Firstly, it is incumbent upon the Muslims to learn this Qur’aan and to study it, and they should teach it to their children and their brothers. And they should be concerned with memorizing it, and they should be concerned with being proficient in reading it. Based upon the statement of the Messenger of Allaah salAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam:
“The best of you are those who study the Qur’aan and teach it.” [1]
Meaning, first he studies the Qur’aan himself and perfects his studies, and then he teaches it to others from amongst his Muslim brothers. He is not limited to himself only, but rather he should spread his good and spread his benefit to his brothers and to the Muslim children. So, what is requested from the Muslim is that he shows concern with studying this Qur’aan. It is not sufficient for the person that he continues to stammer or sputter out the verses of the Qur’aan while he is able to learn it and perfect his reading so that he can pronounce it in the correct manner. Then it would not be sufficient for him to continue to stammer while reading. But if there occurred some stammering or spelling out of the words while making an effort to read the Qur’aan then there is a lot of good in this as the Prophet Muhammad salAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam said:
“The one who reads the Qur’aan and stammers with it and it is difficult for him, shall have two rewards.” [2]
But this is only for the one who does not have the ability to do any better. So he reads according to his ability and Allaah does not burden a soul more than it can bear. And the Muslims should never leave off reciting the Qur’aan regardless of their reading ability. But for the one who has the ability and he finds someone who can teach him and guide him through the correct recitation, then it is obligatory upon him to study the recitation upon the desired manner and not to remain ignorant of the correct recitation of the Qur’aan.
The Messenger of Allaah salAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam said:
The one who is proficient with the Qur’aan shall be with the honorable righteous ambassadors, and the one who reads the Qur’aan and stammers with it and it is difficult for him, then he shall have two rewards.” [3]
And what is meant by the one who is proficient is the one who perfects his reading of the Qur’aan upon the desired manner. This person shall be on the Day of Judgment with the honorable righteous ambassadors, meaning the honorable angels; and they are called “safara” (ambassadors), the plural of “safeer” because they are the ones who go between Allaah and His Messengers conveying the revelation and conveying the Message. So they are ambassadors from Allaah ‘azza wa jall and He sends them to His servants, and He sends them to His Prophets and Messengers to convey the Message; honorable and righteous, meaning honorable in the sight of Allaah ‘azza wa jall; “barara” (righteous) the plural of “baar” from the root “birr” which means a good action, and an action of obedience. So this, O my brother Muslim, is the reward for the one who perfects his reading of the Qur’aan in the desired fashion, they will be bestowed with this good lofty position. So strive to ensure that you are with the honorable righteous ones (i.e. the Angels). And the one who reads the Qur’aan and stammers with it and it is difficult for him, then he does not leave off reading the Qur’aan, but rather he reads it according to his ability until he is able to do better and can find someone to teach him to read in the desired manner.
Allâh burdens not a person beyond his scope. (Al Baqarah 2:286)
Footnotes:
[1] At-Tirmidhee (2832) hasan saheeh, Bukhari, Abu Dawood, An-Nisaa’i, Ibn Maajah, and others.
[2] Saheeh Muslim (1329)
[3] Saheeh Muslim (1329)
- Transcribed from: Reflecting Upon the Qur’aan | Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzaan
Tawheed First 
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