At least how many thawabs are given for reading every letter of the Quran?

- The Prophet (pbuh) states the following in a hadith:

“A person who reads the Quran according to tajwid rules is given the thawab of a martyr.” 

“When a person reads the Quran according to tajwid rules, he is given twenty thawabs for each letter. If he does not read according to tajwid rules, he is given ten thawabs.”

- How true are the hadiths above? What are their sources? Are they sound? How should we understand them?

Dear Brother / Sister,

We have not been able to find the hadith narrations mentioned in the question.

This issue is generally dealt with within the framework of the verse below in the resources:

“…And recite the Quran in slow, measured rhythmic tones.” (al-Muzzammil, 73/4)

Our Lord, whose mercy is infinite, gives us many rewards and thawabs for our good deeds, in addition to the numerous boons He gives to people. A bad deed is punished once but a good deed is rewarded ten, a hundred, seven hundred and even more times. As a matter of fact, the following verse expresses this fact:

“He that doeth good shall have ten times as much to his credit: He that doeth evil shall only be recompensed according to his evil: no wrong shall be done unto (any of) them.” (al-An’am, 6/160)

Doubtlessly, the best and most valuable deed is to read, understand and practice the Quran, which comes from Allah’s attribute of Kalam (Speech). Every sentence, word and even letter of it has a different value in the eye of Allah; greatest thawabs will be given for them.

At least ten thawabs for each letter of the Quran

A hadith regarding the issue is as follows:

“If a person recites a letter from the Quran, he receives the reward from it, and the reward of ten the like of it. I do not say that ‘Alif Lam Mim’ is a letter, but ‘Alif’ is a letter, ‘Lam’ is a letter and ‘Mim’ is a letter.” (Tirmidhi, Thawabul-Qur’an, 16)

More rewards for a person who has difficulty in reading

The Quran is a divine treasure. It is a sea of good deeds. When a person reads it properly, he reaches a rank equal to that of angels. When one cannot read it properly or when one has difficulty in learning it, he will be given twice as many thawabs. The glad tiding of the Messenger of Allah about those who have started to learn the Quran or who have difficulty in learning due to starting at a late age is as follows:  

"One who is proficient in the Quran is associated with the noble, upright, recording angels; and he who falters in it and finds it difficult for him will have two rewards." (Bukhari, Tawhid, 52; Muslim, Musafirun, 244)

The Divine Speech, which the Creator sent as a means of mercy, is to be read and understood by us. It is a means of salvation for us both in the world and in the hereafter.

It is an important advice, cure for our problems, a source of guidance and mercy. It is a prescription for the problems of the humanity; it guides people to the straight path. Angels visit the place where the Quran is read. If a person reads and understands the Quran, he attains a superiority over others in the eye of Allah. The Quran becomes a light in the grave.

The reward of a person who learns by having difficulty is doubled. There are at least ten thawabs for every letter of the Quran that is read.

If people move away from the Quran, the Quran will complain about them in the hereafter. It is a big sin to forget the Quran; it means not to preserve the entrusted thing. The Quran provides peace and security for man and society. (see Muhittin Akgül, Kur'an Okumanın Önemi ve İnsana Kazandırdıkları)

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