‘Ā’isha reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “Reciting the Qur’ān during prayer is more excellent than reciting it at other times, and reciting the Qur’ān at a time other than during prayer is more excellent than extolling God and declaring His greatness. Extolling God is more excellent than <i>sadaqa</i>, <i>sadaqa</i> is more excellent than fasting, and fasting is a protection from hell.” Transmitted by Baihaqī in <i>Shu'ab al-īmān</i>.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «قِرَاءَةُ الْقُرْآنِ فِي الصَّلَاةِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ قِرَاءَةِ الْقُرْآنِ فِي غَيْرِ الصَّلَاةِ وَقِرَاءَةُ الْقُرْآنِ فِي غَيْرِ الصَّلَاةِ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ التَّسْبِيحِ وَالتَّكْبِيرِ وَالتَّسْبِيحُ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ وَالصَّدَقَةُ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الصَّوْمِ وَالصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ مِنَ النَّارِ» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَانِ