20.4.1 TILAWAT; OBJECTIVES, IMPORTANCE, OBLIGATION, & REWARD

The 2 objectives of this modules are regular recitation of the Qur’an as ibadat and mproving the recitation of the Qur’an, tajwid al Qur’an, such that each letter in pronounced correctly. Tilaawat is important and is enjoined. It is a reason for reward, thawaab.

20.4.2 ETIQUETTE OF TILAWAT

The reciter should avoid lahw, laghw, dhahk, and 'abath, and interruptions. He should have have concentration, presence of the mind, hudhuur al qalb; khushu'u, serious deliberation, tadabbur;sima’u & insaat; and weeping. Recitation can only be interrupted for returning greetings, radd al salaam. Ablution and cleanliness of clothes and body are required. A person without wudhu cannot touch the Qur’an but can read from memory. A person in post-sexual ritual impurity, janaba, can neither touch the Qur’an nor read it from memory. A menstruating woman cannot touch the Qur’an but is allowed to recite from memory. She is however allowed to touch books of tafsir and translations of the meanings of the Qur’an into other languages. The place of recitation must be clean, quiet, and calm. Tilawat is not allowed during tawaf, at Arafat, at Muzdalifat, and at the jamaraat. It is permitted while standing or walking. Recitation starts with isti'adhat. Basmalah is recited at the start of every surat except surat al baraa. Prostration is required at verses of prostration, ayat al sujuud. It is recommended to ask for forgiveness, mercy and making dua at appropriate versess. Recitation ends with 'subhana al laahu al adhiim. There is no evidence for saying ‘sadaqa al llaahu al ‘adhiim’ at the end of a Qur’anic recitation. Reciting should be with a good voice and not hurried. Recitation in silence is better that loud recitation

20.4.3 THE MUSHAF

Choose a Qur’an whose font size and style is most comfortable to you. Familiarise yourself with the Othmani script, khatt/rasm othmani, of the Qur’an that is used uniformly to preserve the sanctity of the text. The Othmani script differs from modern Arabic writing, khatt imlai, in some aspects. Different prints of the Qur’an have minor variations in script.

20.4.4 REGULATIONS ABOUT TILAWAT

Follow the rules of recitation, ahkam al tajwid, and pay attention to all the signs in the text. The best way to learn pronouncing each letter correctly, ikhraj al huruf, is by listening and watching a good reciter followed by practice in front of him for correction. It is allowed to get payment for teaching Qur’an but not for its recitation. Speed of reading should never make you neglect observation of all the rules of recitation. Watch out for the following regarding mis-pronunciation of letters, lahn:  confusion of za with dha, sa with tha, thad with thad, ‘ain with alph/hamzat, sin and sad. While reading rapidly it is common to transpose the marks for fatha, kasra, dhamma, and sukuun which could in some cases change the meaning.

20.4.5 RULES OF RECITATION, AHKAAM AL TAJWIID

For proper recitation the rules about the following must be mastered: diacritical marks, attributes of letters, and rules of starting and stopping. The reciter must know rules about specific letters: hamza, feminine ‘t’, miim, nuun, laam and alif. The rules of madd must also be known. Various speeds of recitation can be used. Tahqiiq is slow and calm reading with deliberation that is suitable for beginners. Hadr is rapid reading suitable for a knowledgeable individual reciting alone without neglecting the rules. Tadwiir is a speed between tahqiiq and hadhr that should be used by a group of knowledgeable reciters.