The Quran Is the Uncreated Speech of Allah, Sent Down as Revelation

Among the foundations of Ahl al-Sunnah’s belief is that the Quran is truly the speech of Allah. Allah spoke it and sent it down to His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, through Jibril, peace be upon him. It was revealed and is not created.

Allah Most High says:

{If any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the speech of Allah. Then escort him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know} [At-Tawbah: 6].

And He, Glorified is He, says:

{Indeed, it is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. The Trustworthy Spirit brought it down upon your heart so that you may be one of the warners, in a clear Arabic language} [Ash-Shu‘ara: 192–195].

Honoring the Quran therefore comes from honoring the One who spoke it, Glorified is He. Whoever is certain that he is reading the speech of his Lord approaches it with an attentive heart, observes proper manners with it, and seeks its guidance.

The Place of the Quran in a Muslim’s Life

The Quran guides to the most upright beliefs, words, and deeds, and it gives glad tidings to the believers who perform righteous deeds.

Allah Most High says:

{Indeed, this Quran guides to that which is most upright and gives glad tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward} [Al-Isra: 9].

And He, Glorified is He, says:

{O humanity, there has come to you instruction from your Lord, healing for what is within the hearts, guidance, and mercy for the believers} [Yunus: 57].

The Quran:

1. Teaches the servant about his Lord, His names and attributes, and His right to be worshipped.
2. Explains what is lawful and unlawful and the rulings governing worship and dealings.
3. Trains the heart in sincerity, fear, hope, and reliance upon Allah.
4. Relates the accounts of the prophets and earlier nations for reflection and steadfastness.
5. Corrects character and conduct and warns against paths of misguidance.
6. Gives the believer insight by which to weigh ideas, statements, and events.

Why Was the Quran Revealed?

The Quran was revealed to be recited, reflected upon, understood, and acted upon. A Muslim should not limit his relationship with it to the beauty of a voice, the number of pages read, or the number of portions memorized.

Allah Most High says:

{This is a blessed Book which We have revealed to you so that they may reflect upon its verses and so that people of understanding may take heed} [Sad: 29].

And He, Glorified is He, says:

{Do they not then reflect upon the Quran, or are there locks upon their hearts?} [Muhammad: 24].

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Purification is half of faith. ‘All praise is due to Allah’ fills the scale. ‘Glory be to Allah’ and ‘All praise is due to Allah’ fill, or fills, what is between the heavens and the earth. Prayer is light, charity is proof, patience is illumination, and the Quran is evidence for you or against you. Every person goes out in the morning and sells his soul, either freeing it or destroying it.”

Narrated by Muslim (223).

The Quran is evidence for a servant when he believes in it, follows its guidance, and stops at its commands and prohibitions. It may be evidence against him if he recognizes the truth and then turns away from it or opposes it.

The Virtue of Reciting the Noble Quran

Reciting the Quran is a tremendous act of worship and a form of remembering Allah. When a reader recites with an attentive heart and refers to the meanings of the verses, learning and reflection upon revelation are joined with the hope of reward from Allah.

Allah Most High says:

{Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allah, establish prayer, and spend from what We have provided them, secretly and openly, may hope for a trade that will never perish, so that He may give them their rewards in full and increase them from His bounty. Indeed, He is Most Forgiving, Most Appreciative} [Fatir: 29–30].

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah will receive one good deed for it, and each good deed is multiplied by ten. I do not say that Alif-Lam-Mim is one letter; rather, Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter, and Mim is a letter.”

Narrated by at-Tirmidhi (2910), who said it is a sound and authentic hadith, and authenticated by al-Albani.

Whoever finds reading difficult should not abandon it. Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“The one who is proficient in the Quran will be with the noble and righteous scribes, while the one who recites the Quran, stumbles over it, and finds it difficult will have two rewards.”

Agreed upon: narrated by al-Bukhari (4937) and Muslim (798); this wording is Muslim’s.

The Virtue of Learning and Teaching the Quran

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it.”

Narrated by al-Bukhari (5027).

Learning the Quran includes learning to read it accurately, memorizing it, understanding its meanings and rulings, and then teaching others what the Muslim has learned with knowledge and trustworthiness. A person does not have to reach the end of the path before benefiting others. Whoever has mastered a surah or a ruling may teach it correctly while continuing to learn and benefit.

Who Are the People of the Quran?

Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Indeed, Allah has His own people among humanity.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, who are they?” He replied: “They are the people of the Quran, the people of Allah and those especially close to Him.”

Narrated by Ibn Majah (215), Ahmad, and an-Nasa’i in al-Kubra, and authenticated by al-Albani.

Their attribution to Allah in the phrase “the people of Allah” is one of honor, distinction, and love, not an attribution of kinship or likeness. Allah, Glorified is He, is far above having a companion or child. This rank is not attained merely by carrying the title of reciter or memorizer. The true people of the Quran are those who remain devoted to it through recitation, learning, and action, observe its limits, and embody its character.

The Quran’s Intercession for Its Companions

Abu Umamah al-Bahili, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say:

“Recite the Quran, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for its companions. Recite the two radiant ones, Al-Baqarah and Surah Ali ‘Imran, for on the Day of Resurrection they will come as though they were two clouds, two canopies, or two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading on behalf of their companions. Recite Surah Al-Baqarah, for taking hold of it is a blessing, abandoning it is a cause of regret, and the sorcerers cannot withstand it.”

Narrated by Muslim (804). The word *al-batalah* refers to sorcerers.

The texts indicate that the companion of the Quran promised this virtue is not someone who recites its words and then turns away from its guidance. Rather, it is the one who accompanies it through faith, recitation, and action according to his ability.

The Virtue of Memorizing the Noble Quran

Memorizing the Quran keeps its verses present in the heart, helps a Muslim recite them in prayer and in different circumstances, and strengthens the Muslim’s connection with the speech of his Lord when memorization is combined with understanding, action, and review.

Allah Most High says:

{Rather, it is clear verses preserved in the hearts of those who have been given knowledge. None rejects Our signs except the wrongdoers} [Al-‘Ankabut: 49].

Abdullah ibn Amr, may Allah be pleased with them both, reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“It will be said to the companion of the Quran: Recite and ascend, and recite with measured recitation as you used to recite in the world, for your rank will be at the last verse you recite.”

Narrated by Abu Dawud (1464), at-Tirmidhi (2914), an-Nasa’i in al-Kubra, and Ahmad; its chain is sound.

This is a tremendous virtue that should lead the memorizer to sincerity, regular review, and action, not to self-admiration or seeking status among people.

Must Every Muslim Memorize the Entire Quran?

Memorizing the entire Quran is not individually obligatory upon every Muslim. Its preservation within the Muslim community is a communal obligation so that it remains preserved through mass transmission. As for each individual, the Muslim must learn from the Quran whatever is necessary for valid worship. Foremost among this is Surah Al-Fatihah for one who is able to learn it. The Muslim is then encouraged to memorize whatever is possible and increase according to his ability.

Whoever cannot memorize the entire Quran should not deprive himself of its virtue. Rather, he should recite it, memorize what he can, learn its meanings, and act upon it. A person may be among the people of the Quran by remaining devoted to its recitation and acting upon it even if he has not memorized all of it. Another person may memorize it and then fall short in fulfilling its rights. What matters is faith and adherence, together with whatever memorization Allah enables.

The Companions’ Method: Knowledge and Action Together With Memorization

The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, did not treat the Quran as words to be collected without understanding or action. Abu Abd ar-Rahman as-Sulami, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

“Those among the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who used to teach us the Quran told us that they would learn ten verses from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and would not move on to the next ten until they had learned the knowledge and action contained in them. They said: So we learned knowledge and action.”

Narrated by Ahmad in al-Musnad (23482); Shuayb al-Arna’ut graded its chain sound.

This is a balanced method: correct recitation, understanding the meaning, believing the reports, carrying out commands, and avoiding prohibitions. It does not mean that a Muslim should stop memorizing until every meaning has been comprehensively mastered. Rather, the Muslim combines memorization, learning, and action according to his ability.

The Effect of the Quran and Its Memorization on a Muslim’s Life

When a Muslim remains properly devoted to the Quran, its effects appear in his life. These include:

1. Increased faith: Its verses teach him about his Lord and remind him of His promise and warning.
2. Uprightness in worship: He learns how to obey Allah and recalls the verses during prayer and dua.
3. Steadfastness during trials: He refers doubts back to revelation and resists desires by remembering Allah’s command.
4. Tranquility of the heart: This comes through the Quran’s remembrance of Allah, promises, hope, and instruction in sound reliance upon Him.
5. Improved character: He learns truthfulness, patience, justice, chastity, and mercy.
6. Good use of time: He occupies his tongue and heart with what benefits him.
7. The ability to teach and remind: He conveys what he has mastered to his family, children, and others.
8. Enriching prayer: He recites from what he has memorized and reflects upon the words through which he privately addresses his Lord.

These effects do not mean that every memorizer will be free from sadness, problems, or sins. Rather, the memorizer finds guidance, healing, and means of steadfastness in the Book of Allah and must strive against the self so that the Quran’s effect appears in conduct.

How Can a Muslim Build a Lasting Relationship With the Quran?

1. Make the intention sincere for Allah and beware of showing off or boasting about memorization or voice.
2. Establish a daily portion of recitation, even if it is small.
3. Read deliberately and learn enough tajwid to pronounce the letters and preserve the meanings correctly.
4. Consult a reliable tafsir to understand the general meaning of the verses.
5. Choose a suitable amount to memorize and do not burden yourself with an amount that will cause you to stop.
6. Review what you have memorized continually and do not direct all your attention toward new material.
7. Recite to a proficient teacher according to your ability.
8. Recite from memory in voluntary prayers and the night prayer.
9. Stop at commands and prohibitions and ask yourself: How can I act upon this verse?
10. Teach your family and children what you have mastered with gentleness and patience.

For a detailed method, see How to Memorize the Quran and How to Review the Quran and Strengthen Memorization.

Regularly Review What You Have Memorized and Do Not Despair Over Forgetfulness

Abu Musa al-Ashari, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Keep reviewing this Quran. By the One in whose hand is Muhammad’s soul, it escapes more quickly than camels released from their hobbles.”

Agreed upon: narrated by al-Bukhari (5033) and Muslim (791); this wording is Muslim’s.

Forgetfulness is treated through review, not by abandoning the Quran or surrendering to despair. Whoever finds that memorization has weakened because of illness, old age, or an overwhelming circumstance should return calmly, establish a portion suitable for his ability, and know that Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.

Forms of Abandoning the Quran That Must Be Avoided

Allah Most High says:

{The Messenger will say: O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Quran as something abandoned} [Al-Furqan: 30].

Forms of abandonment that a Muslim should avoid include:

1. Leaving its recitation for a long time without an excuse.
2. Turning away from reflecting upon it and learning its meanings.
3. Failing to act upon its commands and prohibitions.
4. Turning away from its judgment and guidance toward what opposes it.

No single daily portion that the Shariah has not prescribed should be imposed upon everyone. Nevertheless, every Muslim should have a consistent share of the Quran according to his ability and should beware of an interruption that leads to heedlessness and abandonment.

Common Mistakes in Dealing With and Memorizing the Quran

1. Making the goal to finish memorizing faster than others.
2. Seeking praise, a title, or victory in competitions without correcting the intention.
3. Memorizing large amounts of new material while neglecting review.
4. Focusing on the voice while being careless about correct letters or the limits set by Allah.
5. Memorizing verses without trying to understand and act upon their meanings.
6. Interpreting the Quran through personal opinion alone or unknown online posts.
7. Despairing of memorization because of age or a slow memory.
8. Abandoning recitation because the Muslim has not yet mastered tajwid.
9. Assuming that listening alone always replaces reading and learning.
10. Treating a translation of the meanings as equal to the Arabic text of the Quran in its rulings and special virtues.