Science of Tajweed

The Hadīth means that one should adorn the Qur'an by beautifying the voice when reciting it, as the good words increase their goodness and excellence when communicated in a beautiful voice. The wisdom behind this is to encourage extra contemplation of the meanings of the Qur‘an and a deeper understanding of the commandments, prohibitions, warnings, and glad tidings included in the recited verses. People naturally incline to a beautiful voice and the mind can be cleared of all distracting thoughts by virtue it, and in turn it draws the full attention to listening to and reflecting on the Qur'an. As a result, the main purpose of humility and submission would be achieved. Beautifying the voice, as mentioned in the Hadīth, refers to a beautiful recitation that brings humility, not to tainting the recitation with melodious music that violates the limits of recitation.

- سنن أبي داود، تحقيق: محمد محيي الدين عبد الحميد، نشر: المكتبة العصرية، صيدا – بيروت. - السنن الصغرى للنسائي "المجتبى"، تحقيق: عبد الفتاح أبو غدة، نشر: مكتب المطبوعات الإسلامية – حلب، الطبعة: الثانية، 1406ه – 1986م. - مسند الإمام أحمد بن حنبل، تحقيق: شعيب الأرنؤوط - عادل مرشد، وآخرون، نشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة: الأولى، 1421هـ - 2001م. - سنن ابن ماجه، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، نشر: دار إحياء الكتب العربية - فيصل عيسى البابي الحلبي. - صحيح الجامع الصغير وزياداته، للألباني، نشر: المكتب الإسلامي. - شرح كتاب التوحيد من صحيح البخاري، لعبد الله بن محمد الغنيمان، الناشر: مكتبة الدار، المدينة المنورة، الطبعة: الأولى، 1405 هـ. - الميسر في شرح مصابيح السنة, فضل الله بن حسن شهاب الدين التُّورِبِشْتِي, المحقق: د. عبد الحميد هنداوي, مكتبة نزار مصطفى الباز, الطبعة: الثانية، 1429 هـ - 2008 هـ. - شرح سنن النسائي المسمى «ذخيرة العقبى في شرح المجتبى»، المؤلف: محمد بن علي بن آدم الإثيوبي الوَلَّوِي، الناشر: دار المعراج الدولية للنشر - دار آل بروم للنشر والتوزيع, الطبعة الأولى, 1416- 1424. - شرح الطيبي على مشكاة المصابيح المسمى بـ (الكاشف عن حقائق السنن), شرف الدين الحسين بن عبد الله الطيبي, المحقق: د. عبد الحميد هنداوي, الناشر: مكتبة نزار مصطفى الباز - مكة المكرمة - الرياض - الطبعة: الأولى، 1417 هـ - 1997 م. - إرشاد الساري لشرح صحيح البخاري, أحمد بن محمد بن أبى بكر القسطلاني القتيبي المصري, الناشر: المطبعة الكبرى الأميرية، مصر, الطبعة: السابعة، 1323 هـ.

The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would receive ten verses from the Qur’an and not move to other verses until they learned the knowledge contained in those ten verses and acted upon it. Thus, they learned knowledge and application together.

1. The Hadīth highlights the merit of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and their keenness on learning the Qur’an.
2. The proper learning of the Qur’an is done by gaining the knowledge contained therein and acting upon it, not by merely memorizing it.
3. Knowledge precedes speech and application.

مسند أحمد (38/ 466) (23482).

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked how the Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite the Qur’an. He said: He would prolong his voice in recitation with Madd (elongation); he would extend the lām before the hā’ in the word Allāh, extend the mīm before the nūn in Ar-Rahmān, and extend the hā’ in Ar-Rahīm.

1. Madd (elongation) means fully extending the sounds of the letters of madd—alif, wāw, and yā’— when they are in a state of sukūn (silent) and preceded by a vowel that matches them.
2. Clarifying the Prophet's way in reciting the Qur’an.
3. The practical demonstration of how the Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite the Qur’an.
4. As-Sindi said: His statement (he would prolong his voice in recitation with Madd) means that he would lengthen the letters that are suitable for elongation, using this to aid in contemplation, reflection, and reminding those who take heed.
5. Importance of knowing Tajwīd (reciting the Qur’an in accordance with established rules of pronunciation and intonation) and the sciences of the Qur’an.
6. Understanding the texts is referred to the scholars, as Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked and he explained to the questioner.

صحيح البخاري (6/ 195) (5046). عمدة القاري (20/55).

Hafsah, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), was asked: How was the Prophet's (ﷺ) recitation of the Qur’an? She said: You would not be able to recite like he did. It was said to her: Tell us about it. Nāfi‘ said: Ibn Abi Mulaykah recited to us slowly to demonstrate and bring closer to them how the Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite. He recited: {All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds}, then paused, {The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful}, then paused, {Master of the Day of Judgment}.

1. Clarifying the Prophet's (ﷺ) way in reciting the Qur’an.
2. The practical demonstration of how the Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite the Qur’an.
3. The permissibility of reciting the Qur’an slowly, as it is more conducive to reflection and contemplation.
4. The devotion of the righteous predecessors to the Qur’an and to following the practice of the Prophet (ﷺ).
5. Importance of knowing Tajwīd (reciting the Qur’an in accordance with established rules of pronunciation and intonation) and the sciences of the Qur’an.

مسند أحمد (44/ 70) (26470). الفتح الرباني لترتيب مسند أحمد الشيباني (3/237).