How did the Righteous Predecessors deal with the Book of Allah?

The righteous predecessors revered the Noble Qur’an, believed it to be the miraculous word of Allah, recited it as it should be recited, pondered its verses, acted upon its clear injunctions, believed in its ambiguous parts, and applied its teachings. They would not move beyond ten verses until they understood their meanings and acted upon them, for their recitation was a means to understanding and action. They cared more about understanding and pondering the Qur’an than about the quantity of recitation, just as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to recite a surah (definition) slowly and extend his reading. Ibn Abbas advised those who recite the Qur’an quickly to recite in a way that their ears can hear and their hearts can comprehend, emphasizing that reciting one surah with contemplation is better than reciting the entire Qur’an without contemplation.