Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Allah never listens to anything as He listens to the Prophet (ﷺ) reciting Qur'an in a pleasant sweet sounding voice." A companion of Abu Huraira said, "He means, reciting the Qur'an aloud."
Oneness, Uniqueness of Allah (Tawheed)
Sahih al-Bukhari 7482
Hadith Text
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Allah never listens to anything as He listens to the Prophet (ﷺ) reciting Qur'an in a pleasant sweet sounding voice." A companion of Abu Huraira said, "He means, reciting the Qur'an aloud."
Scholarly Commentary
This noble hadith establishes the exalted status of beautiful Qur'anic recitation in the divine presence. The phrase "Allah never listens to anything as He listens" indicates a special, unparalleled divine attention that transcends ordinary hearing.
The specification "pleasant sweet sounding voice" (taghanna) refers to beautifying one's recitation within permissible bounds, not musical innovation. This includes proper tajwid, measured rhythm, and emotional engagement that reflects the Qur'an's majesty.
The companion's clarification "reciting aloud" emphasizes that this excellence applies to audible recitation, which combines the blessings of tongue, ear, and heart. This demonstrates that external beautification, when coupled with internal reverence, becomes a means of divine proximity.
This hadith inspires believers to perfect their recitation while maintaining the balance between artistic excellence and spiritual humility, recognizing that the ultimate listener is Allah Himself.