The most important thing to realize regarding the greatness of the Qur'an is that it is the speech of Allah Most High. Once the reality of this fact is in your heart with certainty, you will not have to remind yourself to pick up Allah's Book and seek guidance from it and to seek knowledge of the Arabic language, the science of tafsir, circumstances of revelation and other knowledge which aids in understanding Allah's Book.
Allah states that anyone who truly believes that there is a life after this life (al-aakhira) also believes in this book. This negates any claim to legitimacy by those who claim to follow a previous religion and book but who reject the Qur'an. Allah rejects even their claim to belief in the hereafter.
الأنعام
وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ إِذْ قَالُوا مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَى بَشَرٍ مِنْ شَيْءٍ قُلْ مَنْ أَنْزَلَ الْكِتَابَ الَّذِي جَاءَ بِهِ مُوسَى نُورًا وَهُدًى لِلنَّاسِ تَجْعَلُونَهُ قَرَاطِيسَ تُبْدُونَهَا وَتُخْفُونَ كَثِيرًا وَعُلِّمْتُمْ مَا لَمْ تَعْلَمُوا أَنْتُمْ وَلَا ءَابَاؤُكُمْ قُلِ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ ذَرْهُمْ فِي خَوْضِهِمْ يَلْعَبُونَ(91) وَهَذَا كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ مُبَارَكٌ مُصَدِّقُ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَلِتُنْذِرَ أُمَّ الْقُرَى وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَهُمْ عَلَى صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ(92)
They failed to comprehend the reality of Allah's greatness when they said, "Allah did not send anything to any human being." Say, who sent the Book which Musa brought as a light and a guidance for mankind. [The book which] you make as so many papers you show them sometimes but hide them much. And you were taught that which you did not know neither yourselves nor your ancestors. Say, Allah. Then leave them playing around in their vain discourses. (91) And this book we sent it down blessed and a confirmation of what came before it that you may warn the Mother of the Cities (Makka) and those around it. And those who believe in the hereafter believe in it and they are constant in guarding their prayers. (92)
In the following verses, Allah reaffirms the relationship between belief in the hereafter and belief in the Qur'an by mentioning the punishment of those who disbelieve in the hereafter right after mentioning the guidance of the Qur'an. Also, since this book is from our Creator and is not the creation of any man, it contains the guidance to all that is best and most upright.
الأسراء
إِنَّ هَذَا الْقُرْءَانَ يَهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَبِيرًا(9)وَأَنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا(10)
Verily this Qur'an guides to what is most upright and give glad tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that for them is a great reward. (9) And as for those who do not believe in the hereafter, we have prepared for them a painful punishment.
Allah reminds us of his omnipresent knowledge and that he is fully aware of those who do not submit to the truth of the Qur'an. Allah command to "do as you wish" is the most serious of threats and is also a clear statement that those who choose disbelief and are later punished for it did so by their choice and so deserve what comes to them. Adh-dhikr (the Reminder) her means the Qur'an. Because it is from Allah Most High, falsehood cannot approach it from any direction. Any honest investigation of the Qur'an will find it free from any contradictions and containing many miraculous statements consistent with human knowledge which wasn't acquired until centuries after the Qur'an was communicated to Muhammad (sas) - that in addition to its comprehensive guidance to all that is best for mankind as individuals and societies.
فصلت
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِي ءَايَاتِنَا لَا يَخْفَوْنَ عَلَيْنَا أَفَمَنْ يُلْقَى فِي النَّارِ خَيْرٌ أَمْ مَنْ يَأْتِي ءَامِنًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ إِنَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ(40)إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِالذِّكْرِ لَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ وَإِنَّهُ لَكِتَابٌ عَزِيزٌ(41)لَا يَأْتِيهِ الْبَاطِلُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلَا مِنْ خَلْفِهِ تَنْزِيلٌ مِنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ(42)
Those who are inclined away from the truth regarding our verses are not hidden from us. Is one who is thrown into the fire better or one who comes as a believer on Qiyama? Do whatever you wish! He surely sees all that you do. (40) Those who rejected the Reminder when it came to them! And it is surely a mighty book. (41) Falsehood does not reach it from the front or from the back - a thing sent down from the Wise, the Praiseworthy. (42)
There is no better occupation or use of your time than learning and/or teaching the Qur'an. This includes mere recitation as well as its meanings, rulings and application. The best of this nation are those who learn the Qur'an and those who teach the Qur'an.
البخاري
عَنْ عُثْمَانَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ خَيْرُكُمْ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ وَعَلَّمَهُ
From Uthman (ra) from the Prophet (sas) who said: "The best of you is the one who learns the Qur'an and teaches it."
ابن ماجه
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ أَهْلِينَ مِنْ النَّاسِ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ هُمْ قَالَ هُمْ أَهْلُ الْقُرْآنِ أَهْلُ اللَّهِ وَخَاصَّتُهُ
From Anas ibn Malik who said that Allah's Messenger (sas) said: Verily Allah has his family members among people. They said: And who are they, O Messenger of Allah? He (sas) said: They are the people of the Qur'an the people of Allah and his select ones.
The above hadith has one unreliable narrator who was faulted with writing hadith and was not regarded as a reliable source. The remainder of the narrators are trustworthy. In any case, it is well known that there are among people Allah's awliyaa or those closest to Allah and is without doubt that their relationship to the Qur'an must be deep and constant.
الترمذي
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ يُقَالُ لِصَاحِبِ الْقُرْآنِ اقْرَأْ وَارْتَقِ وَرَتِّلْ كَمَا كُنْتَ تُرَتِّلُ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّ مَنْزِلَتَكَ عِنْدَ آخِرِ آيَةٍ تَقْرَأُ بِهَا
From Abdullah ibn Amr that the Prophet (sas) said: It will be said to the person of the Qur'an, "Read and ascend and recite as you used to recite in the world for your level is at the last verse which you read."
أبو داود
عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الْأَشْعَرِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ مِنْ إِجْلَالِ اللَّهِ إِكْرَامَ ذِي الشَّيْبَةِ الْمُسْلِمِ وَحَامِلِ الْقُرْآنِ غَيْرِ الْغَالِي فِيهِ وَالْجَافِي عَنْهُ وَإِكْرَامَ ذِي السُّلْطَانِ الْمُقْسِطِ
From Abu Musa Al-Ash-ariy who said that Allah's Messenger (sas) said: Part of Allah's ennobling [of individuals] is his honoring of the Muslim elder, the bearer of the Qur'an who neither goes to excess nor neglects it and his honoring of the just ruler.
Ibn Masood (ra) said:
It is appropriate to the bearer of the Qur'an that he be known for his nights while the people sleep, his days when the people are eating, that he be sad when the people rejoice, that he cry when the people laugh, that he be quiet while the people play in discussion and his humility though the people are arrogant. He should not be neglectful, forgetful, loud nor angry.
Etiquette of Reciting the Qur'an
It is befitting for one reciting the Qur'an that he/she be in a state of wudhoo and approach Allah's Book with the best of manners, humility and respect. He should be sitting up and not leaning nor sitting in any disrespectful and arrogant manner. The best recitation of all is that done in salat and standing and the best of that is in the masjid.
As for the quantity of reading, there are narrations from the Companions regarding completing the entire Qur'an every three days, every week or every month. Once every month is the recommendation of the Prophet (sas), one week is his (sas) recommended minimum for those who desire to do more and less than three days should not be attempted since it will compromise comprehension which is the point of reading the Qur'an.
مسلم
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اقْرَأْ الْقُرْآنَ فِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ فَاقْرَأْهُ فِي عِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ فَاقْرَأْهُ فِي سَبْعٍ وَلَا تَزِدْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ
From Abdullah ibn 'Amr (ra): The Prophet (sas) said to me, "Read the [entire] Qur'an each month." I said, I have more strength than that. He (sas) said: "Then read it every twenty days." I said, I have more strength than that. He (sas) said, "Then read it every seven days and do not exceed that."
In another version of this hadith in At-Tirmidhi, the narrator says: "I was zealous and it came back upon me." This means that he later experienced difficulty after committing himself to more than what the Prophet (sas) initially recommended to him.
You should not attempt to complete the Qur'an in less than three days. The Prophet stated that one who does this has no comprehension.
أبو داود
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَمْرٍو قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا يَفْقَهُ مَنْ قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ فِي أَقَلَّ مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ
From Abdullah ibn 'Amr (the same narrator as the hadith in Muslim above): The Prophet (sas) said, "Whoever reads the Qur'an in less than three [days] does not comprehend." (Sahih per Sh. Al-Albaaniy)
The simplest formula is that you should seek to maximize your recitation and study of Allah's Book the most you can without impeding your necessary business and work, without harming your health and without compromising your ability to recite the sounds correctly (from reading too fast) or pondering their meanings. This last statement implies that if you do not know the meanings of the Qur'an, that it would be best to divide your time between reciting the Qur'an and learning Arabic and the meanings of the Qur'an in order to arrive at the desired result. Ibn Abbas (ra) is reported to have said:
"That I should read Al-Baqarah and Aal 'Imraan with correct recitation and careful contemplation is move beloved to me than to read the entire Qur'an a hasty recitation."
If you find yourself with time on your hands, do not pass up this opportunity for reward and benefit and spend much of it reciting the Qur'an. Strive to not let your recitation become less than one complete reading each year - and add another in Ramadhan if you are able. Ibn Masood (ra) is reported to have said:
"Whoever completes the recitation has a du'a which is answered."
Beautifying the Voice With the Qur'an
You should strive to read the Qur'an in a nice sounding voice. One who was given a pleasant voice should strive as much as they are able. This should never resemble the style of music and songs, however and that was something highly disliked by the salaf.
أبو داود
عَنْ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ زَيِّنُوا الْقُرْآنَ بِأَصْوَاتِكُمْ
From Al-Baraa' ibn 'Aazib that the Prophet (sas) said: "Beautify the Qur'an with your voices."
The preferred reading is the quiet reading.
أبو داود
عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْجَاهِرُ بِالْقُرْآنِ كَالْجَاهِرِ بِالصَّدَقَةِ وَالْمُسِرُّ بِالْقُرْآنِ كَالْمُسِرِّ بِالصَّدَقَةِ
From 'Uqbah ibn 'Aamir Al-Juhaniy that the Prophet (sas) said: "He who raises his voice with the Qur'an is like one who displays his charity and he who lowers his voice with the Qur'an is like he who gives charity privately."
Except of course that he should be able to hear himself. It is also without harm to raise one's voice with the Qur'an sometimes for a particular purpose such as to perfect pronunciation, aid in memorization or to fight drowsiness. Also included in this is teaching and learning and a condition for all of this is that it is not disturbing others or interrupting their salat. Reading should be done from the printed mushaf at least once per day.
When you recite the Qur'an, you should remember the great kindness and favor of Allah upon His creation in allowing the meanings of His speech to enter his mind by means of this book. You should remember always that what you are reading is unlike any other book and it is not the words of any man. Keep the reality and greatness of the source of the Qur'an present in your heart and ponder the meanings of what you are reading. This pondering and this understanding is after all the point of the Qur'an and the point of reading it. If it can only be accomplished by repeating verses over and over then do that and do not rush on to more verses. If you do not understand the Arabic, then read and contemplate a translation of the meanings in your language after each verse you recite while remembering that what you are reading in another language is NOT the speech of Allah, but only some man-made words which may give some clues to the meanings contained in Allah's words.
It is reported that Abu Dharr reported that the Prophet (sas) once spent an entire night in contemplation of Allah's statement {If you punish them, they are your slaves...}. Perhaps the following sahih hadith is a reference to the same event:
مسلم
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَلَا قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ {رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِنْ النَّاسِ فَمَنْ تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي ...} الْآيَةَ وَقَالَ عِيسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام {إِنْ تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ وَإِنْ تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ} فَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ وَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ أُمَّتِي أُمَّتِي وَبَكَى فَقَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَا جِبْرِيلُ اذْهَبْ إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَرَبُّكَ أَعْلَمُ فَسَلْهُ مَا يُبْكِيكَ فَأَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام فَسَأَلَهُ فَأَخْبَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِمَا قَالَ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ يَا جِبْرِيلُ اذْهَبْ إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ فَقُلْ إِنَّا سَنُرْضِيكَ فِي أُمَّتِكَ وَلَا نَسُوءُكَ
From Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn Al-'Aas that the Prophet (sas) recited Allah's statement about Ibrahim {Lord they (the reference is to idols worshiped beside Allah) have led many astray so every follows me is of me and whoever disobeyed me, You are surely Forgiving, Merciful.} And Isa's statement {If you punish them, they are surely Your slaves and if you forgive them, You are the Mighty, the Wise.} And he (sas) raised his hands and said: "O Allah, my nation! My nation!" And he (sas) wept. Then Allah Mighty and Great said to Jibreel: "Go to Muhammad - and your Lord knows best - and ask him what makes him weep." So Jibreel went to him and asked him. Allah's Messenger (sas) informed him of what he had said. Then Allah said to Jibreel: "Go to Muhammad and say that We shall please you with regard to your nation and we will not cause you grief."
When you recite the Qur'an and contemplate its meanings, you should bring as much understanding as possible to each verse you read and get the full benefit of that verse. So for example, when you read {He created the heavens and the earth...}, have in your heart the contemplation of the greatness and complexity of all that Allah has created.
When you read about the creation of the fetus from some liquids in the body and the stages it goes through in development, reflect on the great power of Allah in bringing about something so complex from something so simple.
When you read about the conditions of the rejecters of faith, feel the fear that you should fear of the anger of Allah should you stray or become neglectful of His orders.
And stay away from all that blocks or prevents understanding. For example, shaitaan may inject into your heart that you have not read correctly and pronounced a letter exactly correctly and so you get stuck on that and forget about concentrating on the meanings. Another cause is if the reciter is engaged in a sin on a continuous basis, or is arrogant or imprisoned by desires. All of this is a cause of darkness of the heart and its rust. It is like dirt on a mirror which prevents true vision. The heart is like a mirror and the desires and distractions are like the dirt and the MEANINGS of the Qur'an are like the images seen in the mirror. So exercise your heart by setting desires aside and focusing against all distractions as if you are cleaning a mirror.
When you recite the Qur'an, you must know that YOU are the one being addressed in the Qur'an with the promises and the threats. And that its tales were not sent for entertainment but to learn from and take warning. On this basis, you can contemplate the book and act upon its directions.
Maintain your distance from imagining that you have any power or ability. All power and ability to effect and transform belongs to Allah as we say "Laa haula wa laa quwwata illaa billahi". And never look at yourself with an eye of being pleased and praising yourself. Whoever looks to himself as always falling short this becomes a reason of his coming closer [to Allah].