CHAPTER 1. How the Divine Inspirations used to be revealed and what was the first thing revealed (to the Messenger

6:504 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet said, “Every Prophet was given miracles because of which people believed, but what I have been given, is Divine Inspiration which Allah has revealed to me. So I hope that my followers will outnumber the followers of the other Prophets on the Day of Resurrection.”

6:505 Narrated by Anas bin Malik

Allah sent down His Divine Inspiration to His Apostle continuously and abundantly during the period preceding his death till He took him unto Him. That was the period of the greatest part of revelation; and Allah’s Apostle died after that.

CHAPTER 2. The Qur’ân was revealed to be recited in seven different ways.

6:514 Narrated by ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab

I heard Hisham bin Hakim reciting Surat Al-Furqan during the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle and I listened to his recitation and noticed that he recited in several different ways which Allah’s Apostle had not taught me. I was about to jump over him during his prayer, but I controlled my temper, and when he had completed his prayer, I put his upper garment around his neck and seized him by it and said, “Who taught you this Sura which I heard you reciting?” He replied, “Allah’s Apostle taught it to me.” I said, “You have told a lie, for Allah’s Apostle has taught it to me in a different way from yours.” So I dragged him to Allah’s Apostle and said (to Allah’s Apostle): “I heard this person reciting Surat Al-Furqan in a way which you haven’t taught me!” On that Allah’s Apostle said, “Release him, (O ‘Umar!) Recite, O Hisham!” Then he recited in the same way as I heard him reciting. Then Allah’s Apostle said, “It was revealed in this way,” and added, “Recite, O ‘Umar!” I recited it as he had taught me. Allah’s Apostle then said, “It was revealed in this way. This Qur’an has been revealed to be recited in seven different ways, so recite of it whichever (way) is easier for you (or read as much of it as may be easy for you).”

CHAPTER 3. Jibrael (Gabriel) used to present (recite) the Qur’ân to the Prophet

6:519 Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas

The Prophet was the most generous person, and he used to become more so (generous) particularly in the month of Ramadan because Gabriel used to meet him every night of the month of Ramadan till it elapsed. Allah’s Apostle used to recite the Qur’an for him. When Gabriel met him, he used to become more generous than the fast wind in doing good.

6:522 Narrated by Shaqiq bin Salama

Once ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud delivered a sermon before us and said, “By Allah, I learnt over seventy Suras direct from Allah’s Apostle . By Allah, the companions of the Prophet came to know that I am one of those who know Allah’s Book best of all of them, yet I am not the best of them.” Shaqiq added: I sat in his religious gathering and I did not hear anybody opposing him (in his speech).

6:523 Narrated by ‘Alqama

While we were in the city of Hims (in Syria), Ibn Mas’ud recited Surat Yusuf. A man said to him), “It was not revealed in this way.” Then Ibn Mas’ud said, “I recited it in this way before Allah’s Apostle and he confirmed my recitation by saying, ‘Well done!’ ” Ibn Mas’ud detected the smell of wine from the man’s mouth, so he said to him, “Aren’t you ashamed of telling a lie about Allah’s Book and (along with this) you drink alcoholic liquors too?” Then he lashed him according to the law.

CHAPTER 4. The superiority of: “Say (0 Muhammad): He is Allah, (the) One.” (i.e. Surat Al-Ikhlâs) (No 112).

6:533 Narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudri

A man heard another man reciting (Surat-Al-Ikhlas) ‘Say He is Allah, (the) One.’ (112. 1) repeatedly. The next morning he came to Allah’s Apostle and informed him about it as if he thought that it was not enough to recite. On that Allah’s Apostle said, “By Him in Whose Hand my life is, this Surah is equal to one-third of the Qur’an!” Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: My brother, Qatada bin An-Nau’man said, “A man performed the night prayer late at night in the lifetime of the Prophet and he read: ‘Say: He is Allah, (the) One,’ (112.1) and read nothing besides that. The next morning a man went to the Prophet ,~ and told him about that. (The Prophet replied the same as (in Hadith 532) above.)

6:534 Narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudri

The Prophet said to his companions, “Is it difficult for any of you to recite one third of the Qur’an in one night?” This suggestion was difficult for them so they said, “Who among us has the power to do so, O Allah’s Apostle?” Allah Apostle replied: ” Allah (the) One, the Self-Sufficient Master Whom all creatures need.’ (Surat Al-Ikhlas 112.1 ..to the End) is equal to one third of the Qur’an.”

CHAPTER 5. The superiority of Al-Mu ‘awwidhât (Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nâs).

6:536A Narrated by ‘Aisha

Whenever the Prophet go went to bed every night, he used to cup his hands together and blow over it after reciting Surat Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas, and then rub his hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub, starting with his head, face and front of his body. He used to do that three times.

CHAPTER 6. The descent of As-Sakina (peace, reassurance and tranquillity) and angels at the time of the recitation of the Qur’ân

6:536B Narrated by Usaid bin Hudair

That while he was reciting Surat Al-Baqara (The Cow) at night, and his horse was tied beside him, the horse was suddenly startled and troubled. When he stopped reciting, the horse became quiet, and when he started again, the horse was startled again. Then he stopped reciting and the horse became quiet too. He started reciting again and the horse was startled and troubled once again. Then he stopped reciting and his son, Yahya was beside the horse. He was afraid that the horse might trample on him. When he took the boy away and looked towards the sky, he could not see it. The next morning he informed the Prophet who said, “Recite, O Ibn Hudair! Recite, O Ibn Hudair!” Ibn Hudair replied, “O Allah’s Apostle! My son, Yahya was near the horse and I was afraid that it might trample on him, so I looked towards the sky, and went to him. When I looked at the sky, I saw something like a cloud containing what looked like lamps, so I went out in order not to see it.” The Prophet said, “Do you know what that was?” Ibn Hudair replied, “No.” The Prophet said, “Those were Angels who came near to you for your voice and if you had kept on reciting till dawn, it would have remained there till morning when people would have seen it as it would not have disappear.”

6:544 Narrated by Abu Huraira

Allah’s Apostle I said, “Not to wish to be the like of except two men: A man whom Allah has taught the Qur’an and he recites it during the hours of the night and during the hours of the day, and his neighbor listens to him and says, ‘I wish I had been given what has been given to so-and-so, so that I might do what he does; and a man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it on what is just and right, whereupon an other man May say, ‘I wish I had been given what so-and-so has been given, for then I would do what he does.”

CHAPTER 8. ‘The best among you A (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur’ân and teach it (to others).’

6:545 Narrated by ‘Uthman

The Prophet said, “The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.”

6:546 Narrated by Uthman bin Affan

The Prophet said, “The most superior among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.”

CHAPTER 9. The learning of the Qur’ân by heart and the reciting of it repeatedly.

6:549 Narrated by Ibn Umar

Allah’s Apostle 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.”

6:550 Narrated by Abdullah

The Prophet said, “It is a bad thing that some of you say, ‘I have forgotten such-and-such verse of the Qur’an,’ for indeed, he has been caused (by Allah) to forget it. So you must keep on reciting the Qur’an because it escapes from the hearts of men faster than camel do.”

6:552 Narrated by Abu Musa

The Prophet said, “Keep on reciting the Qur’an, for, by Him in Whose Hand my life is, Quran runs away (is forgotten) faster than camels that are released from their tying ropes.”

CHAPTER 10. Prolonging certain sounds while reciting the Qur’ân.

6:566 Narrated by Qatada

Anas was asked, “How was the recitation (of the Quran) of the Prophet?’ He replied, “It was characterized by the prolongation of certain sounds.” He then recited: In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful prolonging the pronunciation of ‘In the Name of Allah, ‘the most Beneficent,’ and ‘the Most Merciful.

CHAPTER 11. To recite the Qur’ân in a charming voice.

6:568 Narrated by Abu Musa

That the Prophet said to him’ “O Abu Musa! You have been given one of the musical wind-instruments of the family of David.’

CHAPTER 12. What is the proper period for reciting the whole Qur’ân.

6:572 Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As

My father got me married to a lady of a noble family, and often used to ask my wife about me, and she used to reply, “What a wonderful man he is! He never comes to my bed, nor has he approached me since he married me.” When this state continued for a long period, my father told the story to the Prophet who said to my father, “Let me meet him.” Then I met him and he asked me, “How do you fast?” I replied, “I fast daily,” He asked, “How long does it take you to finish the recitation of the whole Quran?” I replied, “I finish it every night.” On that he said, “Fast for three days every month and recite the Qur’an (and finish it) in one month.” I said, “But I have power to do more than that.” He said, “Then fast for three days per week.” I said, “i have the power to do more than that.” He said, “Therefore, fast the most superior type of fasting, (that is, the fasting of (prophet) David who used to fast every alternate day; and finish the recitation of the whole Qur’an In seven days.” I wish I had accepted the permission of Allah’s Apostle as I have become a weak old man. It is said that ‘Abdullah used to recite one-seventh of the Qur’an during the day-time to some of his family members, for he used to check his memorization of what he would recite at night during the daytime so that it would be easier for him to read at night. And whenever he wanted to gain some strength, he used to give up fasting for some days and count those days to fast for a similar period, for he disliked to leave those things which he used to do during the lifetime of the Prophet.

CHAPTER 13. The sin of the person who recites the Qur’an to show off or to gain some worldly benefit (or to feel proud).

6:578 Narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudri

I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “There will appear some people among you whose prayer will make you look down upon yours, and whose fasting will make you look down upon yours, but they will recite the Qur’an which will not exceed their throats (they will not act on it) and they will go out of Islam as an arrow goes out through the game whereupon the archer would examine the arrowhead but see nothing, and look at the unfeathered arrow but see nothing, and look at the arrow feathers but see nothing, and finally he suspects to find something in the lower part of the arrow.”

6:579 Narrated by Abu Musa

The Prophet said, “The example of a believer who recites the Qur’an and acts on it, like a citron which tastes nice and smells nice. And the example of a believer who does not recite the Qur’an but acts on it, is like a date which tastes good but has no smell. And the example of a hypocrite who recites the Qur’an is like a Raihana (sweet basil) which smells good but tastes bitter And the example of a hypocrite who does not recite the Quran is like a colocynth which tastes bitter and has a bad smell.”

6:581 Narrated by Jundub

The Prophet said, “Recite (and study) the Quran as long as you agree about its interpretation, but when you have any difference of opinion (as regards its interpretation and meaning) then you should stop reciting it (for the time being)’