Bukhari

Narrated Ibn `Umar: Allah's Apostle said, "Your stay (in this world) in comparison to the stay of the nations preceding you, is like the period between `Asr prayer and the sun set (in comparison to a whole day). The people of the Torah were given the Torah and they acted on it till midday and then they were unable to carry on. And they were given (a reward equal to) one Qirat each. Then the people of the Gospel were given the Gospel and they acted on it till `Asr Prayer and then they were unable to carry on, so they were given la reward equal to) one Qirat each. Then you were given the Qur'an and you acted on it till sunset, therefore you were given (a reward equal to) two Qirats each. On that, the people of the Scriptures said, 'These people (Muslims) did less work than we but they took a bigger reward.' Allah said (to them). 'Have I done any oppression to you as regards your rights?' They said, "No." Then Allah said, 'That is My Blessing which I grant to whomsoever I will.' "

And the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that the people of the Torah were given the Torah and they acted upon it. The people of the Gospel were given the Gospel and they acted upon it. You were given the Qur’an and you acted upon it. And Abu Razin said, the meaning of «يتلونه‏» is that they follow it. They act upon it as it should be acted upon, so recitation is considered an action. The Arabs say «يتلى» meaning it is recited, and they say so-and-so’s recitation or reading is good. And in the Qur’an (in Surah Al-Waqi’ah) it is said «لا يمسه‏» meaning only those will taste the Qur’an, only those will benefit from it, who are free from disbelief, that is, who believe in the Qur’an. And only he will carry the Qur’an with its due right who has certainty in the Hereafter, because (in Surah Al-Jumu’ah) it is said «مثل الذين حملوا التوراة ثم لم يحملوها كمثل الحمار يحمل أسفارا بئس مثل القوم الذين كذبوا بآيات الله والله لا يهدي القوم الظالمين‏» “The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not carry it (did not act upon it) is like the example of a donkey carrying books. Evil is the example of the people who deny the signs of Allah, and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) completed both Islam and Iman. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him): Tell me about the most hopeful deed you have done since you accepted Islam. He said: O Messenger of Allah! I have not done any deed since I accepted Islam that I hope for more than this: whenever I performed ablution, I prayed two rak’ahs of prayer as greeting for the ablution. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked: Which deed is best? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: To believe in Allah and His Messenger, then to strive in the way of Allah, then a Hajj after which there is no sin.

And the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that the people of the Torah were given the Torah and they acted upon it. The people of the Gospel were given the Gospel and they acted upon it. You were given the Qur’an and you acted upon it. And Abu Razin said, the meaning of «يتلونه‏» is that they follow it. They act upon it as it should be acted upon, so recitation is considered an action. The Arabs say «يتلى» meaning it is recited, and they say so-and-so’s recitation or reading is good. And in the Qur’an (in Surah Al-Waqi’ah) it is said «لا يمسه‏» meaning only those will taste the Qur’an, only those will benefit from it, who are free from disbelief, that is, who believe in the Qur’an. And only he will carry the Qur’an with its due right who has certainty in the Hereafter, because (in Surah Al-Jumu’ah) it is said «مثل الذين حملوا التوراة ثم لم يحملوها كمثل الحمار يحمل أسفارا بئس مثل القوم الذين كذبوا بآيات الله والله لا يهدي القوم الظالمين‏» “The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not carry it (did not act upon it) is like the example of a donkey carrying books. Evil is the example of the people who deny the signs of Allah, and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) completed both Islam and Iman. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him): Tell me about the most hopeful deed you have done since you accepted Islam. He said: O Messenger of Allah! I have not done any deed since I accepted Islam that I hope for more than this: whenever I performed ablution, I prayed two rak’ahs of prayer as greeting for the ablution. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked: Which deed is best? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: To believe in Allah and His Messenger, then to strive in the way of Allah, then a Hajj after which there is no sin.

Narrated Ibn `Umar: Allah's Apostle said, "Your stay (in this world) in comparison to the stay of the nations preceding you, is like the period between `Asr prayer and the sun set (in comparison to a whole day). The people of the Torah were given the Torah and they acted on it till midday and then they were unable to carry on. And they were given (a reward equal to) one Qirat each. Then the people of the Gospel were given the Gospel and they acted on it till `Asr Prayer and then they were unable to carry on, so they were given la reward equal to) one Qirat each. Then you were given the Qur'an and you acted on it till sunset, therefore you were given (a reward equal to) two Qirats each. On that, the people of the Scriptures said, 'These people (Muslims) did less work than we but they took a bigger reward.' Allah said (to them). 'Have I done any oppression to you as regards your rights?' They said, "No." Then Allah said, 'That is My Blessing which I grant to whomsoever I will.' "