Guidance for One Who Does Not Know How to Read the Qur'an

Question:
A letter was sent by one of the listening brothers, who indicated his name with the initials (M. A. A.), is of Sudanese nationality, and resides in Hufuf al-Batin. Our brother has a question, saying: "I love the Noble Qur'an! But, unfortunately, I do not know how to read or write. I listen to cassette tapes recorded with the Noble Qur'an, and I listen to it constantly after the Maghrib prayer until the 'Isha' prayer, and from the Fajr prayer until just before the sun rises. I ask your Eminence to inform me: Is this sufficient, or do you advise me of something else? May Allah reward you with good."

Answer:
All of this is good, for listening to the Qur'an is among the great acts of drawing near to Allah. Allah the Exalted says: [Al-A'raf: 204]. So we advise you to listen, reflect, understand, and act upon it.
We also advise you to learn the Qur'an, from one of your children, neighbors, or brothers whom Allah has made easy for you. Learn what Allah has made easy for you, and memorize what is facilitated for you, so that you can read what you have memorized. Listen to the tapes for what benefits you, so combine this with that. We advise you to do both according to your ability. Even if you only have a few surahs, we advise you to read them and increase in that, such as Surat al-Fatihah, , , , and others.
Read them often and repeat them often, and for every letter you read, you have a good deed, and the good deed is multiplied tenfold, as came in the hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). So you are upon good. Increase in reading the Qur'an that you have, which you have memorized more than you read, and listen to the tapes for what benefits you as well. The Book of Allah and you are upon great good. May Allah guide us and you.

The presenter: O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good.