The Best Of You Are Those Who Learn Quran And Teach It – 8 Authentic Hadiths 

Nearly 1.8 million Muslims live in Canada, about 4.9% of the population, and thousands of those families ask the same question every September: how do we keep the Quran alive in a home where school, work, and screens take most of the day?

The hadith “the best of you are those who learn Quran and teach it” answers that in one line. It sets the standard and removes the excuse — the same sentence that praises the teacher also praises the learner.

#	Hadith	Source	Core lesson
1	The best of you learn the Quran and teach it	Bukhari 5027	Excellence is transmission, not perfection
2	The proficient reciter is with the noble angels	Muslim 798a	The struggling beginner earns double
3	The Quran intercedes for its companions	Muslim 804a	Recitation speaks for you later
4	Every letter carries ten rewards	Tirmidhi 2910	No session is too short
5	Tranquility descends on study circles	Muslim 2699a	Group study earns what solo study does not
6	Envy is permitted toward the night reciter	Bukhari 5025	Quran ranks beside generous wealth
7	The reciter ascends by the verses he learned	Abu Dawud 1464	Tartil is rewarded, not just volumeInward benefit, outward fragrance
8	The believer who recites is like a citron	Bukhari 5020	Inward benefit, outward fragrance

1. Learning and Teaching the Quran Is a Sign of Excellence

Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated it, and it is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 5027 (Book 66, Hadith 49 that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“The best among you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.”

خَيْرُكُمْ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ وَعَلَّمَهُ

Its authenticity is of the highest grade — sahih. Imam al-Bukhari placed it in Kitab Fada’il al-Qur’an, a chapter about the Book itself and everyone who serves it, not about scholars alone.

What Does “The Best of You” Actually Mean?

It means the highest rank of goodness among believers is tied to the Quran—first receiving it correctly, then passing it on.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, in Fath al-Bari, explains that the virtue is combined: the one who learns and teaches has perfected himself and benefited others — al-naf’ al-muta’addi, a benefit that transfers.

So the ranking is not about eloquence or memorization speed. It is about the Quran moving through you and reaching someone else.

Why Does the Hadith Join Learning and Teaching Together? 

Because the Quran was never meant to stop at one person. Every verse you receive arrived through an unbroken chain of people who learned it and then taught it.

Teaching also sharpens the teacher. Explaining a rule of tajweed forces you to understand it precisely, which is why students in structured Tajweed classes are asked to repeat rules back.

If you have ever corrected your child’s pronunciation of Surah Al-Fatihah during Maghrib, you have already entered this hadith.

Read Also: The Best Way To Memorize Quran In Canada

2. The Proficient Quran Reciter Is With the Noble Angels 

Aisha narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “One who is proficient in the Qur’an is associated with the noble, upright, recording angels; and he who falters in it and finds it difficult for him will have two rewards” (Sahih Muslim 798a).

“‏ الْمَاهِرُ بِالْقُرْآنِ مَعَ السَّفَرَةِ الْكِرَامِ الْبَرَرَةِ وَالَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ وَيَتَتَعْتَعُ فِيهِ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ شَاقٌّ لَهُ أَجْرَانِ ‏” 

For children and adults learning the Quran, this hadith is a reminder that proficiency is a journey rather than a requirement for beginning. A learner may struggle with Arabic letters, articulation points, elongation rules, or the correct pronunciation of similar sounds, but those difficulties should not become a reason to give up.

How Beginners Move From Hesitation to Confidence

Consistent practice with a qualified Quran teacher can gradually turn hesitation into confidence while helping the student develop accurate recitation and a stronger connection with the Quran.

This is especially valuable for families in Canada who may not have access to a local Quran teacher for regular one-to-one correction. 

Online Tajweed and Quran recitation lessons give children and adults structured practice with direct feedback, so teachers can identify pronunciation mistakes and explain Tajweed rules at the right level.

The goal is not simply to finish more pages, but to learn how to recite the words of Allah carefully and correctly.

3. The Quran Will Intercede for Those Who Recite It 

Abu Umamah al-Bahili narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Recite the Qur’an, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite it” (Sahih Muslim 804a).

اقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ شَفِيعًا لأَصْحَابِهِ

The lesson is that recitation is an investment that speaks for you when nothing else can. The word ashab — companions — implies daily familiarity, not a Ramadan-only acquaintance.

The hadith also shows why developing a regular relationship with the Quran matters. Reading the Quran should become part of a Muslim’s everyday life rather than something limited to religious, special occasions, or periods when extra free time is available.

Even a short, consistent reading routine can help children become familiar with the Arabic text while helping adults maintain their recitation despite work, family responsibilities, and busy schedules.

For families in Canada, establishing this routine can be particularly helpful when children are growing up in an environment where English or French is the dominant language. A structured Quran class can give them dedicated time each week to read Arabic, practice pronunciation, and build positive habits around the Quran.

With age-appropriate instruction and regular encouragement, learners can gradually move from simply recognizing the words to reciting them with greater fluency and understanding.

Read Also: Best Online Quran Course In Canada

4. Every Letter of the Quran Brings Ten Rewards 

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever recites a letter from Allah’s Book receives a reward for it, and the reward of ten like it. I do not say that Alif Lam Mim is a letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter, and Mim is a letter” (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 2910, hasan). 

‏ “‏ مَنْ قَرَأَ حَرْفًا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَلَهُ بِهِ حَسَنَةٌ وَالْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا لاَ أَقُولُ الم حَرْفٌ وَلَكِنْ أَلِفٌ حَرْفٌ وَلاَمٌ حَرْفٌ وَمِيمٌ حَرْفٌ ‏”

The lesson is that reward is counted at the smallest possible unit, so no session is too short to matter — ten minutes before Fajr is a multiplier, not a compromise. In addition, this hadith can be especially encouraging for beginners who may feel that their slow reading makes their Quran practice less valuable.

A new learner may need considerable time to read a single verse while identifying letters and applying basic pronunciation rules. Rather than measuring success only by the number of pages completed, students can be encouraged to value every sincere effort they make to read the Quran correctly and consistently.

For parents teaching children, this perspective can create a healthier approach to Quran learning. Instead of pressuring a child to complete a certain number of pages quickly, parents can celebrate gradual improvements in letter recognition, fluency, memorization, and Tajweed. 

In a Canadian Quran academy Quran memorization program for kids, teachers can also adapt lessons to the student’s age and level, making short but focused sessions practical for school-aged children, university students, working adults, and parents.

Live Class in Action

Watch how our instructors interact with students in real-time, focusing on interactive methods.

5. Tranquility and Angels Surround Quran Study Gatherings 

Abu Hurairah narrated that when people “assemble in a house among the houses of Allah and recite the Book of Allah and they learn and teach the Qur’an among themselves,” tranquility descends, mercy covers them, angels surround them, and Allah mentions them to those near Him (Sahih Muslim 2699a). 

” وَمَا اجْتَمَعَ قَوْمٌ فِي بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِ اللَّهِ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَيَتَدَارَسُونَهُ بَيْنَهُمْ إِلاَّ نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّكِينَةُ وَغَشِيَتْهُمُ الرَّحْمَةُ وَحَفَّتْهُمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَذَكَرَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِيمَنْ عِنْدَهُ ”

From this hadith, the lesson is that four distinct blessings are attached to the gathering, not the individual — which is why a live halaqah differs from studying alone with an app. We also know that the hadith highlights the spiritual value of learning and teaching the Quran together.

While technology makes independent Quran study easier than ever, having a teacher and learning community can provide something an app or recorded lesson cannot fully replace: immediate human feedback. 

A student can read aloud, receive correction, ask why a particular Tajweed rule applies, and practice the correction before moving forward.

For Muslim families in Canada, an online Quran halaqah can also make consistent learning more accessible when travel, school schedules, work commitments, or distance from an Islamic centre make in-person classes difficult.

Read Also: Quran Teacher On Skype In Canada

6. The Night Reciter Is Among Those Worthy of Admiration 

Abdullah ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet ﷺ named only two people worth wishing to be like: “A man whom Allah has given the knowledge of the Book and he recites it during the hours of the night, and a man whom Allah has given wealth, and he spends it in charity” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5025).

”رَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْكِتَابَ وَقَامَ بِهِ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ، وَرَجُلٌ أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالاً فَهْوَ يَتَصَدَّقُ بِهِ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ”

The hadith presents Quran recitation as a form of devotion worthy of serious aspiration. The lesson corrects our sense of ambition — the Qur’an is placed beside generous wealth, and it is available to anyone with a mushaf and a quiet hour.

It does not require a person to begin with long night prayers or extensive recitation. For many learners, especially those balancing school, work, and family life in Canada, a more realistic starting point may be setting aside a small and consistent period for Quran reading and gradually increasing it as the habit becomes established.

A structured Quran recitation program can support this process by helping students improve the quality of their reading as well as the amount they recite.

Learning Tajweed, correcting recurring pronunciation mistakes, and practicing tartil can make personal recitation more confident and meaningful. For children, these skills can become part of their daily routine early in life; for adults, it is never too late to return to the Quran and improve the way they recite it.

7. The Companion of the Qur’an Will Rise With Every Verse 

Abdullah ibn Amr narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “One who was devoted to the Qur’an will be told to recite, ascend, and recite carefully as he recited carefully when he was in the world, for he will reach his abode when he comes to the last verse he recites” (Sunan Abi Dawud 1464, hasan sahih).

‏”‏ يُقَالُ لِصَاحِبِ الْقُرْآنِ اقْرَأْ وَارْتَقِ وَرَتِّلْ كَمَا كُنْتَ تُرَتِّلُ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّ مَنْزِلَكَ عِنْدَ آخِرِ آيَةٍ تَقْرَؤُهَا ‏”

The lesson is that rank is measured verse by verse against your own effort — and tartil, careful recitation, is rewarded alongside quantity. That is exactly what tajweed study protects. This hadith gives Quran learners a powerful reason to think beyond short-term goals such as completing a surah or finishing a course.

Becoming a companion of the Qur’an involves sustained engagement: reading it, revising it, listening carefully, learning its rules, and putting its guidance into practice. The emphasis on reciting with care also reminds students that beautiful Quran recitation is not simply about speed or memorizing large quantities.

Tajweed plays an important role in developing this careful recitation. A qualified teacher can help students recognize mistakes in makharij, elongation, ghunnah, stopping and starting, and other recitation rules that may be difficult to identify independently.

Whether a learner is a child beginning with short surahs or an adult working toward more fluent Quran recitation, personalized correction can make each stage of the learning journey more purposeful.

Read Also: Quran Recitation For Beginners

8. The Believer Who Recites the Quran Is Like a Fragrant Citron 

Abu Musa al-Ash’ari narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “The example of him who recites the Qur’an is like that of a citron which tastes good and smells good” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5020).

‏”‏ مَثَلُ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَالأُتْرُجَّةِ طَعْمُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَرِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ ” 

The lesson is in the fruit’s double quality: taste is the inward benefit you gain; fragrance is the effect others notice without being told. In Canada, where neighbours learn about Islam from the Muslims they meet, that fragrance is quiet dawah.

The image of the fragrant citron connects Quran recitation with both personal growth and the effect a believer can have on others. Learning the Quran is not only an academic exercise in reading Arabic; it can shape a person’s character, speech, worship, and daily choices.

When children regularly hear and recite the Quran at home, the experience can also help make Islamic practice feel like a natural and meaningful part of their upbringing.

For Muslim families in Canada, Quran learning can therefore become part of building a strong Islamic identity while living in a multicultural society. Children and adults can learn to recite confidently while developing respect for the Quran and the discipline of regular worship.

With consistent Tajweed instruction, supportive teachers, and a manageable learning routine, students can work toward reciting the Quran accurately while carrying its influence into their everyday lives.

 Illustrated summary card of 7 other hadiths about learning the Quran from Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud 

Read together, these narrations make one thing obvious: the Sunnah assumes you have a teacher. Proficiency, tartil, the study circle — each depends on someone correcting you, which is the gap a Quran recitation course with a certified instructor fills.

The Importance of Learning and Teaching Quran

Learning the Quran protects the meaning of what you recite five times a day, and teaching it protects the next generation from losing that meaning entirely.

Learning From a Teacher Preserves Correct Quran Recitation 

The Quran has been transmitted orally, teacher to student, for over fourteen centuries. Apps and recordings help, but they cannot correct your makhraj or hear a missed ghunnah.

A teacher holding an ijazah — an unbroken chain of transmission back to the Prophet ﷺ — is what keeps recitation identical from Cairo to Toronto.

Quran Learning Strengthens Muslim Identity in Canada 

For families in Canada, the Quran is often the strongest daily link a child has to Arabic and to Islamic practice. 

A regular halaqah gives that link a schedule instead of leaving it to chance — which is why many parents choose structured Quran classes for kids over occasional practice at home.

Teaching the Quran Creates an Ongoing Legacy of Reward

Teaching the Quran is sadaqah jariyah in its clearest form. Every time your student recites what you corrected, the reward continues without further effort from you.

Open Quran book with tajweed colour coding on a wooden stand.

Experience Our Classrooms

Don’t just take our word for it—take a look inside! Watch the videos below to experience our engaging teaching methods and vibrant online classrooms firsthand. 

Join a Live Tajweed and Recitation Class and Recite the Way It Was Revealed

Take your place in this hadith with one-to-one online lessons from ijazah-certified Al-Azhar teachers. 

Our Tajweed and recitation halaqat serve kids and adults across Toronto, Mississauga, Calgary, Vancouver, and Ottawa — with evening and weekend timings, female teachers for sisters, and a personalised plan from session one.

Correct your recitation letter by letter, earn the reward of each one of them, and gain the ability to teach your own family. With a qualified teacher listening to you live, you can identify mistakes you may not notice when studying alone and learn how to apply Tajweed rules correctly in every verse.

Whether you are a beginner or already recite the Quran, your teacher will guide you at your level and help you build confidence through consistent, personalised practice. 

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Conclusion

The hadith “the best of you are those who learn Quran and teach it” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5027) sets a standard any Muslim can reach, because it asks for transmission rather than perfection.

The seven other hadiths fill in the details: the struggling beginner earns double, every letter is multiplied by ten, study circles are surrounded by angels, and your rank rises with each verse you carry.

Takeaway message: you do not have to be a scholar to be included in this hadith. Learn one rule correctly this week and teach it to one person. Then find a qualified teacher and set a fixed weekly time.

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