Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Mansur narrates that Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: If a man spends the night riding a horse in the path of Allah, and another man spends the night reciting the Book of Allah, then the one who remembers Allah will be superior to both of them. The narrator says: Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) also said: If a person spends the night in such a way that he spends so many dinars and so many dirhams, and he rides a horse in the path of Allah until morning comes and his action is accepted, and I spend the night reciting the Book of Allah until morning comes and my action is accepted, I would not like to exchange my reward for his reward.

Hazrat Abu Usman narrates that Hazrat Salman said: If a person spends the night giving away slaves and maidservants, and another spends the night reciting the Qur'an and remembering Allah, in my opinion, the one who remembers Allah will be the most virtuous.

Hazrat Shaqiq narrates that Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Reciting the Qur'an is more beloved to me than fasting.