() is the Arabic word for
hymnody. The term is commonly translated in reference to the
Quran
The Quran, also Romanization, romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a Waḥy, revelation directly from God in Islam, God (''Allah, Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which ...
as recitation, "in proper order" and "with no haste".
In the Quran
This word is used in chapter 73 named , verse 4 of the Qur'an:
The Arabic word translated as "slow, measured rhythmic tones" is .
It is also the term used to define the rules explaining proper recitation of the Quran in the manner that
Gabriel
In the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), Gabriel ( ) is an archangel with the power to announce God's will to mankind, as the messenger of God. He is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and the Quran. Many Chris ...
revealed it to
Muhammad
Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...
.
Meaning and practice
While reciting, one has to keep in mind the (division) and (joining) of words and sentences. The interpretation of the above-mentioned verse according to
Ibn Kathir
Abu al-Fida Isma'il ibn Umar ibn Kathir al-Dimashqi (; ), known simply as Ibn Kathir, was an Arab Islamic Exegesis, exegete, historian and scholar. An expert on (Quranic exegesis), (history) and (Islamic jurisprudence), he is considered a lea ...
is, "recite the Quran slowly, making the letters clear, for this is an assistance in understanding and pondering the meaning of the Quran."
The fourth caliph,
Ali ibn Abi Talib
Ali ibn Abi Talib (; ) was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from until Assassination of Ali, his assassination in 661, as well as the first imamate in Shia doctrine, Shia Imam. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muha ...
, said that is delivering words according to their (outlets for sound or intonations). Saying the words clearly and slowly and reciting with understanding and uttering the contents correctly is of prime importance. One should neither recite the Quran with such speed that it might become incomprehensible and bore the listener nor the recitation be so slow that it takes a long time and puts the listeners off. According to him, "Following the middle path is a virtue" or in Arabic: ().
See also
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Tilawa
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Tajwid
In the context of the recitation of the Quran, or (, ) is a set of rules for the correct pronunciation of the letters with all their qualities and applying the various traditional methods of recitation, known as . In Arabic, the term is deriv ...
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Qur'an reading
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Cantillation
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Al-Muzzammil
Al-Muzzammil (, “The Enshrouded One”, “Bundled Up”, “Enfolded”) is the seventy-third chapter () of the Quran, containing 20 verses (), which are recognized by Muslims as the word of God (Allah). The last Ruku of this surah contains on ...
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References
Quran reciting
Islamic terminology
{{Quran-stub