He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘Those who recite the Quran, for they are the people of Allah and His selected people.’ (Ibn-e-Majah, vol. 1, p. 140, Hadith 215)

3.   He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘The hearts become rusty just as iron becomes rusty.’ It was asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! How are they cleaned?’ He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Through the recitation of Quran and remembrance of death.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 2, p. 353, Hadith 2014)

4.   He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Allah Almighty is more attentive towards the one who recites the Quran than a master is towards his singing slave-woman.’ (Ibn-e-Majah, vol. 2, p. 131, Hadith 1340)

اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه! You have heard that the virtues of those who recite the Quran have been mentioned in the Holy Quran and the Blessed hadith, therefore, we should change our habit from today; we should hold on firmly to the Holy Quran and follow in the footsteps of the people of Allah. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه! The excellence of the people of Allah is such that despite their many engagements, they would recite the Holy Quran so abundantly that a person is left amazed after hearing about it.

Let us listen to some accounts of the pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمَ الـلّٰـه for motivation:

Imam al-A’zam would complete the Quran everyday

For 30 years, Imam al-A’zam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه would complete the recitation of the Quran in one unit of prayer. He prayed Fajr Salah with the Wudu of Isha Salah for 40 years. (Al-Khayraat-ul-Hisaan, p. 117, selected)

Imam Malik’s abundant recitation of the Quran

Sayyiduna Khalid Bin Nazaar states, ‘I did not see anyone recite the Book of Allah more than Imam Malik رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه.’ His sister was asked, ‘What were the engagements of Imam Malik رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه at home?’ She

said, ‘اَلْمُصْحَفُ وَالتِّلَاوَۃُ,’ i.e., ‘The Quran and recitation.’ (Tahzeeb-ul-Asma’ wal-Lughaat, vol. 2, p. 385)

Imam Shaafi’i and his abundant recitation of the Quran

Sayyiduna Rabi’ Bin Sulayman رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states, ‘Every month, Imam Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه would complete the recitation of the Quran 30 times, and 60 times in the month of Ramadan. The completion in Taraweeh was besides this.’ (Manaqib-ul-Imam Shaafi’i li Ibn-e-Kaseer, p. 211)

Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal’s abundant recitation of the Quran

Imam Sha’rani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه writes, ‘Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه would complete one recitation of the Quran every morning and one every night, and he would conceal it from people.’ (Tabaqat-ul-Kubra-lil-Sha’rani, vol. 1, p. 78)

Ghaus al-A’zam’s abundant recitation of the Quran

Sayyiduna Ghaus al-A’zam رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه would complete the recitation of the Quran every night, for 15 years. (Bahjat-ul-Asraar, p. 118, Extracted)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                  صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

O devotees of the Awliya! You have just heard about our pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمَ الـلّٰـه and their attachment to the Holy Quran. Recitation of the Quran was an important aspect of their lives. Reciting the Quran daily was an important routine of theirs. Recitation of the Quran was nourishment for their souls. They were willing to leave their physical nourishment, but they were not willing to forgo the spiritual nourishment they received by means of reciting the Quran.

In short, their spiritual attachment to the Holy Quran was so strong that it would remain established despite their many other engagements. Therefore, not only should we reap the blessings of