What is the reward for reading the Quran?

The short answer

Every letter of the Quran you recite earns a good deed multiplied by ten. The one who struggles and stumbles gets a double reward, the Quran will come as an intercessor on the Day of Resurrection, and the best people are those who learn it and teach it.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Explanation

The Prophet ﷺ made the reward concrete: "[Whoever recites a letter] from Allah's Book, then he receives the reward from it, and the reward of ten the like of it. I do not say that Alif Lam Mim is a letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter" 1. Even a single short surah carries hundreds of good deeds.

If reading is hard for you, this is good news: "One who is proficient in the Qur'an is associated with the noble, upright, recording angels; and he who falters in it, and finds it difficult for him, will have two rewards" 2. Your struggle is counted, not held against you.

The Quran also stands up for its companions. "Recite the Qur'an, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite It." Surat al-Baqarah and Al Imran will come like two clouds or shades pleading for those who recited them 3. Allah describes those who recite His Book, pray and spend as expecting "a profit that will never perish" 4.

It raises people in this world too. "The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it" 5. The Prophet ﷺ compared a believer who recites the Quran to a citron, sweet in taste and smell 6. And the companion of the Quran will be told to recite and rise, his rank being at the last verse he recites 7. As the Prophet ﷺ said, "By this Book, Allah would exalt some peoples and degrade others" 8.

So open it daily, even for five minutes. Read with meaning when you can, recite beautifully, and do not let mistakes stop you.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Hadith Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2910
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    Each letter of the Quran recited earns a reward multiplied by ten.

    Narrated Muhammad bin Ka'b Al-Qurazi:"I heard 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud saying: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "[Whoever recites a letter] from Allah's Book, then he receives the reward from it, and the reward of ten the like of it. I do not say that Alif Lam Mim is a letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ الْحَنَفِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الضَّحَّاكُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ مُوسَى، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ كَعْبٍ الْقُرَظِيَّ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ مَسْعُودٍ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنْ قَرَأَ حَرْفًا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَلَهُ بِهِ حَسَنَةٌ وَالْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا لاَ أَقُولُ الم حَرْفٌ وَلَكِنْ أَلِفٌ حَرْفٌ وَلاَمٌ حَرْفٌ وَمِيمٌ حَرْفٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَيُرْوَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ مِنْ غَيْرِ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَرَوَاهُ أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ رَفَعَهُ بَعْضُهُمْ وَوَقَفَهُ بَعْضُهُمْ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ ‏.‏ سَمِعْتُ قُتَيْبَةَ بْنَ سَعِيدٍ يَقُولُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ كَعْبٍ الْقُرَظِيَّ وُلِدَ فِي حَيَاةِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَعْبٍ يُكْنَى أَبَا حَمْزَةَ ‏

  2. 2
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 798
    Sahih Muslim

    The skilled reciter is with the noble angels; the one who stumbles has a double reward.

    A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (as saying):One who is proficient in the Qur'an is associated with the noble, upright, recording angels; and he who falters in it, and finds it difficult for him, will have two rewards

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الْغُبَرِيُّ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ أَبِي عَوَانَةَ، - قَالَ ابْنُ عُبَيْدٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، - عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ الْمَاهِرُ بِالْقُرْآنِ مَعَ السَّفَرَةِ الْكِرَامِ الْبَرَرَةِ وَالَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ وَيَتَتَعْتَعُ فِيهِ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ شَاقٌّ لَهُ أَجْرَانِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  3. 3
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 804
    Sahih Muslim

    The Quran will intercede for its reciters; al-Baqarah and Al Imran will plead for them.

    Abu Umama said he heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say:Recite the Qur'an, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite It. Recite the two bright ones, al-Baqara and Surah Al 'Imran, 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 Surah al-Baqara, for to take recourse to it is a blessing and to give it up is a cause of grief, and the magicians cannot confront it. (Mu'awiya said: It has been conveyed to me that here Batala means magicians)

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنِي الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو تَوْبَةَ، - وَهُوَ الرَّبِيعُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ - حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ سَلاَّمٍ - عَنْ زَيْدٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا سَلاَّمٍ، يَقُولُ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو أُمَامَةَ، الْبَاهِلِيُّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ اقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ شَفِيعًا لأَصْحَابِهِ اقْرَءُوا الزَّهْرَاوَيْنِ الْبَقَرَةَ وَسُورَةَ آلِ عِمْرَانَ فَإِنَّهُمَا تَأْتِيَانِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كَأَنَّهُمَا غَمَامَتَانِ أَوْ كَأَنَّهُمَا غَيَايَتَانِ أَوْ كَأَنَّهُمَا فِرْقَانِ مِنْ طَيْرٍ صَوَافَّ تُحَاجَّانِ عَنْ أَصْحَابِهِمَا اقْرَءُوا سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ فَإِنَّ أَخْذَهَا بَرَكَةٌ وَتَرْكَهَا حَسْرَةٌ وَلاَ تَسْتَطِيعُهَا الْبَطَلَةُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ الْبَطَلَةَ السَّحَرَةُ ‏.‏

  4. 4
    Quran Faatir · 35:29–30

    Those who recite Allah's Book, pray and spend expect a profit that never perishes.

    إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتۡلُونَ كِتَٰبَ ٱللَّهِ وَأَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنفَقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقۡنَٰهُمۡ سِرࣰّ ا وَعَلَانِيَةࣰ يَرۡجُونَ تِجَٰرَةࣰ لَّن تَبُورَ ۝٢٩ لِيُوَفِّيَهُمۡ أُجُورَهُمۡ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضۡلِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّهُۥ غَفُورࣱ شَكُورࣱ‏ ۝٣٠

    29 Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allah and establish prayer and spend [in His cause] out of what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, [can] expect a profit that will never perish 30 That He may give them in full their rewards and increase for them of His bounty. Indeed, He is Forgiving and Appreciative

  5. 5
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 5027
    Sahih Bukhari

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

    Narrated `Uthman:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مِنْهَالٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَلْقَمَةُ بْنُ مَرْثَدٍ، سَمِعْتُ سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ خَيْرُكُمْ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ وَعَلَّمَهُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ وَأَقْرَأَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ فِي إِمْرَةِ عُثْمَانَ حَتَّى كَانَ الْحَجَّاجُ، قَالَ وَذَاكَ الَّذِي أَقْعَدَنِي مَقْعَدِي هَذَا‏.‏

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 5020
    Sahih Bukhari

    The believer who recites the Quran is like a citron, good in taste and smell.

    Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The example of him (a believer) who recites the Qur'an is like that of a citron which tastes good and smells good. And he (a believer) who does not recite the Qur'an is like a date which is good in taste but has no smell. And the example of a dissolute wicked person who recites the Qur'an is like the Raihana (sweet basil) which smells good but tastes bitter. And the example of a dissolute wicked person who does not recite the Qur'an is like the colocynth which tastes bitter and has no smell

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا هُدْبَةُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ أَبُو خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسٌ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَثَلُ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَالأُتْرُجَّةِ طَعْمُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَرِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَالَّذِي لاَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَالتَّمْرَةِ طَعْمُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَلاَ رِيحَ لَهَا، وَمَثَلُ الْفَاجِرِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الرَّيْحَانَةِ رِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَطَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ، وَمَثَلُ الْفَاجِرِ الَّذِي لاَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الْحَنْظَلَةِ طَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ وَلاَ رِيحَ لَهَا ‏"‏‏.‏

  7. 7
    Hadith Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2914
    Hasan Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    The companion of the Quran will be told to recite and rise; his rank is at his last verse.

    Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr:that the Prophet (ﷺ) 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

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ الْحَفَرِيُّ وَأَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ أَبِي النَّجُودِ، عَنْ زِرٍّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ يُقَالُ يَعْنِي لِصَاحِبِ الْقُرْآنِ اقْرَأْ وَارْتَقِ وَرَتِّلْ كَمَا كُنْتَ تُرَتِّلُ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّ مَنْزِلَتَكَ عِنْدَ آخِرِ آيَةٍ تَقْرَأُ بِهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏ حَدَّثَنَا بُنْدَارٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ ‏.‏

  8. 8
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 817
    Sahih Muslim

    By this Book Allah raises some people and lowers others.

    Amir b. Wathila reported that Nafi' b. 'Abd al-Harith met 'Umar at 'Usfan and 'Umar had employed him as collector in Mecca. He (Hadrat 'Umar) said to him (Nafi'):Whom have you appointed as collector over the people of the valley? He said: Ibn Abza. He said: Who is Ibn Abza? He said: He is one of our freed slaves. He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: So you have appointed a freed slave over them. He said: He is well versed In the Book of Allah. the Exalted and Great, and he is well versed In the commandments and injunctions (of the Shari'ah). 'Umar said: So the Prophet (ﷺ) said: By this Book, Allah would exalt some peoples and degrade others

    العربية

    وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ وَاثِلَةَ، أَنَّ نَافِعَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْحَارِثِ، لَقِيَ عُمَرَ بِعُسْفَانَ وَكَانَ عُمَرُ يَسْتَعْمِلُهُ عَلَى مَكَّةَ فَقَالَ مَنِ اسْتَعْمَلْتَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْوَادِي فَقَالَ ابْنَ أَبْزَى ‏.‏ قَالَ وَمَنِ ابْنُ أَبْزَى قَالَ مَوْلًى مِنْ مَوَالِينَا ‏.‏ قَالَ فَاسْتَخْلَفْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ مَوْلًى قَالَ إِنَّهُ قَارِئٌ لِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَإِنَّهُ عَالِمٌ بِالْفَرَائِضِ ‏.‏ قَالَ عُمَرُ أَمَا إِنَّ نَبِيَّكُمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَرْفَعُ بِهَذَا الْكِتَابِ أَقْوَامًا وَيَضَعُ بِهِ آخَرِينَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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