Abu Musa al-Ashari reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The parable of the believer who recites the Quran is that of a citrus fruit, which tastes good and has a pleasant scent. The parable of the believer who does not recite the Quran is that of a date, which has no scent but tastes good. The parable of a hypocrite who recites the Quran is that of basil, which has a pleasant scent but tastes bitter. The parable of the hypocrite who does not recite the Quran is that of a vine, which has no scent and tastes bitter.”
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5059, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 797
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الْأَشْعَرِيِّ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ مَثَلُ الأُتْرُجَّةِ رِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَطَعْمُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَمَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ الَّذِي لاَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ مَثَلُ التَّمْرَةِ لاَ رِيحَ لَهَا وَطَعْمُهَا حُلْوٌ وَمَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ مَثَلُ الرَّيْحَانَةِ رِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَطَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ وَمَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ الَّذِي لاَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الْحَنْظَلَةِ لَيْسَ لَهَا رِيحٌ وَطَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ
5059 صحيح البخاري كتاب فضائل القرآن باب فضل القرآن على سائر الكلام
797 صحيح مسلم كتاب صلاة المسافرين وقصرها باب فضيلة حافظ القرآن