Is a Hafiz (Memorizer) or a True Understanding of the Quran More Valuable?
Who is the True Reciter of the Quran? The Hafiz of the Quran or the Owner of the Quran?
🚫 There is a prevalent misconception among people in society, and I am writing this article with the aim of correcting it, praying to Allah for the betterment of our society and its people.
Although there is a general decline in people’s inclination towards religion, the practical adherence to religious obligations, the pursuit of religious knowledge, and the attraction towards religious institutions are noticeably low. The scarcity of students in religious centers and the abundance in modern educational institutions reflect a distance from religion for themselves and their children. Regardless of how much progress the world makes or how advanced science and technology become, the importance of Islamic knowledge remains unchanged. It is a fact that all worldly knowledge springs from this source. Quranic education is a means of success in both this world and the Hereafter, while modern sciences are limited to this world. I wish that we Muslims could understand this.
Some people are religious and strive to equip their children with Islamic knowledge for their success in the Hereafter, even though they often overlook economic aspects. However, the life of the Hereafter appears better to them. Among these individuals, there are some who are short-sighted, thinking only in the short term for their children. Who are these people? They are those who make their children memorize the Quran in two or three years and then rely solely on that. The child remains a Hafiz of the Quran from childhood to youth and from youth to old age.
Memorizing the Quran is an excellent achievement, and being a Hafiz of the Quran is a great honor. However, it is a point of reflection for us. It is a moment for all guardians to ponder, as they may mistakenly believe that having their child memorize the Quran is sufficient for them to attain Paradise, without understanding the correct meaning of the Hadith. That child lives their entire life relying on the Quran but, unfortunately, does not understand its translation or meaning, let alone reflect on the Quranic verses and derive guidance from them. This is a matter of great regret.
First, let us understand the reality that people rely on, thinking that a child who memorizes the Quran will secure Paradise for ten members of their family.
🚫 The belief that a Hafiz of the Quran can take ten people, relatives, or sinners to Paradise is not established from the Prophet ﷺ.
📌 Let us look at the relevant Hadith.
☑️ First Hadith: لِحامِلِ القرآنِ إذا عمِلَ بِهِ ، فأَحَلَّ حلالَهُ ، وحرَّمَ حرامَهُ ، يشفَعُ فِي عشرَةٍ مِنْ أهلِ بيتِهِ يومَ القيامَةِ ، كلُّهم قدْ وجبَتْ لَهُ النارُ۔(شعب الایمان)
Translation: The Hafiz of the Quran who acts upon it, making lawful what it has made lawful and prohibiting what it has prohibited, will intercede for ten members of his household on the Day of Resurrection, all of whom have been destined for Hell.
٭ This was declared weak by Al-Albani (ضعیف الجامع: 4662).
٭ Imam Al-Bayhaqi also deemed its chain weak (شعب الإيمان 2/1038).
☑️ Second Hadith: مَن قرأَ القرآنَ واستَظهرَهُ فأحلَّ حلالَهُ وحرَّمَ حَرامَهُ أدخلَهُ اللَّهُ بِهِ الجنَّةَ وشفَّعَهُ في عَشرةٍ من أهلِ بَيتِهِ كلُّهُم قَد وجبَت لَهُ النَّارُ(الترمذی:2905)
Translation: Whoever reads the Quran and memorizes it, making lawful what it has made lawful and prohibiting what it has prohibited, will be admitted to Paradise by Allah and will intercede for ten members of his household, all of whom have been destined for Hell.
٭ Imam Al-Tirmidhi himself did not authenticate its chain.
٭ Sheikh Al-Albani declared it severely weak (ضعیف الترمذی: 2905).
٭ The commentator of Tirmidhi, Sheikh Al-Mubarakpuri, noted that it includes Hafs bin Sulayman, who was deemed unreliable by the scholars.
From the above two Hadiths, it is clear that the intercession of a Hafiz of the Quran for ten people destined for Hell is not established. Therefore, this statement should not be made, nor should anyone rely on their Hafiz child to neglect their actions in hope of Paradise.
A person will be punished for their own deeds and will attain Paradise by the grace of Allah based on their own righteous actions.
One concept we have clarified is that the idea of a Hafiz of the Quran interceding for ten people is incorrect. Now, let us understand whether merely being a Hafiz of the Quran is sufficient or if there are certain rights and obligations of the Quran. Indeed, memorizing the Quran and reciting it is a source of reward, but the purpose of the Quran’s revelation is not just to read it without understanding. Allah has revealed the Quran so that it may be read with understanding and acted upon.
Here, we also need to correct another misconception. It is commonly believed that a Hafiz of the Quran will continue to recite in the Hereafter and ascend the ranks of Paradise. Let us refer to the Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said:
يقالُ لصاحِبِ القرآنِ: اقرأ، وارتَقِ، ورتِّل كَما كُنتَ ترتِّلُ في الدُّنيا، فإنَّ منزلتَكَ عندَ آخرِ آيةٍ تقرأُ بِها(صحيح الترمذي:2914، صحيح أبي داود:1464)
Translation: (On the Day of Resurrection) it will be said to the companion of the Quran: “Recite and ascend, and recite as you used to recite in the world, for your rank will be at the last verse you recite.”
❓ The virtue of reciting the Quran in the Hereafter will be granted to the true owner of the Quran, and we must see who the owner of the Quran is.
📌 Thus, the Quran has five rights upon us.
☑️ First Right: To have faith in it, which includes believing it to be the Word of Allah, understanding it to be based on justice and fairness, having no doubt in it, recognizing its lawful and unlawful aspects, and affirming it. When a believer answers the three questions in the grave, the angels will ask a fourth question: وما يُدريكَ؟ He will say: قرأتُ كتابَ اللَّهِ فآمنتُ بِهِ وصدَّقتُ(صحيح أبي داود: 4753)
Translation: How do you know this? He will say: I read the Book of Allah, believed in it, and affirmed it.
☑️ Second Right: To recite and read it. The command “اقرا” in the Hadith about the owner of the Quran also refers to this second right, which a person fulfills in this world and will benefit from in the Hereafter.
☑️ Third Right: To act according to what is read in the Quran. One who reads the Quran but does not act upon it is as if they have not read it at all. Allah’s command is: وَهَـذَا كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مُبَارَكٌ فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَاتَّقُواْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ (الأنعام:155)
Translation: And (O disbelievers) this is a blessed Book that We have revealed, so follow it and fear Allah that you may receive mercy.
Whoever reads the Quran, learns it, and acts upon it will have their parents crowned with a light on the Day of Resurrection.
The Prophet ﷺ said: من قرأ القرآنَ وتعلَّمه وعمِل به ؛ أُلبِسَ والداه يومَ القيامةِ تاجًا من نورٍ (صحيح الترغيب: 1434)
Translation: Whoever reads the Quran, learns it, and acts upon it, his parents will be crowned with a light on the Day of Resurrection.
☑️ Fourth Right: To reflect upon it, meaning the Quran requires that it be read with understanding and contemplation. One who reads the Quran without understanding cannot fulfill four of its rights. Allah has also mentioned reflection as a purpose of the Quran’s revelation. The divine command is: كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُوْلُوا الْأَلْبَابِ (ص:29)
Translation: (This is) a Book (the Quran) that We have revealed to you, blessed, so that they may reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding may take heed.
☑️ Fifth Right: To propagate it. This means that we must first act according to what we have understood from the Quran and then convey it to others. The Prophet ﷺ said: بلغوا عني ولو آيةً (صحيح البخاري:3461)
Translation: Convey from me, even if it is just one verse.
Whoever fulfills these five rights will be the true owner of the Quran, and wherever the Hadith mentions the virtue of the owner of the Quran, it will apply to such a person who fulfills all the rights of the Quran.
عن ابی امامہ رضی اللہ عنہ قال: سمعت رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم یقول: اقْرَؤوا القرآنَ . فإنه يأتي يومَ القيامةِ شفيعًا لأصحابه (صحيح مسلم:804)
Translation: Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: “Recite the Quran, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection as an intercessor for its companions.”
This Hadith is also for those who fulfill the rights. One who neglects all these rights is a neglecter of the Quran, meaning one who abandons reading the Quran, listening to it, believing in it, affirming it, acting upon its commands, avoiding its prohibitions, reflecting upon it, and propagating it to others. Such a person will be brought before Allah on the Day of Judgment. If merely memorizing the Quran were sufficient for us, the Prophet ﷺ would have exempted the Hafiz of the Quran from this accountability. Allah’s command is: وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا (الفرقان:30)
Translation: And the Messenger will say, “O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Quran as a thing abandoned.”
The polytheists made a lot of noise when the Quran was being recited so that it could not be heard; this is also a form of neglect. Not believing in it is also neglect. Not reflecting upon it, not acting upon its commands, and not avoiding its prohibitions is also neglect. Similarly, preferring another book over this one is also neglect, meaning abandoning the Quran and leaving it behind, which the Prophet will complain about to Allah on the Day of Judgment. (Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan)
According to the narration of Abu Dawood regarding the owner of the Quran, Allama Shams al-Haq Azimabadi (may Allah have mercy on him) writes, attributing to some scholars that whoever acts according to the Quran has, in fact, always read the Quran, even if they do not read it, and whoever does not act according to the Quran has not read it at all, even if they always read it. Allah has stated: كتاب أنزلناه إليك مبارك ليدبروا آياته وليتذكر أولو الألباب (This is a Book (the Quran) that We have revealed to you, blessed, so that people may reflect upon its verses and those of understanding may take heed). Thus, merely reciting or memorizing will not lead to high ranks in Paradise. (Awn al-Ma’bud, Sharh al-Hadith, No. 1464)
🚫 It is indeed a matter of great regret that many Hafiz of the Quran have forgotten it, many Hafiz are far removed from the commands of the Quran, and many act contrary to the commands of the Quran while being Hafiz. The majority of Hafiz are ignorant of the meanings and interpretations of the Quran, yet they hope for high ranks in Paradise and their parents and families hope for the intercession of ten people because of their Hafiz child.
📌 As you have studied the texts above, nowhere is the recitation of the Quran without action mentioned, because the Quran was revealed for the purpose of action, and nowhere is it stated that it should be recited without understanding, as the Quran was revealed to be read with understanding so that its rights are fulfilled and its complete teachings are implemented in practical life. Allah’s command is: الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَتْلُونَهُ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِ أُولَٰئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ ۗ (Surah Al-Baqarah:121)
Translation: Those to whom We have given the Book recite it with its true recitation; it is they who truly believe in it.
In this verse, the condition of recitation is stated as “حق تلاوتہ” (the right of recitation), and those who recite it in this manner are declared to have true faith. The right of recitation is that the Quran should be read with contemplation and understanding so that it may be acted upon. In Lisan al-Arab, one meaning of recitation is given as “to read with the intention of acting.” Reading the Quran with the intention of acting is only possible when it is read with understanding and contemplation.
☑️ In summary, there is a difference between a Hafiz of the Quran and the owner of the Quran; the true reciter is the owner of the Quran. We should not limit ourselves to merely memorizing the Quran but should fulfill all five rights of the Quran to attain the virtue of being an owner of the Quran. If you want to make your children Hafiz of the Quran, do not restrict their education to just memorization; instead, provide them with enough education so that they can read the Quran with understanding, reflect upon it, act upon it, and invite others to it. Doing so will be the best ongoing charity for you. I do not say that reading the Quran without understanding does not yield reward; however, there is no virtue in a Hafiz of the Quran who does not know its meaning. Certainly, reading and memorizing the Quran is a source of reward, but salvation in the Hereafter depends on reading the Quran with understanding, acting upon it, and inviting others to it. We must eliminate the misconception from our society that a Hafiz of the Quran will take ten people to Paradise and also change the custom that limits our children’s lives to mere memorization of the Quran and Quranic recitation.
🤲 May Allah grant us the ability to learn the Quran, act upon it, and invite others to it, and may He enable our children to memorize the Quran along with understanding its meanings so that they can act upon it and encourage others as well. Ameen.
✍️ Written by: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmad Salafi Hafizahullah
❪Jeddah Dawah Center, Hayy Al-Salamah—Saudi Arabia❫