Rise and fall of nations by reason of the Holy Qur’an.

Hadhrat ‘Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) narrates that Rasullullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said: “Allah exalts many people by means of this Book (the Holy Qu’ran), and He also degrades and disgraces many others by means of the same.”

People who believe in the Holy Book and act upon it are given by Allah position of honour and respect, both in this life as well as in the Hereafter, while those who do not act upon it are disgraced by Allah. This principle is also borne out by the various ayaat of the Holy Qur’an. At one place it reads:

“He misleads many by this Book and guides many thereby.” ( Qu'ran 2:26)

At another place we come across:

“And We send down in the Qur’an that which is a healing and mercy for believers, though it increases for the evil-doers naught save ruin.”

The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) is also reported to have said: “Many hypocrites of this Ummat will be the qurraa, i.e., those who recite the Qur’an correctly.” In ‘Ihya-ul-Ulum’ it is reported from some Mashaa’ikh. “As soon as a man starts reading a surah (chapter of the Holy Qur’an), the Angels start invoking mercy for him and they continue to do so till he stops reading; on the contrary another person starts reading a surah and the Angels start cursing him and they continue to do so till he completes the reading.”

Some scholars have stated that sometimes a man reads the Holy Qur’an and invokes curses on himself without even knowing it. For instance, he reads in the Holy Qur’an:

“Beware, the curse of Allah is on the wrong-doers” and he exposes himself to this warning because of his wrong-doings.

In the like manner, he reads in the Qur’an:

“The curse of Allah is upon the liars”.

In fact he exposes himself to the warning by reason of his being himself a liar.

‘Aamir ibn Waathilah (Radhiyallaho anho) says that Hadhrat ‘Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) had appointed Naafi’ ibn Abdul Harith as the Governor of Makkah. Once he asked the latter as to whom he had appointed as the administrator of forests. “Ibn Abzi” replied Naafi’. “Who is Ibn-e-Abzi?” said Hadhrat ‘Umar (Radhiyallaho anho). “He is one of our slaves” was the reply. “Why have you appointed a slave the ameer (leader)?” objected Hadhrat ‘Umar (Radhiyallaho anho). “Because he recites the Book of Allah” said Naafi’. At this, Hadhrat ‘Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) narrated the hadith that it had been said by Rasullullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) that, because of this Book. Allah elevates many people and degrades many.

Refrence:
VIRTUES OF QURAN.