Al-Bukhari].

- وعن عثمان بن عفان رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ : "خيركم من تعلم القرآن وعلمه" ((رواه البخاري)).

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The one who is proficient in the recitation of the Qur'an will be with the honourable and obedient scribes (angels) and he who recites the Qur'an and finds it difficult to recite, doing his best to recite it in the best way possible, will have a double reward."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: قال رسول الله ﷺ : "الذي يقرأ القرآن وهو ماهر به مع السفرة الكرام البررة، والذي يقرأ القرآن ويتتعتع فيه وهو عليه شاق له أجران" ((متفق عليه)).

Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The believer who recites the Qur'an is like a citron whose fragrance is sweet and whose taste is delicious. A believer who does not recite the Qur'an is like a date-fruit which has no fragrance but has a sweet taste. The hypocrite who recites the Qur'an is like basil whose fragrance is so sweet, but its taste is bitter. The hypocrite who does not recite the Qur'an is like a colocynth which has no fragrance and its taste is bitter."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي موسى الأشعري رضي الله عنه: قال رسول الله ﷺ : "مثل المؤمن الذي يقرأ القرآن مثل الأترجة: ريحها طيب، وطعمها طيب، ومثل المؤمن الذي لا يقرأ القرآن كمثل التمرة: لا ريح لها وطعمها حلو، ومثل المنافق الذي يقرأ القرآن كمثل الريحانة: ريحها طيب وطعمها مر، ومثل المنافق الذي لايقرأ القرآن كمثل الحنظلة: ليس له ريح وطعمها مر" ((متفق عليه)).

'Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "Verily, Allah elevates some people with this Qur'an and abases others."

[Muslim].

وعن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه: أن النبي ﷺ قال : " إن الله يرفع بهذا الكتاب أقوامًا ويضع به آخرين" ((رواه مسلم)).

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Envy is justified in regard to two types of persons only: a man whom Allah has given knowledge of the Qur'an, and so he recites it during the night and during the day; and a man whom Allah has given wealth and so he spends from it during the night and during the day."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما: عن النبي ﷺ قال :" لا حسد إلا في اثنتين: رجل آتاه الله القرآن، فهو يقوم به آناء الليل وآناء النهار، ورجل آتاه الله مالا، فهو ينفقه آناء الليل وآناء النهارِ" ((متفق عليه)). (1) .

Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
A man was reciting Surat Al-Kahf, and a horse was tied with two ropes beside him. As he was reciting, a cloud overshadowed him, and as it began to come nearer and nearer, the horse began to trample voilently. The man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the morning and mentioned the incident to him. He ﷺ said, "That was tranquillity which descended as a result of the recitation of the Qur'an."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن البراء بن عازب رضي الله عنهما قال: كان رجل يقرأ سورة الكهف، وعنده فرس مربوط بشطنين فتغشته سحابة فجعلت تدنو، وجعل فرسه ينفر منها. فلما أصبح أتى النبي ﷺ ، فذكر له ذلك فقال :" تلك السكينة تنزلت للقرآن" ((متفق عليه)) .

Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah, he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a ten-fold reward. I do not say that Alif-Lam-Mim is one letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter."

[At- Tirmidhi].

وعن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله ﷺ : "من قرأ حرفًا من كتاب الله فله حسنة، والحسنة بعشر أمثالها لا أقول: ألم حرف، ولكن ألف حرف، ولام حرف، وميم حرف"((راوه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن صحيح)).

Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "He who does not memorize any part from the Qur'an he is like the ruined house.''

[At-Tirmidhi].

وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال : قال رسول الله ﷺ : "إن الذي ليس في جوفه شيء من القرآن كالبيت الخرب". ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن صحيح)).

'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "The one who was devoted to the the Qur'an will be told on the Day of Resurrection: 'Recite and ascend (in ranks) as you used to recite when you were in the world. Your rank will be at the last Ayah you recite."'

[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

وعن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهماعن النبي ﷺ قال: "يقال لصاحب القرآن: اقرأ وارتقِ ورتل كم كنت ترتل في الدنيا، فإن منزلتك عند آخر آية تقرؤها". ((رواه أبو داود والترمذي وقال: حديث حسن صحيح)).

Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "Read the Qur'an regularly. By the One in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is, it escapes from memory faster than a camel does from its tying ropes."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

عن أبي موسى رضي الله عنه عن النبي ﷺ قال "تعاهدوا هذا القرآن فوالذي نفس محمد بيده لهو أشد تفلتًا من الإبل في عقلها". ((متفق عله)).

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "The parable of one who knows the Qur'an by heart is as the parable of an owner of hobbled camel. If he remains vigilant, he will retain it; and if he neglects it, it will go away."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله ﷺ قال: "إنما مثل صاحب القرآن كمثل الإبل المعقلة، إن عاهد عليها أمسكها، وإن أطلقها، ذهبت" متفق عليه.

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "Allah does not listen so attentively to anything as He listens to the recitation of the Qur'an by a Prophet who recites well with a melodious and audible voice."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال :سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول: "ما أذن الله لشيء ما أذن لنبي حسن الصوت يتغنى بالقرآن يجهر به " ((متفق عليه))

Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him, "You have been given a Mizmar (sweet melodious voice) out of the Mazamir of Prophet Dawud (David)."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي موسى الأشعري رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله ﷺ قال له :" لقد أتيت مزمارا من مزامير آل داود " ((متفق عليه)) . وفي روايه لمسلم : أن رسول الله ﷺ قال له : " لو رأيتني وأنا أستمع لقراءتك البارحة".

Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
I heard the Prophet ﷺ reciting Surat Wat-Teen Waz-Zaitun (Chapter 95) during the 'Isha' prayer. I have never heard anyone reciting it in a more beautiful voice than his.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن البراء بن عازب رضي الله عنهما قال :سمعت النبي ﷺ قرأ في العشاء بالتين والزيتون، فما سمعت أحدًا أحسن صوتا منه .((متفق عليه)) .

Abu Lubabah Bashir bin 'Abdul-Mundhir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "He who does not recite the Qur'an in a pleasant tone is not of us."

[Abu Dawud].

وعن أبي لبابة بشير بن عبد المنذر رضي الله عنه قال، أن النبي ﷺ قال: من لم يتغنَ بالقرآن فليس منا ".((رواه أبو داود بإسناد جيد)) .

Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ said to me, "Recite the Qur'an to me." I said: "O Messenger of Allah! Shall I recite it to you when it was revealed to you?" He ﷺ said, "I like to hear it from others." Then I began to recite Surat An-Nisa'. When I reached the Ayah: 'How will it be when We shall bring a witness from every people and bring you as a witness against them?' (Having heard it) he said, "Enough! Enough!" When I looked at him, I found his eyes were overflowing with tears.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال: قال لي النبي ﷺ :"اقرأ علي القرآن "، فقلت : يا رسول الله، أقرأ عليك وعليك أنزل ؟! قال : "إني أحب أن أسمعه من غيري" فقرأت عليه سورة النساء حتى جئت إلى هذه الآية : {فكيف إذا جئنا من كل أمة بشهيد وجئنا بك على هؤلاء شهيدا} قال: "حسبك الآن" فالتفت إليه، فإذا عيناه تذرفان .((متفق عليه)) .

Abu Sa'id Ar-Rafi' bin Al-Mu'alla (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Shall I teach you the greatest Surah in the Qur'an before you leave the mosque?" Then he ﷺ, took me by the hand, and when we were about to step out, I reminded him of his promise to teach me the greatest Surah in the Qur'an. He ﷺ said, "It is 'Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil 'Alamin (i.e., Surat Al-Fatihah) which is As-Sab' Al-Mathani (i.e., the seven oft- repeated Ayat) and the Great Qur'an which is given to me."

[Al-Bukhari].

عن أبي سعيد رافع بن المعلى رضي الله عنه قال : قال لي رسول الله ﷺ :"ألا أعلمك أعظم سورة في القرآن قبل أن تخرج من المسجد؟ فأخذ بيدي ، فلما أردنا أن نخرج قلت : يا رسول الله إنك قلت لأعلمنك أعظم سورة في القرآن ؟ قال: "الحمد لله رب العالمين هي السبع المثاني، والقرآن العظيم الذي أوتيته ". ((رواه البخاري)).

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported about Surat Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, it is equivalent to one-third of the Qur'an."

According to another version, he ﷺ said to his Companions, "Is anyone of you incapable of reciting one-third of the Qur'an in one night?" They considered it burdensome and said: "O Messenger of Allah, which of us can afford to do that?" He ﷺ said, "Surat Al-Ikhlas [Say: He is Allah (the) One] is equivalent to one-third of the Qur'an."

[Al-Bukhari].

وعن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله ﷺ قال في:{ قل هو الله أحد}:" والذي نفسي بيده، إنها لتعدل ثلث القرآن". وفي رواية: أن رسول الله ﷺ قال لأصحابه:" أيعجز أحدكم أن يقرأ بثلث القرآن في ليلة" فشق ذلك عليهم، وقالوا: أينا يطيق ذلك يارسول الله: فقال :" {قل هو الله أحد} ثلث القرآن.". (( رواه البخاري)).

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
A man heard another reciting Surat Al-Ikhlas repeatedly. The next morning he came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and informed him about it as if he considered it to be of little reward. On that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, this Surah is equal to one-third of the Qur'an."

[Al-Bukhari].

وعنه أن رجل سمع رجلاً يقرأ:{قل هو الله احد} يرددها فلما أصبح جاء إلى رسول الله ﷺ، فذكر ذلك له وكان الرجل يتقالها فقال رسول الله ﷺ :" والذي نفسي بيده، إنها لتعدل ثلث القرآن". ((رواه البخاري )).

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Surat Ikhlas is equivalent to one-third of the Qur'an."

[Muslim].

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله ﷺ قال في:{ قل هو الله أحد} "إنها تعدل ثلث القرآن".(( رواه مسلم )).

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
A man said: "O Messenger of Allah! I love Surat-Al-Ikhlas [Say: He is Allah, (the) One]." He ﷺ said, "Your love for it will admit you to Jannah."

[At-Tirmidhi].

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه أن رجلا قال: يارسول الله إني أحب هذه السورة "قل هو الله أحد":"إن حبها أدخلك الجنة" ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن- رواه البخاري في صحيحه تعليقًا)).

'Uqbah bin 'Amir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Do you not know that last night certain Ayat were revealed the like of which there is no precedence. They are: 'Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Rubb of the daybreak' (Surah 113), and 'Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Rubb of mankind' (Surah 114)."

[Muslim].

وعن عقبة بن عامر رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله ﷺ قال :" ألم ترَ آيات أنزلت هذه الليلة لم يرَ مثلهن قط ؟ قل أعوذ برب الفلق، وقل أعوذ برب الناس ".((رواه مسلم)).

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to seek protection against the evil of jinn and the evil eyes till Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas were revealed. After they were revealed, he took to them for seeking Allah's protection and left everything besides them.

[At- Tirmidhi].

وعن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه قال : كان رسول الله ﷺ يتعوذ من الجان، وعين الإنسان، حتى نزلت المعوذتان، فلما نزلتا، أخذ بهما وترك ما سواهما . ((رواه الترمذي وقال :حديث حسن )).

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "There is a Surah in the Qur'an which contains thirty Ayat which kept interceding for a man until his sins are forgiven. This Surah is 'Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion.' (Surat Al-Mulk 67)."

[At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي ﷺ قال :" من القرآن سورة ثلاثون آية شفعت لرجل حتى غفرت له ،وهي: تبارك الذي بيده الملك ". ((رواه أبو داود والترمذي وقال :" حديث حسن ، وفي رواية أبي داود: "تشفع ")).

Abu Mas'ud Al-Badri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I heard the Prophet ﷺ saying, "He who recites the two Ayat at the end of Surat Al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي مسعود البدري رضي الله عنه عن النبي ﷺ قال :" من قرأ بالآيتين من آخر سورة البقرة في ليلة كفتاه " ((متفق عليه)).

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying: "Do not turn your houses into graveyards. Satan runs away from the house in which Surat Al-Baqarah is recited."

[Muslim].

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله ﷺ قال :" لا تجعلوا بيوتكم مقابر، إن الشيطان ينفر من البيت الذي تقرأ فيه سورة البقرة" ((رواه مسلم)).

Ubayy bin Ka'b (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Abu Mundhir! Do you know which Ayah in Allah's Book is the greatest?" I replied: "It is 'Allah la ilaha illa Huwal-Haiyul-Qayum (Allah! none has the right to be worshipped but He, the Ever Living...)'." (2:256) Thereupon he ﷺ patted me in the chest and said, "Rejoice by this knowledge, O Abu Mundhir!"

[Muslim].

وعن أبي بن كعب رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ :" يا أبا المنذر أتدري أي آية من كتاب الله معك أعظم ؟ قلت: الله لا إله إلا هو الحي القيوم، فضرب في صدري وقال :" ليهنك العلم أبا المنذر". ((رواه مسلم )).

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ put me in charge of charity of Ramadan (Sadaqat-ul- Fitr). Somebody came to me and began to take away some food-stuff. I caught him and said, "I must take you to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ." He said, "I am a needy man with a large family, and so I have a pressing need." I let him go. When I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ next morning, he asked me, "O Abu Hurairah! What did your captive do last night?" I said, "O Messenger of Allah! He complained of a pressing need and a big family. I felt pity for him so I let him go." He ﷺ said, "He told you a lie and he will return." I was sure, according to the saying of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that he would return. I waited for him. He sneaked up again and began to steal food-stuff from the Sadaqah. I caught him and said; "I must take you to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ." He said, "Let go of me, I am a needy man. I have to bear the expenses of a big family. I will not come back." So I took pity on him and let him go. I went at dawn to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ who asked me, "O Abu Hurairah! What did your captive do last night?" I replied, "O Messenger of Allah! He complained of a pressing want and the burden of a big family. I took pity on him and so I let him go." He ﷺ said, "He told you a lie and he will return." (That man) came again to steal the food-stuff. I arrested him and said, "I must take you to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and this is the last of three times. You promised that you would not come again but you did." He said, "Let go of me, I shall teach you some words with which Allah may benefit you." I asked, "What are those words?" He replied, "When you go to bed, recite Ayat-ul- Kursi (2:255) for there will be a guardian appointed over you from Allah, and Satan will not be able to approach you till morning." So I let him go. Next morning the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked me, "What did your prisoner do last night." I answered, "He promised to teach me some words which he claimed will benefit me before Allah. So I let him go." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, "What are those words that he taught you?" I said, "He told me: 'When you go to bed, recite Ayat- ul-Kursi from the beginning to the end i.e.,[ Allah! none has the right to be worshipped but He, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursi encompasses the heavens and the earth, and preserving them does not fatigue Him. And He is the Most High, the Most Great].' (2:255). He added: 'By reciting it, there will be a guardian appointed over you from Allah who will protect you during the night, and Satan will not be able to come near you until morning'." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Verily, he has told you the truth though he is a liar. O Abu Hurairah! Do you know with whom you were speaking for the last three nights?" I said, "No." He ﷺ said, "He was Shaitan (Satan)."

[Al-Bukhari].

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: وكلني رسول الله ﷺ بحفظ زكاة رمضان، فأتاني آتٍ، فجعل يحثو من الطعام، فأخذته فقلت: لأرفعنك إلى رسول الله ﷺ قال: إني محتاج، وعلي عيال، وبي حاجة شديدة، فخليت عنه، فأصبحت، فقال رسول الله ﷺ :" يا أبا هريرة، ما فعل أسيرك البارحة؟" قلت: يا رسول الله شكا حاجة وعيالا، فرحمته، فخليت سبيله. فقال: " أما إنه قد كذبك وسيعود" فعرفت أنه سيعود لقول رسول الله ﷺ فرصدته، فجاء يحثو من الطعام، فقلت: لأرفعنك إلى رسول الله ﷺ، قال: دعني فإني محتاج، وعلي عيال لا أعود، فرحمته فخليت سبيله، فأصبحت فقال لي رسول الله ﷺ: "يا أبا هريرة، ما فعل أسيرك البارحة؟" قلت: يا رسول الله شكا حاجة وعيالا فرحمته، فخليت سبيله، فقال: "إنه قد كذبك وسيعود" فرصدته الثالثة. فجاء يحثو من الطعام، فأخذته، فقلت: لأرفعنك إلى رسول الله ﷺ، وهذا آخر ثلاث أنك تزعم أنك لا تعود، ثم تعود! فقال: دعني فإني أعلمك كلمات ينفعك الله بها، قلت: ما هن؟ قال: إذا أويت إلى فراشك فاقرأ آية الكرسي، فإنه لن يزال عليك من الله حافظ، ولا يقربك شيطان حتى تصبح، فخليت سبيله فأصبحت، فقال لي رسول الله ﷺ: "ما فعل أسيرك البارحة؟ " قلت: يا رسول الله زعم أنه يعلمني كلمات ينفعني الله بها، فخليت سبيله. قال: "ما هي؟" قلت: قال لي: إذا أويت إلى فراشك فاقرأ آية الكرسي من أولها حتى تختم الآية: {الله لا إله إلا هو الحي القيوم} وقال لي: لا يزال عليك من الله حافظ، ولن يقربك شيطان حتى تصبح، فقال النبي ﷺ: "أما إنه قد صدقك وهو كذوب، تعلم من تخاطب منذ ثلاث يا أبا هريرة " ؟ قلت: لا، قال: "ذاك شيطان" ((رواه البخاري)).