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Is the recitation of the Quran without understanding all its verses counted as a reward, or does the description (And among them are illiterates who know not the Scripture except wishful thinking, and they are only guessing) apply to us, and is it necessary to understand all the meanings of the surahs that are recited?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Reciting the Quran is a great act of worship, for which the reciter receives ten good deeds for every letter. There are injunctions to recite the entire Quran and prohibitions against abandoning it. There has been disagreement regarding the interpretation of the verse from Surah Al-Baqarah: {And among them are unlettered ones who do not know the Scripture except for [indulging in] wishful thinking} (2:78) – whether it means lying, mere wishful thinking, or simply recitation without comprehension. Every Muslim should strive to ponder and understand the meanings of the Quran, and to inquire about anything that is unclear to them. Reciting the Quran is an act of worship and carries a great reward, but understanding it and acting upon it is superior.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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