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The Reward of Reciting the Holy Qur’an
Source: Ain-al-Hayat, By: Allama Muhammad Baqir Majlisi
It is narrated from Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) that when a young Mu’min recites the Holy Qur’an, the Qur’an will become a part of his flesh and blood. Allah will raise him on the Day of Reckoning with the Prophets (as) and angels. The Holy Qur’an will express its love for him and say,’O Allah! Every person expects reward for his good acts! Therefore I demand rewards for the persons who used to recite me!’ Then Allah would bestow two Hillas (Heavenly Raiment) to the youth. The crown of excellence would be placed on his head. Then Allah would ask the Holy Qur’an,’ Are you happy now?’ The Holy Book would then respond, ‘O Allah! I expected much more than this! Your reward is far less than the person deserves!’ Then Allah would award to the person the pemit to enter the Heaven in his right hand and the permit not to enter the Hell in his left hand. The person will then be admitted to the Heaven and asked to recite one verse from the Qur’an and enter the higher echelons of the Heaven. Now Allah will ask the Qur’an,’ Are you happy now?’ The Qur’an would respond,’ No doubt! I am happy now!’
The Imam (as) also said, “When a person recites the Holy Qur’an to learn it by-heart, Allah will double the reward for the person.”
A person who recites the Qur’an for the benefit of the unlettered, it will be like doing the Jehad. Heaven will be mandatory for such a person.
The Prophet of Allah (S) said, “O Abu Dharr! Don’t adopt the company of any other person than a Mu’min. Share your repast with none other than the pious. Don’t share the table with hypocrites and evil persons. O Abu Dharr! You share your food with those whom you consider your friends and share the food with those who keep your friendship for the sake of Allah!”
Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) says, “My revered father, Imam Zain-ul-’Abidin (as), has said, ‘O son! Don’t meet, converse or befirend five types of persons: 1.Don’t sit in the company of a liar. He will be like a mirage that distant things seem near to you and nearer objects as distant. 2. Don’t keep the company of a hypocrite that he can sell you for a morsel or less. 3. Don’t befriend a parsimonious person who will value his money more than you in time of your need. 4. Don’t be friends with a fool that with all good intentions he might put you to harm in his foolishness. 5. Don’t befirend a person who deprives the rights of his kin (Qateh al-Rahem). In the Holy Qur’an Allah curses such a person thrice.”
Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali (as), in one of his sermons, said, “O Believers! It is necessary that you refrain from the company of three types of persons: 1. The shameless sinners and hypocrites. 2. Foolish idiots. 3. The liars.” He added, “The hypocrite will present to you the bad deeds as good and try to make you follow in his footsteps. He will not guide you properly in the matters of faith. His company will be the cause of shame for you. The company of a foolish person will not help to take the right path. Don’t expect him to come to your succor in times of difficulty, however much he tries to do it. Don’t expect any happiness from the company of a liar. He will tell lies to others about you.To uphold one falsehood, he will invent many lies. Even if such a person tells a truth, people wouldn’t believe him. He might create enmities amidst people by telling lies. You must always seriously consider whose friendship you should cultivate.”
Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) says, “Be friends with a person who makes you cry with the fear of Allah and is your wellwisher. Don’t follow one who makes you laugh and tricks you into faults. Soon you will have to go before Allah for accounting of your deeds!”
Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) says, “Amongst my brothers the best friend is one who points out my faults to me.” And added, “There are limits to friendship and truthfulness. Those who don’t recognise these limits, they don’t realise the value of truthfulness. A true friend is one who: 1. Keeps the same attitude with you openly and in secret. 2. Who considers what is good for him as good for you, and what is bad for himself he considers bad for you. 3. If he acquires high station in society, doesn’t change his behaviour towards you. 4. He doesn’t deny you what he has control over. 5. He doesn’t cold shoulder you if you are confronted with any worldly hardship.”
It is narrated from the Prophet of Islam (S) that the most felicitous person is one who keeps the company of good persons. Prophet ’Isa (as) was once asked by his companions, “O Prophet of Allah (S)! What sort of person we should befriend?” Her said, “Looking at whom you remember Allah! Their talk enhances your knowledge! Their deeds make you seek the rewards of the Hereafter!”
Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali (as) says, “One who sits in a place of ill-repute should not complain against persons pointing fingers at him!”
The Imam (as) said, “When a person keeps his own counsel, he keeps control over himself. If he reveals his matter to two persons, it becomes public property!”
He also said, “Think well of the actions of your brother Mu’min and whatever he utters accept as the truth. Try to cultivate virtuous friends as far as possible. Such friends are the ornaments in good times and the shields during the times of hardship.”
“If you need to consult someone in difficult matters, seek the counsel of the God Fearing persons.”
“Keep friendship with your brothers to the extent that they are God Fearing.”
“Abstain from the company of women of ill-repute and maintain distance from women of good character too! Even if the women encourage you to do something good, abstain from it that you don’t don’t get embroiled in any evil deed.”
Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) says, “A person who cannot give you benefit in your faith, never trust his friendship! Don’t crave his company because an action that is not in the way of Allah its end is never good!”
It is narrated from the Prophet of Allah (S), “There are three types of persons whose friendship extinguishes the heart! Mean and timid persons. 2. Women. 3. Rich persons.
Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) says, “There are four things that become useless and vanish: 1.Friendship with an unfaithful person. 2. Good turn done to an ungrateful person. 3. Advice and precept to persons who don’t give a ear to such talk.4. Secrets that are revealed to irresolute persons.”
Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) says: he company of rich persons should be avoided. One who sits near them feels in the beginning that he has been endowed with every bounty, but with passage of time he starts thinking that he has received nothing.
The Prophet of Allah (S) has said, “Four things kill one’s heart: 1. Sinning repeatedly.2. Talking a lot with women. 3. Arguing with a foolish person. 4. Sitting near the dead.” The companions asked him, “O Prophet of Allah (S)! Who are the dead?” The Prophet (S) replied, “The dead are the rich persons who have become head-strong with possession of extreme wealtrh!”
The Prophet of Allah (S) said, “Feeding the Mu’mins is a very good deed. Always feed others that some of them might qualify as Mu’mins and become the cause of reward for you”
A person who feeds a hungry Mu’min Allah will satiate him with the fruits of the Heaven. Whoever gives a draught of water to a Mu’min Allah will provide him with sealed beverages in the Heaven. Whoever clothes a Mu’min will get raiment of silk and satin (Hareer wa istabarq) in the Heaven. As long as a thread of the garment given to a Mu’min remains, the angels keep praising the bebnefactor. Whoever helps a Mu’min in his time of need, Allah will give him a place in the shadow of the Firmament on the Day of Judgement. At that time others will be facing extreme heat in the Ground of Resurrection.
It is authentically narrated that Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) has said, “Three things elevate a Mu’min: Greeting everyone. 2. Feeding people. 3. Praying at the time while others are lulled by sleep.”
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