1.... Recite the Holy Qur'an with eagerness and fervour and put all your heart and soul in the recitation. Be sure that love of the Qur'an means love of Allah. The Holy Nabi (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) affirmed: "The best form of ibaada for my followers is recitation of the Holy Qur'an."
2.... Engage yourself in the recitation of the Holy Qur'an most of the time and never feel weary of reciting the Holy Book. The Holy Nabi (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) has affirmed: "Allah has ordained that any man who engages himself in the recitation of Holy Qur'an so constantly that he finds no time to send prayers to me, I shall provide him more without asking than those who ask." [At-Tirmithi] Further than this, the Nabi of Allah (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) observed: "The servant gets nearest to Allah by means of reciting the Holy Qur'an." [At-Tirmithi] Instructing the people to recite the Holy Qur'an, the Holy Nabi (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) also observed: "The man who has studied the Holy Qur'an and recites it daily can be likened to a basket full of musk whose sweet smell is making the whole atmosphere fragrant. And the man who has studied the Holy Qur'an but does not recite it may be likened to a bottle full of musk whose mouth has been sealed with a stopper." [at-Tirmithi]
3.... Recite the Holy Qur'an with the sole motive of seeking guidance. Do not recite the Holy Book for the sake of gaining popularity, or establishing a reputation for good harmonious recitation or making a name for piety. These are base motives and he who recites the Holy Qur'an with these motives in mind can obtain no guidance from the Qur'an.
4... Take care to be completely neat and clean before you sit down for recitation. Do not touch the Holy Book without performing an ablution (wudhu) and recite it sitting in a clean and tidy place.
5.... Sit cross-legged with your face towards the Qiblah and recite the Holy Qur'an with your head bowed, with utmost care, complete attention, eagerness of heart and in a proper manner. Allah affirms: "(This is) a Book that We have revealed upon you, full of blessing, that you may ponder its revelations, and that men of understanding may get guidance from it." [38 : 29]
6.... As fars as possible recite the Qur'an in a clear and distinct manner and read the letters correctly and utter the syllables in proper style (tajweed) and recite slowly. The Holy Nabi (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) observed: "Use your voice and style to recite the Holy Qur'an in the best manner." [Abu Dawud] The Holy Nabi (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) used to recite each word in a clear and distinct manner and read each ayat separately. The Holy Nabi (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) affirmed: "He who recites the Holy Qur'an will be told on the Day of Judgement: Recite the Holy Qur'an now in the same clear and distinct manner and in the same harmonious style in which you used to recite it with care and propriety in the world and as a reward for the recitation of each verse you shall be elevated one degree higher and your ultimate please is near the end of the final verse." [At-Tirmithi]
7.... Do not recite in an extremely loud or very low voice. Keep your voice at a medium pitch. Allah ordains: "Be not loud voiced in your prayer nor too low voiced but follow a way between."
8.... Recite the Holy Qur'an whenever you find time, but do try to recite Holy Qur'an in the course of Tahujjud prayer at dawn. This recitation of the Holy Qur'an entails the reward of highest degree and it should be the aspiration of the true believers to attain the apex of excellence in reward for recitation.
9... Do not complete the reading of the whole of the Holy Qur'an in less than three days. The Holy Nabi (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) observed: "He who completes the recitation of the full text of the Holy Qur'an in less than three days does not understand the meanings of the Holy Qur'an at all."
10... Keep in mind the glory and value of the Holy Qur'an and as you observe the etiquette of keeping your person neat and clean while reciting the Holy Qur'an, so also you must purge your heart of evil thoughts, wicked passions and impure purposes. The heart that is tainted with evil and wicked thoughts and passions cannot appreciate and admire the glory of the Holy Qur'an, nor can the bearer of such and evil heart grasp the meanings and realities of the Holy Qur'an. Hadrat 'Ikrama (radhiyAllahu anhu), whenever he opened the Holy Qur'an, he often fainted. He used to say "These are the words of my Gread and Glorious Lord."
11... Recite the Holy Qur'an with the conviction that on this earth this Book is the only source of Guidance for mankind. Meditate and reflect deeply over the meanings of the Holy Qur'an from this viewpoint and try to grasp the realities and learn the wisdom contained in this Book. Do not recite it rapidly but form the habit of reading slowly, distinctly, and with careful understanding of the meanings and try to ponder over the message conveyed to us. Hadrat 'Abdullah bin Abbas (radhiyAllahu 'anhu) often remarked: "I consider it far better to recite small Surahs like Al-Qari'ah and Al-Qadr with understanding and care than to read through the longer Surahs of Al-Baqarah and 'Ali-Imran at a rapid pace without careful understanding of the meanings of the words. The Holy Nabi (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) once recited this one verse over and over again all through the night: "If Thou punish them, Surely! they are slaves, and if Thou forgive them, Surely! Thou only Thou are the Mighty, the Wise."
12... Recite the Holy Qur'an with full determination to adapt your life to the injunctions of the Holy Book and to reform the pattern of your living in the light of the guidance provided by it. Make constant endeavors to order your life in conformity with the Qur'anic injunctions and purge your life of all impurities. The Holy Qur'an like a mirror will clearly reflect each blot and spot on your character. It is entirely your own responsibility to wash off these blots and stains from your life.
13... Feel the impact of the verses during the recitation of the Holy Qur'an. Rejoice and feel happy on reading about the narrations of Divine Mercy, Forgiveness and the Everlasting bounties of Paradise. And on reading about the narrations of the wrath, anger, and the terrific punishments of Hell, your body should tremble, eyes should flow, and the heart should melt with the sentiments of repentence and shame. Your face should glow with the light of happiness on reading about the successes of the pious and faithful people and you should be seized with deep sorrow on reading about the destruction of nations. The study of ayats containing warnings and forebodings or torments should make you tremble and your soul should be filled to the brim with the sentiments of gratitude on reading the verses which bear glad tidings.
14... After reciting the Holy Qur'an offer a prayer. The words of one of the prayers offered by Hadrat Umar (radhiyallahu 'anhu) are as follows: Allahummaarzuqnit-tafakkura wat-tadabbura bimaa yat-loohu lisaani min kitaabika wal-fahma lahoo. Wal-ma'rifata bima 'aa-neehi wan-nazara fee 'ajaa 'ibihi wal-'amala bidhalika maa baqeetu innaka 'alaa kulli shay 'in qadeer. (Allah! Whatever my tongue recites from Thy Kitab, grant me in favor to reflect upon it. Allah! bestow upon me the understanding of it. Vouchsafe to me the knowledge of its meaning, and spirit, and the vision to see its niceties. Grant me the favour to act according to its injunctions as long as I live. Your Being is without doubt Omnipotent.")
15... Observe proper covering of one's private area when reciting Holy Qur'an. One should wear proper head-dress when reciting Holy Qur'an. A male should wear something on his head (turban, koofi, etc.), and a female should cover her hair as if she were to perform Salaat.
16... When not reciting Holy Qur'an, the Holy Qur'an should be kept on a high shelf, above all other books and literature. No book should be ever above nor should any book be on top of the Holy Qur'an. Never let the Holy Qur'an touch the ground.