Question:  What is the difference between the one who recites the Holy Qur’an and the one who doesn’t?

Answer: The importance and glad tidings for reciting the Holy Qur’an by believers and the one who doesn’t can be depicted from the hadith below.

The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w gave examples of both believers and the hypocrites.

Narrated Abu Musa r.a: The Prophet said, (1) “The example of a believer who recites the Qur’an and acts on it, like a citron which tastes nice and smells nice. (2) And the example of a believer who does not recite the Qur’an but acts on it, is like a date which tastes good but has no smell.

(3) And the example of a hypocrite who recites the Qur’an is like a Raihana (sweet basil) which smells good but tastes bitter (4) And the example of a hypocrite who does not recite the Quran is like a colocynth which tastes bitter and has a bad smell.”

Reference: [1] Bukhari, hadith no-5059]