The reward of reciting the Qur'an on the Day of Resurrection

Q 1: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: It will be said (on the Day of Resurrection) to the devotee of the Qur'an (by reciting and acting upon it), 'Recite and ascend; recite slowly as you used to do in the world, for your rank will be at the last Ayah (Qur'anic verse) that you recite.' (Part No. 3; Page No. 124) It was also reported on the authority of `Aly ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Anyone who recites and memorizes the Qur'an and regards whatever it declares lawful as lawful and whatever it declares forbidden as forbidden (i.e. Act according to it), Allah will admit them into Jannah (Paradise) and will accept their intercession for ten members of their family who all deserve to enter the Fire. Regarding the first Hadith, when would it be said to the devotee of the Qur'an "recite"? Would it be in this world or on the Day of Resurrection? Would the reward mentioned in the two Hadiths be given only to those who know the Qur'an by heart or would it be given to every Qur'an reciter even if they do not know the Qur'an by heart?

A: The first Hadith was related by Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and Al-Tirmidhy on the authority of `Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with him and his father). Al-Tirmidhy commented: "This is a Hadith Hasan Sahih (a Hadith that stands at a higher level than a mere Hasan Hadith, but at a bit lower level than Sahih)." It would be said to the reciter of the Qur'an: "Recite and ascend" on the Day of Resurrection when they enter Jannah.The second Hadith was related by Imam Ahmad and Al-Tirmidhy also with a wording similar to that which is mentioned in the question. Al-Tirmidhy commented on this latter Hadith by saying: "It is a Hadith Gharib (a Hadith with a single narrator usually at the beginning of the chain of narration) and we know of it only through this narrator. Its Sanad (chain of narrators) is not Sahih. Moreover, Hafs ibn Sulayman, who is one of the narrators of this Hadith, is a Da`if (weak) narrator." The same Hadith was related by Ibn (Part No. 3; Page No. 125) Al-Jawzy in his book Al-`Ilal Al-Mutanahiyah as being narrated on the authority of `Aishah. Al-Jawzy then said that Al-Khatib said: "All the narrators of this Hadith are trustworthy except Al-Saqty, and it is a Hadith Munkar (rejected Hadith reported by a weak narrator whose narration conflicts with an authentic Hadith)." In addition, the Hadith concerned was related by Al-Dhahaby in his book Al-Mizan while mentioning the biography of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn Abu Hanash Al-Saqty. Al-Dhahaby said: "It was said that he fabricated a Hadith." Al-Dhahaby then quoted the Hadith concerned with the same Sanad mentioned above. Also, Ibn Hajar said in his book Al-Taqrib regarding Hafs who is included in the Sanad of this Hadith: "He is Hafs ibn Abu Dawud Al-Qary, the companion of `Asim. He is also called Hufays and he is Matruk (a narrator whose Hadith transmission was discarded due to unreliability), although he is versed in the rulings of recitation of the Qur'an."Since the Hadith in question is not Sahih as we have mentioned, we do not need to explain its words. Undoubtedly, anyone who recites the Qur'an regularly, acts perfectly upon it, applies its laws, and keeps on doing so will win the Good Pleasure of Allah (Exalted be He) and His Jannah and be in the highest ranks of Jannah with the pious and honorable angels. The Qur'an will also be an intercessor for anyone who acts upon it, whether they know the Qur'an by heart or not. A proof for the foregoing is a Hadith that was related by Imam Muslim and Ahmad on the authority of Abu Umamah Al-Bahily who said that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying: Recite the Qur'an, for on the Day of Resurrection it will be an intercessor for its companions. (Part No. 3; Page No. 126) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.