Question

Can you please tell me if this Hadith is authentic?

Aws al Thaqafi (radiyallahu ‘anhu) related that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“A man’s recital of the Quran from memory is a thousand degrees and his recital from a Mushaf [looking inside] is doubled to two thousand.”

Answer

Imam Tabarani and Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahumallah) have recorded the Hadith in question with a weak chain.

(Al Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 601 and Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 2025 and 2026. Refer: Lisanul Mizan, vol. 9, pg. 77/78, Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 7, pg. 165, Nataijul Afkar, vol. 3, pg. 205 and Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 6113)

‘Allamah Nawawi (rahimahullah) states, “Reciting the Quran while looking into the Mushaf is more virtuous than reciting from memory. If a person is able to attain more concentration and reflection [over the meanings of the Quran] when reading from memory, then reciting from memory will be more virtuous than reciting while looking into the Mushaf. However if he achieves equal levels of concentration when reciting from memory or when looking into the Mushaf, then looking into the Mushaf will be more virtuous as this combines two forms of worship, reciting the Quran as well as looking into the Holy Quran which is a separate act of worship.”

(Al Adhkar, under Hadith: 327 and Al Futuhatur Rabbaniyyah, vol. 3, pg. 263)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar