There are a lot of rewards for reading the Holy Quran and memorizing it In this life and in the hereafter. Allah Almighty has blessed the memorizer of the Holy Qur’an with many virtues. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) has mentioned in various hadiths the many honors and privileges of memorization which will be bestowed on the memorizers of the Holy Qur’an on the Day of Resurrection. Therefore, we should recite the Qur’an frequently and keep it in our hearts as much as possible. Those who have the grace of Allah Almighty become memorizers of the Qur’an. There are many books in the world, but no one memorizes the whole book literally. It is only the miracle of the Qur’an that is completely memorized in the hearts.
10 rewards for reading and memorizing the Holy Quran:
1- The memorizer of the Quran will obtain the pleasure of Allah on the Day of Judgment.
In Jami` at-Tirmidhi: Narrated Abu Hurairah: that the Prophet (SAW) said: “The one who memorized the Qur’an shall come on the Day of Judgement and (the reward for reciting the Qur’an) says: ‘O Lord! Decorate him.” So he is donned with a crown of nobility. Then it says: “O Lord! Give him more!’ So he is donned with a suit of nobility. Then it says: “O Lord! Be pleased with him.’ So He is pleased with him and says: “Recite and rise up, and be increased in reward with every Ayah.'”
2- The memorizer of the Quran Will be in the highest ranks of Jannah.
In Jami` at-Tirmidhi: Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr: that the Prophet (SAW) said: “It shall be said – meaning to the one who memorized the Qur’an – ‘Recite, and rise up, recite (melodiously) as you would recite in the world. For indeed your rank shall be at the last Ayah you recited.'”
3- Respecting the memorizer of the Quran is a part of reverence to Allah Almighty.
In Riyad as-Salihin: Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “It is out of reverence to Allah in respecting an aged Muslim, and the one who commits the Qur’an to memory and does not exaggerate pronouncing its letters nor forgets it after memorizing, and to respect the just ruler.”
4- The memorizer of the Quran will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven).
In Sahih al-Bukhari: Narrated Aisha:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Such a person as recites the Qur’an and masters it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven). And such a person exerts himself to learn the Qur’an by heart, and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward.”
5- The Holy Quran will intercede for its memorizers and reciters on the Day of Resurrection.
In Riyad as-Salihin: 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.”
6- The memorizer of the Quran has precedence over others in leading the prayer.
In Bulugh al-Maram: Narrated Ibn Mas’ud (RA):Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “The one who knows [by recitation and memorization] the Book of Allah most should be the Imam of the people. If they are equal in the recitation, then the one who knows the Sunnah most and if they are equal in the Sunnah then the earliest of them to emigrate (to al-Madinah) and if they are equal in the emigration then the oldest among them in Islam. In another narration it has “agewise”. And no man should lead another in prayer in his domain or sit in his place of honor without his permission.” [Reported by Muslim].
7- Al-Baqarah & Aal-Imran (Surahs 2&3) will be arguing on behalf of their reciter on the day of reserruction.
In Mishkat al-Masabih: Abū Umāma said he heard Allah’s messenger say, “Recite the Qur’ān, for on the day of resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite it. Recite the two shining ones, Baqara and sūra Āl Imrān (Qur’ān, 2 and 3). for on the day of resurrection they will come as two clouds or two shades, or two flocks of birds in ranks* pleading for those who recite them. Recite sūra al-Baqara, for using it produces blessing and abandoning it produces regret, and the slothful are unable to recite it.”
8- The memorizer of the Quran is one of Allah’s people who are closet to Him.
In Sunan Ibn Majah:- narrated Anas bin Malik: The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Allah has His own people among mankind.’ They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, who are they?’ He said: ‘The people of the Qur’an, the people of Allah and those who are closest to Him.'”
9- Allah Almighty showers his mercy upon the readers of the Holy Quran.
In Sunan Abi Dawud: Abu Hurairah reported the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “No people get together in a house of the houses of Allah (i.e. a mosque), reciting the Book of Allah, and learning it together among themselves, but calmness (sakinah) comes down to them, (Divine) mercy covers them (from above), and the angels surround them, and Allah makes a mention of them among those who are with Him.
10- Memorizing and reading the holy Quran are the light of the heart.
In Riyad as-Salihin:- Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “He who does not memorize any part from the Qur’an he is like the ruined house.”
Why should we revise what we memorized on a daily basis?
In Riyad as-Salihin:- Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari reported: The Prophet (PBUH) 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.
In Sahih Bukhari: Narrated Ibn Umar: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “The example of the person who knows the Qur’an by heart is like the owner of tied camels. If he keeps them tied, he will control them, but if he releases them, they will run away.”
Therefore, if a person forgets the recitation of the Qur’an due to his laziness and negligence, then he is undoubtedly a sinner. Because he severed ties with the Qur’an and practically denied the importance of the word of ِAllah the Almighty. But there is no sin if he does not neglect himself and forgets because of human weakness. But even in this case, he did not give up reciting the Qur’an, trying to memorize the forgotten part over and over again.
May Allah help those who seek memorizing the Holy Quran to memorize it and those who have memorized it to regularly revise it.
Conclusion:
The Quran is the word of Allah the Almighty, and Memorizing and reading it is one of the best acts of worship that we will ever do. The place and status that will be to the memorizer of the Qur’an on the Day of Judgment is very beautiful. He will be made to wear a crown of Nur(light), its shine is like the shine of the sun. And his two parents will be dressed in two garment that are worth more than the entire world. They will say: Because of what are we dressed in this? It will be announced: Because of your child holding on to the Quran.
It’s more than enough to know that on of the rewards of reading and memorizing the Holy Quran is to obtain the pleasure of Allah Almighty on the the Day of Judgement.
May Allah the Almighty enlighten our hearts with His words, Ameen.