And what is intended by the Qur’aan is to reflect upon it, to try and comprehend it, to act upon it, to recite it and to memorize it in order to attain its meanings, as one of the salaf said: “The Qur’aan was revealed in order that it be acted upon, so act upon its recitation.” Shu’bah said: “Abu Jamrah told us: “I said to the son of Al-Abbas: “I am a person who recites very quickly and I might recite the Qur’aan once or twice in a night.” Ibn Abbas radiAllahu ‘anhu said: “Reciting one surah is more pleasing to me than what you do; so if you must recite, do so in a manner by which your ears may hear the recitation and your heart may retain it.” Ibrahim said: “Alqamah recited to ‘Abdullah and he said: “Recite slowly and pleasantly, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you, for it is the beauty of the Qur’aan.”
And ‘Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood radiAllahu ‘anhu said: “Do not babble like the babbling of poetry when reciting the Qur’aan and do not let the words tumble out the way dry dates fall from the bunch when it is shaken; and stop at its miracles and move the hearts thereby and do not let the object of anyone of you be the end of the surah.” And he said: “If you heard Allah’s Words “Oh you who believe!” , then listen to it, for it is some act of goodness which you are being commanded to do or some evil deed from which you are being turned away.” ‘Abdur-Rahman Ibn Abi Laila said: “A woman came to me while I was reciting Surah Hud and she said to me: “Oh ‘Abdur-Rahman! Is this the way you recite Surah Hud? By Allah, I have been reciting it for six months and I have not yet completed the recitation of it.”
