English Translation

Abu Nu'aym narrated to us: Bashir ibn al-Muhajir narrated to us: 'Abdullah ibn Buraydah narrated to me, from his father, who said: I was sitting with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and I heard him say, 'Learn Surat al-Baqarah, for taking it up is a blessing and abandoning it is a source of regret, and the workers of falsehood cannot master it.' He said: Then he remained silent for a while, then said, 'Learn Surat al-Baqarah and Al 'Imran, for they are the two radiant ones (al-Zahrawan) that will shade their companion on the Day of Resurrection, as if they were two clouds, or two shades, or two flocks of birds in ranks. And indeed the Qur'an will meet its companion on the Day of Resurrection, when his grave splits open over him, like a pale, gaunt man, and it will say to him, 'Do you know me?' He will say, 'I do not know you.' It will say to him, 'Do you know me?' He will say, 'I do not know you.' It will say, 'I am your companion, the Qur'an, who made you thirsty in the heat of midday and kept you awake at night. Indeed every merchant is behind his merchandise, and today you are behind every merchandise.' So he will be given dominion in his right hand and eternal life in his left hand, and the crown of dignity will be placed upon his head, and his parents will be clothed in two garments the people of this world could never afford, and they will say, 'What has clothed us with this?' It will be said, 'Your child's taking up of the Qur'an.' Then it will be said to him, 'Recite and ascend through the levels of Paradise and its chambers.' So he keeps ascending as long as he recites, whether reciting swiftly or with measured, careful recitation (tartil).'