Recitation of Al-Qur'an (Tilawatul Qur'an) (2/2)

If you can read Al-Qur'an in the Arabic language, it is preferred to recite with the basic rules of tajweed, including rules of chanting (al-ghunnah), prolongations (al-madd), assimilation (al-idghaam), etc. In a report by Bukhari, Anas bin Malik (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) was asked to describe the way of the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) in reciting Al-Qur'an. Anas said the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to recite with tarteel, chanting, prolonging his long vowels. Anas (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) gave a demonstration by reciting 'Bismillah' to show how the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) recited it, prolonging the sublime word, Allah, Ar-Rahman, and Ar-Raheem.

It is, however, undesirable to read with excessive speed. Reading a part of Al-Qur'an, (juzh), slowly, so as to think through what you read, is preferred to reading double the ordinary speed without pondering. The former way is more respectful, and is in accord with the aims of the Lawgiver, than hastily reading through the Book absent-mindedly.

It is recommended to beautify your recital with a pleasant voice. In a hadith by Ibn Hibban (radhyAllahu ‘anhu), the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) has been reported as saying:

“Beautify the recitation of your Qur'an with your voices.” But you should not exaggerate to the point that the phonics, morphology, or syntax are distorted or altered. Reciting Al-Qur'an with mistakes, (lahn) is not synonymous with chanting or a pleasing voice. Also, one's recitation should not sound like singing.

I mentioned earlier that it is sunnah to seek to comprehend what you read. The following are some of the ways one should go about tadabbur, or pondering through what he reads. The simplest thing is to think out the meaning of the words so as to get a better insight to their meaning and massage.

If the verse contains commands and prohibitions you should immediately decide to accept or restrain from them. But if it is something you have failed in the past to do, you should seek forgiveness and intend to do it in the future. In the event that the verse contains mercy, you should feel happy and request it, or if it contains wrath, you should seek refuge in Allah. If the verse glorifies Allah, you should glorify Him.

In the book of Muslim, Huzaifah bin Yaman is reported as saying:

"I prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) one night. He opened his recitation after Al-Fatihah with chapter Al-Baqarah, the Cow. Coming to the end of it, he followed it with the chapter An-Nisa, the Women. Coming to its end, he followed it with Chapter Al-'Imran, the Family of Imran). He read them consecutively and when he came to a verse that contained glorification of Allah, he glorified, or a question, he asked, or seeking refuge he sought refuge."

It is sunnah to say takbeer from Chapter Ad-Duha, 93 to the end An-Nas, Chapter 114. The sunnah is to pause at the end of Chapter 93 then say Takbeer. If you are completing Al-Qur'an, you do likewise at the end of each surah, chapter, until An-Nas.

The sunnah was started after the first revelation was received and after the period of Fatrah, during which revelation was cut off from the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), and the Makkans were saying Allah had forsaken Muhammad. When Ad-Duha was revealed, the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest).

As to what one should say: You may say "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest), or La Illaha illallah, wallahu Akbar, (There is no deity but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest).

The sunnah recommends prostrating at the end of every sajdah (prostration verse). There are 15 such verses in Al-Qur'an. They are in chapters: Al-A’raf (7:206); Ar Ra'ad, (13:15); An-Nahl, (16:49); Al-Isra, (17:107); Maryam, (19:58); Al-Hajj, (22:18 and 22:77); Al-Furqan, (25:60); An-Naml, (27:77); As Sajdah, (32:15); Saad, (38:24); Fussilat, (41:37); An-Najm, (53:62); Al-Insiqaq, (84:21); mdAl-'Alaq, (96:19).

Now there is the question about what is the best time to read or recite Al-Qur'an. The best time by far is reciting during Salaat, then night-time reading, especially the latter part of it. The best time of day is after Subh (Morning Prayer). The best or preferred days are the days of Arafah, Fridays, Mondays, and Thursdays. The best ten days are the last ten of Ramadan and first ten days of the month, Zul-Hijjah. Of the months, Ramadan is the best.

The preferred day to start Al-Qur'an is Friday, and the best day to complete it is Thursday. The best hour to complete it is the first part of the day or night. For, according to Sa'ad bin Abi Waqqaas (radhyAllahu ‘anhu), if the completion is in the first part of the night, the angels will pray for you until morning, and if it is early in the morning they will pray for you until evening. Fasting is recommended on the day of completion.

It is recommended to start again after each completion of Al-Qur'an. In a hadith reported by Tirmidhi, the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) has been reported as saying:

"The best deeds in the sight of Allah are the deeds of the one who completes Qur'an and resumes again, the one who reads Al-Qur'an from the beginning to the end, and whenever he finishes he resumes again."

It is undesirable to stop reading to converse or talk to someone, laugh or play or look at something that takes away your attention, unless there is a valid reason, as has been reported by Al-Bukhari, by the way of Ibn 'Umar (radhyAllahu ‘anhu).