The first word revealed in the Qurʾān was “read” or “recite.” The word iqra carries both meanings in it. Reading is a gateway to spiritual growth and intellectual development. Today, short tweets and social media posts cause many to be lazy to spend time reading and indulging in deep and reflecting thinking. Electronics like smartphones and television numb the mind and make it harder to engage in analytical thinking. Reading regularly results in stronger memory, intellectual stimulation, stress reduction, improved writing, and better analytical skills. It is a good habit to always be reading a book. One suggestion is to have a book next to your bedside and read for a few minutes each night before sleeping. Obtaining knowledge is a gradual process, and with a daily dose of reading one will find that they have read hundreds of books throughout the course of his or her life.