the true aspect of his station with God. What matters is the first thought that comes to him.
When the worshipper finishes reciting the Opening of the Book, he recites what comes easily to him from the Quran and what God lets flow upon his tongue. He neither selects a particular verse nor hesitates. He observes which surah God establishes him in, or which verse of a surah or surahs God lets flow upon his tongue if he does not recite the whole surah.
By the surah he recites, the person of knowledge who is present and watchful knows his station with God at that time. He has gained it through reciting the Opening of the Book, from his own portion of it and his Lord’s portion, as a recompense for the praise of his Lord and the request that came from him.
If he completes it, the station belongs to him in its completeness without doubt. If he confines himself to a part, his share of that station corresponds to the part to which he confined himself.
The Sunnah is to complete the surah. In the authentic report, the reciter of the Quran will be told on the Day of Resurrection, “Recite and ascend, for your station is at the last verse you recite.” Choose for yourself, human being, and lend me your ear. The proof will become clear to you.
Continuation on the Section Concerning the Manner of Recitation in These Two Cycles
Notes
Translator’s note TN2058-1: The source has āyat sūrah at the point rendered “which surah,” which could be read literally as “a verse of a surah.” The rendering takes it as ayyatu sūrah, since the following alternative deals expressly with reciting verses without completing a surah.
