Reciting the Qurʾan: between concentration and the time factor
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Peace be upon you, our Sayed.. May Allah make your morning happy and grant you the good of this world and the Hereafter.
I have a question regarding the Holy Qurʾan. After I learned the tajwīd of the Qurʾan, the people I know started asking me to recite complete readings of the Qurʾan (khatmas) for them. Because I have become accustomed to tajwid, and because of how much I concentrate in recitation, I forget the time factor, so I am very late in dedicating the reward of the khatma. What do you advise me? I am perplexed about my situation, and I also fear the number piling up.
Your prayers for success; my greetings and my prayers.
M. T.
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Answer
In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings
The most important thing in correct recitation of the Holy Qurʾan is that the words be correct in the customary sense, such that the meaning does not change, nor is anything decreased or added. It is recommended that the reciter recite in a sorrowful manner, as has come from Imam al-Sadiq (a): (Recite the Qurʾan with sorrow, for it was revealed with sorrow). Therefore there is no problem with speed that does not cause defects. And just as there are narrations calling for reflection on the verses while reciting them, as in the words of the Messenger of Allah (s): (Do not scatter it as sand is scattered, nor rattle it off as poetry is rattled off; pause at its wonders, move hearts with it, and let not the concern of any of you be the end of the sura), there are also narrations permitting abundant recitation such that one completes the Qurʾan in a short period, and this necessitates speed, as from Ibn ʿAmr, who said: The Prophet (s) said: Recite the Qurʾan in each month. He said: I said: I find strength. He said: Recite it in twenty nights. He said: I said: I find strength. He said: Then recite it in ten nights. He said: I find strength. He said: Then recite it in seven, and do not go beyond that). The two can be reconciled if a person has a general engagement with the Qurʾan on one side, and other recitations on another side. Nevertheless, one should preserve sound recitation while paying attention to the aims of the Qurʾan as much as possible, so that the benefit may be complete, and so that the Qurʾan may add to the reciter more insights and remembrance every time he recites it. I wish you a Qurʾanic life, and may Allah bless you Please accept my greetings and my prayers
