It should be clear that reading, learning, and teaching the Qur’an entails great merits. `Uthmanibn `Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) reports the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to have said, “The best amongst you is the one who learns the Qur’an and teaches it.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Surely, Allah, Most High, has chosen some people (to be His favorite servants).” It was said, “Who are those people, O Messenger of Allah?” “The people of the Qur’an,” the Prophet said and added, “they are the (favorite) people of Allah…” (Reported by An-Nasa’i)
Furthermore, ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:“(On the Day of Judgment,) it will be said to the people of the Qur’an, ‘Read (the Qur’an) and occupy your high degrees. Recite (the Qur’an) as you used to recite it in the world for your position will be at the end of the last (Qur’anic) verse you read.'” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)
Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said : “On the Day of Judgment, the crown of dignity will be put on the head of the one who memorizes the Qur’an, and his parents will be dressed in two garments that the world is not equal to, thereupon they will ask, ‘What has made us be dressed in these garments?’ and it will be said , ‘That is because your son’s memorization of the Qur’an (in the world).'” (Reported by Ad-Darami)
Given the above, we do advise everyone to concern ourselves with increasing your reading of and reflection on the Qur’an. As for the scholars’ differences over reading the Qur’an with beautiful voice, which Imam Qurtubi stated, you should not consider as a hindrance to recite the Qur’an with good voice. What is important is to read the Qur’an correctly according to the rules of Tajweed. Following I cite what Ibn Qudamah Al-Maqdisi states in his MukhtasarMinhaj Al-Qasidin on the ethics of reciting the Qur’an:
“One who recites the Glorious Qur’an is recommended to have an ablution and be pure. Reciting the Glorious Qur’an in Prayer, while one is standing, is more virtuous than reciting it in any other situation. Likewise, one is recommended to read the Glorious Qur’an in the mosque.
As to the period in which one should finish reciting the whole Qur’an, early Muslims were of diverse stances on this point. Some of them used to finish reciting the whole Qur’an every day. Others used to finish it in three, seven, or thirty days. This varied according to each one’s circumstances. So, one is recommended to read as much as he can of the Qur’an so long as one reflects upon and understands what he recites, and does not ignore his worldly duties.
In this regard, ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said, “To me, it is better to correctly recite only Surat Al-Baqarah and Surat Al `Imran and reflect upon their meanings than to heedlessly recite the whole Qur’an.”
IbnMas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “Whoever finishes reciting the whole Qur’an, will have a Du`a’ (supplication) that will be responded by Allah.” On finishing the recitation of the whole Qur’an, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) used to gather his family and make Du`a’.
Reciting the Glorious Qur’an with Sweet Voice
Reciting the Glorious Qur’an with sweet voice is recommended. However, if one is not able to read the Glorious Qur’an with sweet voice, he has to exert himself to do so.
Likewise, reading the Glorious Qur’an in a low voice is recommended. In this context, a Hadith says,“The superiority of reading (the Glorious Qur’an) in a low voice over reading (it) in a loud voice is like the superiority of giving alms in secret over giving it in public.”(Reported by An-Nasa’i)
But we should keep in mind the fact that reciting the Glorious Qur’an in a loud voice is recommended in certain situations such as teaching the Qur’an, awakening a sleeping person, etc.
One, also, should read in a mode that permits him to hear his recitation.
As to lowering and raising one’s voice in reading the Qur’an in Prayer, this is dealt with thoroughly in the books of Fiqh. On the reading the Glorious Qur’an, one should bear in mind the Glory of the Speaker, Most High, and reflect upon what he reads. Moreover, if one cannot reflect upon what he recites except after repeating the verses he recites, he is recommended to repeat the Qur’anic verses so as to ponder over them. In this connection, ibnMajah reported on the authority of Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) who reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) performed a Night Prayer reading one verse, repeating it; this verse reads,[If Thou dost punish them, they are Thy servants: if Thou dost forgive them, Thou are the Exalted in power, the Wise.](Al-Ma’idah: 118)
Likewise, Tamim Ad-Dari (may Allah be pleased with him) prayed a Night Prayer repeating the following Qur’anic verse:[What! Do those who seek after evil ways think that We shall hold them equal with those who believe and do righteous deeds, that equal will be their life and their death? Ill is the judgment that they make.](Al-Jathiyah: 21)
On reading the Qur’anic verse that reads, [Praise be to Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth] (Al-An`am: 1), one should ponder on the Mighty and Power of the Creator, Most High.On reading the Qur’anic verse that says, [Do ye then see? The (human seed) that ye throw out] (Al-Waqi`ah: 58), one should reflect upon the marvelous stages of man’s creation from semen until he becomes a powerful man.
Furthermore, a reader of the Glorious Qur’an should steer clear of what hinders the understanding of the Glorious Qur’an such as concerning himself only with the correct pronunciation of sounds, committing sins, and following his vain desires and whims.
Also, a reader of the Glorious Qur’an should consider the Glorious Qur’an as addressing him, and, therefore, act according to its instructions.”