Question

Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullah

I just read your comments on the question about the qurra and it is very daunting. But please can you mention a few words about those qurra who have not chosen the way of haram and recite for the benefit of the Ummah and not personal gain.  JAZAKALLAHU KHAIRAN.
WASSALAMUALAIKUM WA RAHMATULLAHI WA BARAKATUH

Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuh.

In our religion, we always have to take the middle road, that of fearing Allah, but at the same time hoping for His Mercy.  The middle road for a student of the Qur’an is to be well aware of the traps that shaytaan can put us in as to desiring worldly rewards for our recitation, which may be money, but could be for something else, such as desiring fame.  The Prophet, , warned us against these traps, so of course we should take heed.  At the same time there are many rewards and honors for those who memorize the Qur’an and recite it often and make it their way of life.  One such hadeeth is: Aishah reported that the Prophet   said, “He who recites the Qur’an fluently will be in the company of the noble and virtuous angels, and he who recites the Qur’an haltingly and with difficulty will have a double reward. Bukhari and Muslim. Another hadeeth that we like to remember is: The best among you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it.  [Bukhari].
Another wonderful hadeeth graded Saheeh by Sheikh Albani is: On the Day of Resurrection the Qur'an will petition Allah to cloak the one who had recited it with garments of honor and respect. A crown of honor will then be placed on the head of the reciter. The Qur'an will then petition Allah to shower His pleasure on the reciter. Allah will then become pleased with him. The reciter will then be asked to recite the Qur'an, thereby attaining higher ranks of elevation. In reward for each aayah, a good deed will be given to him. [at-Tirmidhi, ibn Khuzaymah].

The Prophet said, "The example of a believer who recites the Qur'an and acts on it, is like a citron which tastes nice and smells nice. And the example of a believer who does not recite the Qur'an but acts on it, is like a date which tastes good but has no smell. And the example of a hypocrite who recites the Qur'an is like a Raihana (sweet basil) which smells good but tastes bitter. And the example of a hypocrite who does not recite the Quran is like a colocynth which tastes bitter and has a bad smell." (Bukhari/Muslim).      

 We should read these ahadeeth of good tidings as well as the ahadeeth of warning, so that we can, insha’ Allah take the path that pleases Allah.

The article that was linked to was not one we authored nor translated, but we found it a very important reminder, so referred to it.

The qurra’ that Imam Ash-Shatibiyy put as leaders of the qira’aat were masters of the Qur’an and the ways of recitation and known not to use the Qur’an as a source of livelihood. Of course there are many throughout the generations who devoted their lives to teaching and learning the Qur’an without desiring any worldly gains or benefits.  There are many qurraa’ that have spent their lives such and many are presently doing so; working to spread the word of Allah among the Muslims without seeking any worldly benefit, financially or otherwise.  We did not mean to cast doubt on any specific qari’s intentions as we cannot see into the hearts of man, only Allah can.  Our desire instead is to make all the students of the Qur’an aware of the importance of purity of intention in the recitation of the words of Allah. What each student of the Qur’an should do is make sure he/she does not fall in to the traps set for us by shaytan , and instead we should only see to please Allah, the Exalted in our recitation of the Qur’an and have our goal to read as the Prophet, , did. May Allah grant us all this blessing.

Wa iyyakum wa-l-muslimeen.