Hadith Qudsi and the Qur'an - 347

Est. Read time: 3 min
Edition Number: 347
Adapted from: The Gates Of Mercy
Instructor: Shaykh Navaid Aziz

Assalamu Alaykum,

Today’s gem is from Shaykh Navaid Aziz’s course The Gates of Mercy. In this gem, Shaykh Navaid Aziz explains the Qur'an is preserved through Mutawatir transmission and carries multiplied rewards for every letter, while Hadith Qudsi, though sacred, requires verification as most are Ahad reports.

Hope you enjoy!

We begin in the Name of Allah ﷻ, the Most Merciful and Compassionate,
We ask that He ﷻ sends Peace and Blessings upon our noble and beloved
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

What are the main differences between a Hadith Qudsi and the Qur'an?

The Qur'an is transmitted in Mutawatir form — meaning it has been narrated by so many people throughout generations that it is impossible for them to have gathered together to fabricate a lie, or for a mistake to have gone unnoticed.

Whereas with Hadith, most are not Mutawatir — they are Ahad — meaning they have fewer narrators, and thus they require verification to ensure authenticity. Just because someone says, “There is a hadith,” does not automatically mean it is authentic.

In contrast, the Qur'an, because of its Mutawatir transmission and mass preservation, is considered unquestionably authentic — it does not require individual verification.

The second major difference is the reward for recitation. Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) narrates that for every letter of the Qur'an, there is a reward, and each reward is multiplied by ten.

For example, when you recite Alif Laam Meem, it is not counted as one letter, but rather:

• Alif is one letter,

• Laam is one letter,

• Meem is one letter,

Thus, by simply saying Alif Laam Meem, you earn 30 rewards.

Compare this to other Hadith, where the Prophet ﷺ teaches:

• When you say As-salamu 'alaykum, you receive ten rewards.

• When you say As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullahi, you receive twenty rewards.

• When you say As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu, you receive thirty rewards.

This shows the immense barakah (blessing) of reciting the Qur'an — even a short phrase like Alif Laam Meem earns the same reward as the most complete form of greeting.

Therefore, the two main differences between Hadith Qudsi and the Qur'an are:

1. Preservation: The Qur'an is Mutawatir; most Hadith are Ahad.

2. Reward: The Qur'an carries multiplied rewards for every letter, unlike other Hadith.

May Allah ﷻ allow us to honor and recite His Qur'an often, and grant us deep understanding of both His revealed words and authentic Hadith.

أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله لي ولكم، فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور الرحيم

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