Khaberni - The Grand Mufti of the Egyptian lands, Nazeer Ayyad, has warned some readers of the Holy Quran about the involvement of ostentation or seeking fame in their recitation, affirming that those who read or teach for it to be said about them will be thrown into hell on the Day of Judgment.
During his appearance on the program "Ask the Mufti," which is broadcast on "Sada El Balad" satellite channel, the esteemed Mufti said that reading the Quran requires adhering to etiquette before, during, and after reading, emphasizing the need for sincerity of intention before starting, as mentioned in the prophetic saying that actions are judged by intentions.
Ayyad noted that there is a significant difference between someone who reads the Quran as a "habit" or for people to say they are among the people of the Quran, and someone who reads it to discover its secrets, adopt its etiquette, embody its morals, and spread its goodness among people.
He also warned about the danger of actions contradicting words, referencing the prophetic hadith about a man who will be thrown into hell on the Day of Judgment, and his bowels will spill out because he used to command what is right but did not follow it, and forbid what is wrong but did it himself.
He called for applying this warning in dealing with the Quran, citing the response of Lady Aisha, may God be pleased with her, when she was asked about the Prophet’s character, peace be upon him, and she referred the questioner to the Quran and the beginning of chapter Al-Muminun (The Believers).
He warned about the divine reproach specifically directed at the people of faith in the saying of God Almighty, "O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do?" as well as the reproof directed at the Children of Israel for the ugliness in conduct and action in God's saying, "Do you command righteousness of the people and forget yourselves?"
He advised the readers of the Quran to be cautious of seeking fame or ostentation, affirming that those who read or teach for others to speak of them as such will be cast into hell on the Day of Judgment despite believing they are among the people of Paradise, concluding with: Beware to be among those who read so it may be said, 'He has read.' As it has been said, lead him to the hellfire—a reference to the hadith of Muslim: 'I sought knowledge for people to call me learned, and I read the Quran for them to say he is a reader; it has been said, then he was ordered, and was dragged on his face until he was thrown into the hellfire.'
