مسند امام احمد بن حنبل · Hadith 413

It was narrated from 'Uthman bin 'Affan (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "The best of you is the one who teaches Qur'an or learns it." Muhammad bin Ja'far and Hajjaj said: Abu 'Abdur-Rahman said: That is what made me sit in this place (i.e., become a teacher). Hajjaj said: Shu'bah said: Abu 'Abdur-Rahman did not hear (it) from 'Uthman (RA) or from 'Abdullah, but he heard it from 'Ali (RA). My father said and Bahz said: (It was narrated from) Shu'bah who said: 'Alqamah bin Marthad told me: "The best of you is the one who learns Qur'an and teaches it."

Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020