Hadith: Recite the Qur'an, because it will come as an intercessor on the Day of Judgment for its reciters

عن أبي أمامة الباهلي رضي الله عنه قال: سمعتُ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «اقرؤوا القرآنَ فإنَّه يأتي يوم القيامة شَفِيعًا لأصحابه، اقرؤوا الزَّهرَاوَين البقرةَ وسورةَ آل عِمران، فإنهما تأتِيان يوم القيامة كأنهما غَمَامَتان، أو كأنهما غَيَايَتانِ، أو كأنهما فِرْقانِ من طَيْر صَوافٍّ، تُحاجَّان عن أصحابهما، اقرؤوا سورة البقرة، فإن أخذها بَرَكة، وتركها حَسْرة، ولا تستطيعها البَطَلَة».
[صحيح] - [رواه مسلم]

Abu Umāmah al-Bāhili (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) saying: "Recite the Qur'an, because it will come as an intercessor on the Day of Judgment for its reciters. Recite the two illuminating ones, Sūrat al-Baqarah and Sūrat Āl-‘Imrān, because they will come as two clouds, two shades, or two flocks of birds in ranks defending their reciters on the Day of Resurrection. Recite Sūrat al-Baqarah, because reading it is a blessing, abandoning it is a (cause of) regret, and the sorcerers cannot handle it."
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Muslim]

Explanation

Read the Qur’an and be consistent in reciting it, because on the Day of Judgment it will intercede for those who recite and act according to it. You should specifically recite Sūrat al-Baqarah and Sūrat Āl-‘Imrān. They are called Az-Zahrāwān; the two illuminating Sūrahs, due to the light, guidance, and great reward they contain. Compared to the other Sūrahs, in the sight of Allah, they are like the sun and the moon compared to other planets. The reward of reciting these two Sūrahs is that on the Day of Judgment they will come in the form of two clouds that will shield their reciters from the heat of that Day or they will come in the form of two flocks of birds hovering in a line and stretching their wings, connecting them to one another, to protect their reciters from the Fire. It is also possible, as indicated by the literal wording of this Hadīth, that the recitation itself, rather than the reward of the act, is what will come in the above forms on the Day of Resurrection. However, saying that what will come is Allah’s speech is wrong, because Allah’s speech is one of His attributes, and an attribute cannot be separated from the One it belongs to. What will be put on the scales on the Day of Judgment are people’s deeds and actions. Allah, the Exalted, said: {While Allah created you and that which you do.} [Sūrat As-Sāffāt: 96] The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) emphasized the importance of reciting Sūrat al-Baqarah, because constantly reciting this Sūrah, reflecting upon its meanings, and acting upon its teachings brings blessings and great benefits. Whereas, abandoning this Sūrah, its recitation, reflection on its meanings, and acting upon its teachings leads to grief and regret in the Day of Judgment. Another great virtue of Sūrat al-Baqarah is that sorcerers cannot harm a person who recites, reflects upon, and acts according to it. Some scholars said that sorcerers and magicians cannot recite this Sūrah, ponder over its meanings, or act according to it, because Allah does not grant them the ability to do so.