What is the meaning of the hadith that says, “The best form of worship is reading the Quran”?

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The best form of worship is reading the Quran” (recorded by Imam Abu Nuʿaym in Faḍa`il al-Quran). This hadith demonstrates that reading and reciting (tilawah) the Quran constitute one of the most virtuous acts of worship by which a servant draws close to Allah Almighty. Engaging in its recitation is superior to all forms of dhikr (remembrance of Allah), except in cases where a text emphasizes a particular dhikr.

Imam al-Munawi noted in Al-Taysir bi Sharḥ Al-Jamiʿ Al-Ṣaghir (1:186), that the best form of worship is reading the Quran because involves intimate discourse with the Lord, and because the Quran is the foundation and source of all knowledge, and the most important of them all. Therefore, reading the Quran is superior to engaging in all forms of dhikr, except that which has been specifically singled out by textual merit. Hence, Shafiʿi scholars said that the recitation of the Quran is the best of form of dhikr in general.

Imam Ibn Baṭṭal stated in his Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari (10/267), “Al-Thawri said, ‘We heard that reciting the Quran in prayer is superior to reciting it outside of prayer; reciting the Quran is superior to dhikr; dhikr is superior to charity; and charity is superior to fasting.’”

And Allah the Almighty knows best.