Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 11633

Sayyiduna Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I was sitting with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and I heard him (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Learn Surah al-Baqarah, for learning it is a blessing and abandoning it is a source of regret, and the people of falsehood (or the sorcerers) are not able to (withstand) it." The narrator says: Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) remained silent for a while, and then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Learn Surah al-Baqarah and Surah Al Imran, for these two are the two radiant ones that will shade their companion on the Day of Resurrection as though they were two clouds (here the narrator is unsure of one word), or two flocks of birds lined up in rows. On the Day of Resurrection the Qur'an will meet its companion when he is raised from his grave; the Qur'an will meet him in the form of a man pale and worn in appearance and will say: 'Do you recognise me?' The man will say: 'I do not recognise you.' The Qur'an will say: 'I am your companion, the Qur'an, who kept you thirsty in the midday heat and kept you awake at night. Every merchant was occupied with his trade, and today you are beyond every kind of trade.' Then sovereignty will be given in his right hand and eternity in his left hand, the crown of dignity will be placed on his head, and his parents will be clothed in two garments whose worth even the whole world cannot equal. They will say: 'For what reason have we been clothed in these?' They will be told: 'Because your child learned the Qur'an.' Then it will be said (to that man): 'Begin reciting and begin climbing the levels and lofty chambers of Paradise.' So as long as he keeps reciting he will keep climbing, whether he recites quickly or slowly and measuredly." (Allamah al-Haythami says:) I say: Ibn Majah has recorded a part of this report.
Ahmad recorded it, and its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.