The virtue of reciting the Qur'an with reflection
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Question:
The sister / A. M. Abu Sa'id from Casablanca in Morocco. She says in her letter: Is there a difference in reward between reciting the Qur'an from the mushaf or from memory? And if one recites the Qur'an from the mushaf, is reading with the eyes sufficient, or is it necessary to move the lips? And is moving the lips sufficient, or is it necessary to produce sound? We ask for detail, O honorable Shaykh?
Answer:
I do not know of any evidence that distinguishes between reciting from the mushaf or reciting from memory; rather, what is prescribed is reflection and bringing the heart to the recitation—whether one reads from the mushaf or from memory.
And recitation is only considered recitation if he hears it; looking with the eyes is not sufficient, nor is mentally visualizing the recitation without uttering it. The Sunnah for the reciter is to utter it and reflect, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: : [Surah Sad: 29], and He said (peace and blessings be upon him): : [Surah Muhammad: 24].
And if reciting from memory is more reverent for his heart and closer to reflecting on the Qur'an, then it is better. And if reciting from the mushaf is more reverent for his heart and more complete in his reflection, then it is better. And success is from Allah.
The sister / A. M. Abu Sa'id from Casablanca in Morocco. She says in her letter: Is there a difference in reward between reciting the Qur'an from the mushaf or from memory? And if one recites the Qur'an from the mushaf, is reading with the eyes sufficient, or is it necessary to move the lips? And is moving the lips sufficient, or is it necessary to produce sound? We ask for detail, O honorable Shaykh?
Answer:
I do not know of any evidence that distinguishes between reciting from the mushaf or reciting from memory; rather, what is prescribed is reflection and bringing the heart to the recitation—whether one reads from the mushaf or from memory.
And recitation is only considered recitation if he hears it; looking with the eyes is not sufficient, nor is mentally visualizing the recitation without uttering it. The Sunnah for the reciter is to utter it and reflect, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: :
[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.
كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُوْلُوا الْأَلْبَابِThen do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَى قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَاAnd if reciting from memory is more reverent for his heart and closer to reflecting on the Qur'an, then it is better. And if reciting from the mushaf is more reverent for his heart and more complete in his reflection, then it is better. And success is from Allah.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.