Truly, this Qur’an is recited by slaves and children who have no knowledge of its interpretation, for they have not followed the matter from its beginning.

Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said, ‘A Book, We have sent it down to you, Blessed, that they may ponder its signs deeply. (S. Sad [38], v. 29)’

Pondering its signs deeply is no more than following it, and Allah Knows best.  But by Allah, it is not preserving its letters while wasting its limits!  One of them even says, ‘I have recited the whole Qur’an without missing a single letter of it,’ although by Allah, he has missed it all, for the Qur’an is not seen in him in any of his character or deeds.  Another even says, ‘Truly, I can recite a surah in one breath’!  By Allah, these are not reciters, or people of knowledge or wisdom or spiritual caution!  When did real reciters every say things like this? May Allah not make their like widespread amongst the people!

—Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī [d 110H/728CE]

(Read on pg 41, Imam Abu Baker Muhammad b. al-Husayn al-Ajurri, The Character of the Bearers and People of the Qur’an. Al-Quran Society. London:2002.)