44/79. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2865 — Qur'an Recitation and Faith
What Has Been Related About The Parable Of The Believer Who Recites The Quran And The One Who Does Not Recite
Hadith About Qur'an Recitation and the Believer
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2865
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2865
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الأُتْرُجَّةِ رِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَطَعْمُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَمَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ الَّذِي لاَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ التَّمْرَةِ لاَ رِيحَ لَهَا وَطَعْمُهَا حُلْوٌ وَمَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الرَّيْحَانَةِ رِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَطَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ وَمَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ الَّذِي لاَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الْحَنْظَلَةِ رِيحُهَا مُرٌّ وَطَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَقَدْ رَوَاهُ شُعْبَةُ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ أَيْضًا .
Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Narrated: "The Parable Of The Believer Who Recites The Qur'An Is That Of A Citron, Its Fragrance Is Nice And Its Taste Is Nice. The Parable Of The Believer Who Does Not Recite The Qur'An Is That Of A Date, It Has No Smell But Its Taste Is Sweet. The Parable Of The Hypocrite Who Recites The Qur'An Is That Of Basil, Its Fragrance Is Nice But Its Taste Is Bitter. The Parable Of The Hypocrite Who Does Not Recite The Qur'An Is That Of The Colocynth, Its Smell Is Better And Its Taste Is Bitter.'"
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2865In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 7English translation : Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 2865
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2865
This hadith about Qur'an recitation uses four clear examples. The believer who recites the Qur'an is compared to a citron: its fragrance is nice and its taste is nice. The believer who does not recite the Qur'an is compared to a date: it has no smell, but its taste is sweet. The hypocrite who recites the Qur'an is compared to basil: its fragrance is nice, but its taste is bitter. The hypocrite who does not recite the Qur'an is compared to the colocynth: its smell and taste are bitter. The teaching is simple. Recitation has an outward beauty, while faith has an inner sweetness. The best picture in the hadith joins both together.
What we learn from this hadith
- Faith and Qur'an recitation together are described with the best example in the hadith.
- A believer still has inner sweetness even when he does not recite.
- Outward recitation without true inner faith is compared to a pleasant smell with bitter taste.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used familiar foods and plants to make the lesson clear.
