THE AADAAB(ETIQUETTE) OF
TILAAWAT( PART 1 )
The etiquette of reciting the Qur'aan
Recite the Glorious Qur'an
with eagerness and fervour and put all one's heart and soul in
the recitation.
Engage oneself in the
recitation of the Qur'an most of the time and never feel weary of
reciting it. Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has affirmed: "Allah
has ordained that any man who engages himself in the recitation
of Glorious Qur'an so constantly that he finds no time to send
prayers to Me, I shall provide him more without asking than those
who ask." [At-Tirmithi] Further than this, the Nabi of Allah
(sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) observed: "The servant
gets nearest to Allah by means of reciting the Holy Qur'an."
[At-Tirmithi] Instructing the people to recite the Qur'an, Nabi (sallallahu
'alayhi wa sallam) also observed: "The man who has studied
the Glorious Qur'an and recites it daily can be likened to a
basket full of musk whose sweet smell is making the whole
atmosphere fragrant. And the man who has studied the Glorious
Qur'an but does not recite it may be likened to a bottle full of
musk whose mouth has been sealed with a stopper." [at-Tirmithi]
Recite the Glorious Qur'an with the sole motive
of seeking guidance. Do not recite the Qur'an for the sake of
gaining popularity, or establishing a reputation for good
harmonious recitation or making a name for piety. These are base
motives and he who recites the Glorious Qur'an with these motives
in mind can obtain no guidance from the Qur'an.
Keep in mind the glory and value of the Qur'an
and as you observe the etiquette of keeping your person neat and
clean while reciting the Glorious Qur'an, so also you must purge
your heart of evil thoughts, wicked passions and impure purposes.
The heart that is tainted with evil and wicked thoughts and
passions cannot appreciate and admire the glory of the Qur'an,
nor can the bearer of such an evil heart grasp the meanings and
realities of the Qur'an. Hadrat Ikrama (radhiyAllahu anhu),
whenever he opened the Glorious Qur'an, he often fainted. He used
to say "These are the words of my Creator and
Glorious Lord."
Recite the Qur'an with the conviction that on
this earth, this Book is the only source of Guidance for mankind.
Meditate and reflect deeply over the meanings of the Qur'an from
this viewpoint and try to grasp the realities and learn the
wisdom contained in this Book. Do not recite it rapidly but form
the habit of reading slowly, distinctly, and with careful
understanding of the meanings and try to ponder over the message
conveyed to us. Hadrat Abdullah bin Abbas (radhiyAllahu anhu)
often remarked: "I consider it far better to recite small Surahs
like Al-Qari'ah and Al-Qadr with understanding and care than to
read through the longer Surahs of Al-Baqarah and 'Ale`-Imran at a
rapid pace without careful understanding of the meanings of the
words. Nabi (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) once recited this one
verse over and over again all through the night: "If
Thou punish them, Surely! they are slaves, and if Thou forgive
them, Surely! Thou only Thou are the Mighty, the Wise."
Recite the Qur'an with full determination to
adapt one's life to the injunctions of the Qur'an and to reform
the pattern of your living in the light of the guidance provided
by it. Make constant endeavors to order one's life in conformity
with the Qur'anic injunctions and purge one's life of all
impurities. The Glorious Qur'an like a mirror will clearly
reflect each blot and spot on one's character. It is entirely
one's own responsibility to wash off these blots and stains from
one's life provided by the Guidance within the Qur'an.
Before commencing Tilaawat:
- Take care to be completely neat and clean
before you sit down for recitation. Do not touch the Glorious
Qur'an without performing an ablution (wudhu) and recite it
sitting in a clean and tidy place. Perform Wudhu. It is a sin
to touch the Qur'aan without Wudhu.
-
It is permissible to recite the Qur'aan from
memory without handling the Qur'aan.
-
It is not permissible for a person, on whom
ghusl is compulsory, to recite the Qur'aan at all even from
memory.
-
Observe proper covering of one's private area
when reciting Qur'an. One should wear proper head-dress when
reciting the Glorious Qur'an. A male should wear something on
his head (turban, koofi, etc.), and a female should cover her
hair as if she were to perform Salaat.
-
Use a Miswaak and ensure that the mouth is
thoroughly cleansed of any strong or offensive smell such as
garlic, raw onion, cigarettes, cigars, tobacco etc.
-
Sit in a secluded place(if possible) facing
the Qibla in an extremely dignified manner and recite the Qur'an
with your head bowed in humility, with utmost care, complete
attention, eagerness of heart and in a proper manner. Allah
affirms: "(This is) a Book that We have revealed upon
you, full of blessing, that you may ponder its revelations,
and that men of understanding may get guidance from it."
[38 : 29].The respect for the Qur'aan should be regarded as
binding on every Muslim at all times.
-
One should not lean against anything or
stretch out one's legs or lie down whilst reciting.
-
The Qur'aan must be placed on an elevated
position such as a rihaal (Qur'aan stand), desk or pillow. Do
not place the Qur'aan on the musallah (carpet) or the Mimbar
or any place on which people stand or sit. When not reciting Qur'an,
the Qur'an should be kept on a high shelf, above all other
books and literature. No book should be ever above nor should
any book be on top of the Qur'an. Never let the Qur'an touch
the ground.
-
The use of Itr is recommended before recital.
Compiled by Al-Islaah
Publications using the following Source references:
1.Waterval Islamic Institute
THE
AADAAB(ETIQUETTE) OF TILAAWAT( PART 2 )
The etiquette of reciting the
Qur'aan
When commencing and during Tilaawat:
-
The Niyyat (intention) for the recital of the
Qur'aan must be solely for the purpose of gaining Allah's
pleasure and to obtain His favour.
-
Read Ta'awwuz (A'oozu Billahi minash
shaytaanir rajeem) and Tasmiyyah(Bismillahir
Rahmaanir Raheem) when commencing recitation.
-
Recite the Qur'aan with complete attention and
humbleness and in a befitting manner, as if you are reading
in response to Allah's command, and also that you are in His
presence and that He is listening to your recital.
-
Do not recite in an extremely loud or very low
voice. Keep your voice at a medium pitch. Allah ordains: "Be
not loud voiced in your prayer nor too low voiced but follow
a way between." When one is alone it is better to
recite aloud. However if one is reading in a Masjid or where
others are occupied in their Ibaadat, or there is fear of
showing off, then it is best to recite softly. Recite in a
melodious voice because this has been emphasised in many
Ahaadith. Do not sing the verses or imitate the manner and
style of the non-Muslims for this is totally forbidden.
-
As far as possible recite the Qur'an in a
clear and distinct manner and read the letters correctly and
utter the syllables in proper style (tajweed) and recite
slowly. The Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) observed: "Use
your voice and style to recite the Glorious Qur'an in the
best manner." [Abu Dawud]. Nabi (sallallahu 'alayhi wa
sallam) used to recite each word in a clear and distinct
manner and read each ayat separately. Nabi (sallallahu alayhi
wa sallam) affirmed: "He who recites the Glorious Qur'an
will be told on the Day of Judgement: Recite the Glorious
Qur'an now in the same clear and distinct manner and in the
same harmonious style in which you used to recite it with
care and propriety in the world and as a reward for the
recitation of each verse you shall be elevated one degree
higher and your ultimate place is near the end of the final
verse." [At-Tirmithi]
-
It is Waajib (compulsory) to recite the
Qur'aan Kareem correctly. Do not recite with haste but make
an effort to read with Tarteel (fluency) and with Tajweed
(according to the rules of recitation).
-
Feel the impact of the verses during the
recitation of the Glorious Qur'an. Rejoice and feel happy on
reading about the narrations of Divine Mercy, Forgiveness and
the Everlasting bounties of Paradise. And on reading about
the narrations of the wrath, anger, and the terrific
punishments of Hell, your body should tremble, eyes should
flow with tears, and the heart should melt with the
sentiments of repentence and shame. Your face should glow
with the light of happiness on reading about the successes of
the pious and faithful people and you should be seized with
deep sorrow on reading about the destruction of nations. The
study of ayats containing warnings and forebodings or
torments should make you tremble and your soul should be
filled to the brim with the sentiments of gratitude on
reading the verses which bear glad tidings. When reciting
with comprehension, then upon an Aayat describing mercy, ask
for Allah's mercy and when reading an Aayat in which
punishment is depicted then beseech Allah to save one from
such punishment. On an Aayat pertaining to Allah's Glory and
Sanctity one should say Sub'haanallah.
-
An effort must be made to understand the
Qur'aan and where one is not conversant with the Arabic
language one should endeavour to understand the meanings of
Aayaat from the Ulama or from authentic translations. The
Ahaadith of Rasullullah(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam)
strictly prohibit the translation and interpretation of the
Qur'aan to suit one's own views, more especially so, when one
is not fully aquainted with all the related sciences of the
Qur'aan.
-
Try to shed tears while reciting even if one
has to compel oneself to do so.
-
One must not talk during the Tilaawat of the
Qur'aan. If an important matter has to be discussed with
anyone then the recital should be stopped and the Qur'aan
closed. If one desires to continue reading thereafter then
read the Ta'awwuz (A'oozu billahi minash Shaytaanir
rajeem), and Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem, and
then continue from where one had stopped.
-
It is reported in the Hadith that whoever has
recited the Qur'aan and thereafter praised Allah and conveyed
blessings upon Rasullullah(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) and
asked for forgiveness from one's Sustainer, then surely he
has asked for goodness from its very source.
-
Do not place any other book, kitaab or object
(hat, cap, turban, or spectacles etc.), on the Qur'aan during
or after recital.
-
Do not turn your back towards the Qur'aan
during or after recital, and do not sit with the Qur'aan in
such a position that it faces someone else's back.
-
If one feels tired and begins to yawn while
reading the Qur'aan, then the recitation should be terminated
and only continued after having rested or yawned.
-
Do not sit on a place which is higher than the
Qur'aan when the Qur'aan is within sight. Do not sleep with
your feet towards the Qur'aan.
-
After terminating the recital, place the
Qur'aan respectfully on a high shelf, or any other safe
place.
-
It is sinful to carelessly discard torn or
worn pages of the Qur'aan. Do not throw them in the waste
basket or bin. Usable pages must be carefully put into a
Taahir-Paak (clean) wrapper and buried in a clean place.
-
Besides the Qur'aan, other pieces of paper or
things with the names of Allah and Rasullullah(sallallahu
alaiyhi wassallam) must not be shown disrespect by being
carelessly discarded at places where these would be trampled
upon.
-
After reciting the Qur'an offer any duaa. The
words of one of the prayers offered by Hadrat Umar (radhiyallahu
anhu) are as follows: "Allahummaarzuqnit-tafakkura
wat-tadabbura bimaa yat-loohu lisaani min kitaabika wal-fahma
lahoo. Wal-ma'rifata bima 'aa-neehi wan-nazara fee 'ajaa 'ibihi
wal-'amala bidhalika maa baqeetu innaka 'alaa kulli shay 'in
qadeer." ( "O Allah! Whatever my tongue recites from
Thy Kitab, grant me in favor to reflect upon it. Allah!
bestow upon me the understanding of it. Vouchsafe to me the
knowledge of its meaning, and spirit, and the vision to see
its niceties. Grant me the favour to act according to its
injunctions as long as I live. Your Being is without doubt
Omnipotent.")
Compiled by Al-Islaah
Publications using the following Source references:
1.Waterval Islamic Institute
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