Is it better to recite the Qur'an in Makkah or to perform tawaf around the Ka'bah?
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The questioner : This is a questioner for the program who says: Which is better in Makkah, reciting the Qur'an or performing tawaf? I ask you to provide information.
The Shaykh : This also does not require such a question, because combining tawaf and reciting the Qur'an is possible. A person can recite while he is performing tawaf, because tawaf was prescribed to establish the remembrance of Allah, and reciting the Qur'an is among the best forms of dhikr (remembrance of Allah).
The presenter : All right.
The Shaykh : But if he asks, "Is it better to pray or to perform tawaf?" we say that the better one is what is more beneficial for his heart. If he prays with khushu' (humility) and his heart is present, his soul is at peace, and he reflects on what he is reciting from the Book of Allah, and likewise his heart is present in his supplication, then that is better than a tawaf in which such things do not occur. This is because tawaf is sometimes performed in a crowded area, and there may be idle talk, and there may be pushing and shoving with women, all of which diminish its virtue. So the preference between prayer and tawaf is based on what is more beneficial and better for the heart. Then another question may arise: Is it better to recite the Qur'an or to perform voluntary prayer? We say that it is the same as what we said about tawaf and prayer. If a person prays and his heart is filled with whispers (waswas) and his mind wanders here and there, and he is preoccupied with whispers and thoughts during his prayer, then it is an empty prayer without spirit, because the spirit and essence of prayer is the presence of the heart. And if he recites the Qur'an and finds that his heart is present, he is humble, he reflects on what he is saying, and he benefits from it, then at that time we say that reciting the Qur'an is better than prayer. However, if the two are equal, then prayer is better than mere recitation, because prayer includes reciting the Qur'an, saying Allahu Akbar, glorifying Allah, supplication, and praising Allah the Mighty and Majestic.
The Shaykh : This also does not require such a question, because combining tawaf and reciting the Qur'an is possible. A person can recite while he is performing tawaf, because tawaf was prescribed to establish the remembrance of Allah, and reciting the Qur'an is among the best forms of dhikr (remembrance of Allah).
The presenter : All right.
The Shaykh : But if he asks, "Is it better to pray or to perform tawaf?" we say that the better one is what is more beneficial for his heart. If he prays with khushu' (humility) and his heart is present, his soul is at peace, and he reflects on what he is reciting from the Book of Allah, and likewise his heart is present in his supplication, then that is better than a tawaf in which such things do not occur. This is because tawaf is sometimes performed in a crowded area, and there may be idle talk, and there may be pushing and shoving with women, all of which diminish its virtue. So the preference between prayer and tawaf is based on what is more beneficial and better for the heart. Then another question may arise: Is it better to recite the Qur'an or to perform voluntary prayer? We say that it is the same as what we said about tawaf and prayer. If a person prays and his heart is filled with whispers (waswas) and his mind wanders here and there, and he is preoccupied with whispers and thoughts during his prayer, then it is an empty prayer without spirit, because the spirit and essence of prayer is the presence of the heart. And if he recites the Qur'an and finds that his heart is present, he is humble, he reflects on what he is saying, and he benefits from it, then at that time we say that reciting the Qur'an is better than prayer. However, if the two are equal, then prayer is better than mere recitation, because prayer includes reciting the Qur'an, saying Allahu Akbar, glorifying Allah, supplication, and praising Allah the Mighty and Majestic.
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، 1416- هل الأفضل قراءة القرآن في مكة ام الطواف حول الكعبة ؟ /سؤال على الهاتف 📞 /ابن عثيمين — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.