Ibn Bazz: is there also a reward for reading Hadiths?

 There is evidence that shows that Allah (Exalted be He) rewards those who read the Noble Qur’an, but is there also a reward for reading Hadiths? 

A : Recitation of the Qur'an to bring one closer to Allah (Exalted be He) entails a great reward and likewise reading and memorizing Hadiths of the Prophet (peace be upon him). They are acts of worship and are counted as seeking knowledge and studying religion. The proofs of Shari`ah illustrate the necessity of gaining knowledge, so as to help Muslims worship Allah (Exalted be He) in a clear and established way. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The best amongst you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it. 

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and: "If Allah wants to do good to someone, Allah makes them comprehend the religion." and: Whoever treads a path in pursuit of knowledge, Allah will facilitate for them a path to Paradise. And never does a group of people gather in one of the houses of Allah (mosques) to recite Allah's Book and study it together, but tranquility descends upon them, mercy comes down upon them, the angels surround them and Allah mentions them to those who are with Him. 

There are many Hadiths concerning the recitation of the Qur'an, such as Recite the Qur'an, for, on the Day of Resurrection,itwillcomeasanintercessoronthebehalfofthosewhoreciteit. (RelatedbyMuslim)TheProphet(peacebe 

upon him) is reported to have once said: "Which of you would like to go early in the morning every day to Bathan (a valley in Madinah) and return from it with two large­humped she­camels, without committing a sin or severing the ties of kinship?" They 

replied, "O Messenger of Allah! We (all) would like that!" He said, "If one of you goes early in the morning to the Masjid (mosque) and learns or reads two Ayahs (verses) from the Book of Allah, the Exalted and the Glorious, is better for him than having two camels, and three (Ayahs) are better for him than three (large camels), and four (Ayahs) are better for him than four (large camels), and so on with the number of them and camels." (Related by Muslim in his Sahih)This serves to show the virtue of reciting 

the Qur’an and learning it. 

Among the Hadiths of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in this regard is a famous Hadith related by Ibn Mas`ud and compiled inJami' Al­Tirmidhy with a good Isnad (chain of transmitters)that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Anyone who reads a letter from the Qur'an will earn a good deed thereby, and a good deed gets a tenfold reward." This also applies to the Sunnah. If a believer reads, studies, and memorizes the Hadiths and identifies the authentic among them, he will be greatly rewarded, because this is part and parcel of studying religious knowledge. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said in this regard: Whoever treads a path in pursuit of knowledge, Allah will facilitate for him a path to Paradise. 

This proves that reciting Ayahs of the Qur'an, pondering on them along with studying and memorizing the Hadiths of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in order to learn knowledge and religion and acting upon them are among the ways that lead to Paradise and attain salvation from Hell. The Hadith of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him), "If Allah wants to do good to someone, Allah makes them comprehend the religion" (Agreed upon by A l­Bukhari and Muslim)indicates the excellence of knowledge and seeking it and that this is among the signs of goodness, as is mentioned previously. Studying religion is fulfilled by learning both the Qur'an and the Sunnah and both of them assure what Allah (Exalted be He) wants from His Slave.

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There are many proofs in this regard, praise be to Allah.