Who To Be Like?

Sahih-al-Bukhari: Volume 6, Book 61, Number 579:

Narrated Abu Musa:

The Prophet (pbuh) said,

• "The example of a believer who recites the Qur'an and acts on it, like a citron which tastes nice and smells nice.

• 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.

• And the example of a hypocrite who recites the Qur'an is like a Raihana (sweet basil) which smells good but tastes bitter.

• And the example of a hypocrite who does not recite the Quran is like a colocynth which tastes bitter and has a bad smell".

And ofcourse we rule out the last three and try to be like a citron, both good smelling and good tasting. Prophet pbuh has given such a beautiful metaphor for a believing person who recites the Quraan, from his heart and is not like the one who recites but it doesnt go deeper than his throat. Allah listens to him reciting it. It gives beauty to his soul, and as he acts on it too, others around him taste the goodness of his attitude and his good morals and of everything that he does.

He is loved by Allah and people. Though the second one is good as well for acting upon the Quraan, but the first one has a higher rank with Allah. WE must strive to be like that sweet and fragrant believer.