Imaam Ibn Qayyim says in his book Mukhtasar Zaad al-Ma’aad (Provisions of the Hereafter):
And what is intended by the Qur’aan is to reflect upon it, to try and comprehend it, to act upon it, to recite it and to memorize it in order to attain its meanings, as one of the salaf said:
“The Qur’aan was revealed in order that it be acted upon, so act upon its recitation.”
Shu’bah said: “Abu Jamrah told us: “I said to the son of Al-Abbas: “I am a person who recites very quickly and I might recite the Qur’aan once or twice in a night.” Ibn ‘Abbaas (radiyallaahu ‘anhu) said: “Reciting one surah is more pleasing to me than what you do; so if you must recite, do so in a manner by which your ears may hear the recitation and your heart may retain it.”
Ibrahim said: “Alqamah recited to ‘Abdullah and he said: “Recite slowly and pleasantly, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you, for it is the beauty of the Qur’aan.”
And ‘Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood radiyallaahu ‘anhu said:“Do not babble like the babbling of poetry when reciting the Qur’aan and do not let the words tumble out the way dry dates fall from the bunch when it is shaken; and stop at its miracles and move the hearts thereby and do not let the object of anyone of you be the end of the surah.”
And he said:
“If you heard Allah’s Words “Oh you who believe!” , then listen to it, for it is some act of goodness which you are being commanded to do or some evil deed from which you are being turned away.”
‘Abdur-Rahman Ibn Abi Laila said:
“A woman came to me while I was reciting Surah Hud and she said to me: “Oh ‘Abdur-Rahman! Is this the way you recite Surah Hud? By Allaah, I have been reciting it for six months and I have not yet completed the recitation of it”
Imaam Al-Aajurree [d.360H] – may Allaah have mercy upon him – said in his great book Akhlaaq Hamalat al-Qur’aan:
“Whoever contemplates His Words, will know the Lord (‘Azza wa Jall) and he will know of His great Power and Capability, His immense Favour upon the believers, and of the obligation upon himself to worship Him.
Accordingly, the person imposes this obligation upon himself – being on his guard against that which His Generous Patron and Protector (Allaah subhaanahu wa ta’aalaa) has warned of and coveting that which He has made desirous. Whoever is of this description when reciting the Qur’aan or when listening to it when recited by another, the Qur’aan will be a cure for him. He becomes rich without money, he attains power and strength without kinsfolk and finds intimacy in that which others find alienation towards. His desire when opening a surah for recitation will be When will I accede to the admonition contained within what I read? and his desire will not be When will I complete this surah?
His aspiration is none other than, When will I understand what Allah is addressing me with? When will I refrain (from committing sins?) and When will I take heed?’
This is because reciting the Qur’aan is worship and it is not to be done so in a state of heedlessness, and Allah is the one who grants the tawfeeq towards that.”
Sources:
http://sistersfisibilillah.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/reciting-quran/
http://companionofquran.wordpress.com/2009/09/13/reciting-the-noble-quraan-and-contemplating-upon-it/