Question:

The questioner asks: If a person holds the Mushaf to read but then he gets preoccupied with another affair; so he returns after a while to (continue) reading. Is there anything (wrong) with that?

Answer:

There is nothing (wrong) with that because this (deed) is a supererogatory act of worship. The performer of a supererogatory act of worship is rewarded, but he (or she) is not sinful if he (or she) abandons it. Hopefully, the one who asked this question will be rewarded (in-shaa-Allaah) because he was determined to carry out an act of worship with this intention (i.e. to recite the Qur’aan). Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu-anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said:

Whoever desires to do a good deed then does not do it [i.e. he (or she) is genuinely prevent from doing so) , Allah will write it down as one complete good deed. If he thinks of doing a good deed and then does it, Allah [may He be glorified and exalted] will write it down between ten and seven hundred fold, or many more. If he thinks of doing a bad deed then he does not do it, Allah will write it down as one complete good deed, and if he thinks of it then does it, Allah will write it down as one bad deed.[Saheeh Muslim 131]

[Source: Fadaa’il Al A’maal’ page 10 by Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdillaah As-Subayyil (rahimahullaah)]