The Qurrāʾ of the Qur’an are three: A man who memorized the Qur’an so he takes it to be merchandise, attracts by it the rulers (to himself), and gains by it prominence over the masses. A man who memorized the Qur’an so he preserves its letters but neglects its bounds, and treats it the way one does a drinking-cup. May Allah not increase such ones from among the bearers of the Qur’an! And a man who memorized the Qur’an so he applies the ointment of the Qur’an over the ailment of his heart. He keeps awake by it his nights, thirstens by it his days, stands with it in his places of prostration, and abandons for it his bed-wrap. Because of them does Allah the All-Mighty and Most-Powerful avert tribulations, because of them does Allah Mighty and Majestic grant victory over enemies, and because of them does Allah Mighty and Majestic send down rain from the sky. For I swear by Allah - such ones among the Qurrāʾ of the Qur’an are rarer than Red Sulphur!