Is there anything in Islam to suggest that the one who memorises the Qur’aan with the numbers of its verses will have a greater reward than the one who is not like that?
Firstly:
We ask Allah to make you steadfast in adhering to goodness and guidance.
In the answer to questions no. 14035 and 20803 we have discussed the reward for memorising the Qur’aan and the status of its bearers. We ask Allah not to deprive you of any of that.
Secondly:
There is no text in Islam to suggest that the one who memorises the Qur’aan with the numbers of its verses will attain a greater reward or a higher status than the one who memorises it without that.
Our advice to you is not to do that and not to focus on it, because it is a kind of showing off and time is too precious to spend it on something in which there is no point and will not benefit you in your religion or bring you closer to your Lord, may He be exalted.
You should pay attention to perfecting your recitation and memorisation, and striving to understand the verses and ponder their meanings, as well as paying attention to acting upon what it says in it, regarding as halaal what it permits and as haraam what it forbids, and following its commands and avoiding what it prohibits. Acting in accordance with the Qur’aan is the greatest aim behind reading it and memorising it.
It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas‘ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When one of us learned ten verses, he would not move on from them until he understood the meaning and acted upon them.
Abu ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sulami -- one of the Taabi‘een -- said: Those who used to teach us the Qur’aan, such as ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan, ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas‘ood and others, told us that when they learned ten verses from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) they would not move on from them until they learned what was in them of knowledge and action. And they said: So we learned the Qur’aan and knowledge and action all together.
And Allah knows best.
Wister