Qur'an reading
Encyclopedia
Qur'an reading is the reading (tarteel
, tajwid
, or taghbir) aloud, reciting
, or chanting of portions of the Qur'an
. The reciter is called a muqri' , tālī, murattil, mujawwid, or most commonly a qari. (Touma 1996, p.153-154)
Recitation should be done according to rules of pronunciation
, intonation
, and caesura
s established by the Islamic prophet Muhammad
, though first recorded in the eighth century CE. The most popular reading is that of Hafs on the authority of `asim. Similarly, each melodic passage centers on a single tone level, but the melodic contour and melodic passages are largely shaped by the reading rules, creating passages of different lengths whose temporal expansion is defined through caesuras. Skilled readers may read professionally for mosque
s in cities.
The Qur'an is marked with twenty-six symbols, circles, rectangles, dashes and letters, some in color. These are written above, below, or beside the letters of the alphabet. They indicate the pronunciation of consonant
s, whether the blending of neighboring or adjacent consonants is allowed, and where recitation pause
s and caesuras are forbidden and possible (ibid, p. 155).
In this last respect their function is analogous to that of Biblical cantillation
marks, but unlike these they do not constitute a word-for-word notation of musical motifs.
There are 7 Mutawatir (a transmission which has independent chains of authorities so wide as to rule out the possibility of any error and on which there is consensus) ways of reading (or Qira'at
) and 3 Mashhur (these are slightly less wide in their transmission, but still so wide as to make error highly unlikely) as listed below:
Mutawalatir
Mashhur
However, the most common is Hafs on the authority of 'Asim, which have been used all over the world of Islam
.
Tarteel
Tarteel is an Arabic term that is wide in meaning but is commonly translated in reference to the Qur'an as "recitation." It can also be translated as "in proper order" and "with no haste."This word is used in sura Muzzammil, verse 4 of the Qur'an:...
, tajwid
Tajwid
Tajwīd is an Arabic word for elocution, meaning proper pronunciation during recitation, as well as recitation at a moderate speed. It is a set of rules which govern how the Qur'an should be read. It is derived from the triliteral root , meaning to make well, make better, or improve. It is...
, or taghbir) aloud, reciting
Recitation
A recitation is a presentation made by a student to demonstrate knowledge of a subject or to provide instruction to others. In some academic institutions the term is used for a presentation by a teaching assistant or instructor, under the guidance of a senior faculty member, that supplements...
, or chanting of portions of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
. The reciter is called a muqri' , tālī, murattil, mujawwid, or most commonly a qari. (Touma 1996, p.153-154)
Recitation should be done according to rules of pronunciation
Pronunciation
Pronunciation refers to the way a word or a language is spoken, or the manner in which someone utters a word. If one is said to have "correct pronunciation", then it refers to both within a particular dialect....
, intonation
Intonation (linguistics)
In linguistics, intonation is variation of pitch while speaking which is not used to distinguish words. It contrasts with tone, in which pitch variation does distinguish words. Intonation, rhythm, and stress are the three main elements of linguistic prosody...
, and caesura
Caesura
thumb|100px|An example of a caesura in modern western music notation.In meter, a caesura is a complete pause in a line of poetry or in a musical composition. The plural form of caesura is caesuras or caesurae...
s established by the Islamic prophet Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
, though first recorded in the eighth century CE. The most popular reading is that of Hafs on the authority of `asim. Similarly, each melodic passage centers on a single tone level, but the melodic contour and melodic passages are largely shaped by the reading rules, creating passages of different lengths whose temporal expansion is defined through caesuras. Skilled readers may read professionally for mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
s in cities.
The Qur'an is marked with twenty-six symbols, circles, rectangles, dashes and letters, some in color. These are written above, below, or beside the letters of the alphabet. They indicate the pronunciation of consonant
Consonant
In articulatory phonetics, a consonant is a speech sound that is articulated with complete or partial closure of the vocal tract. Examples are , pronounced with the lips; , pronounced with the front of the tongue; , pronounced with the back of the tongue; , pronounced in the throat; and ,...
s, whether the blending of neighboring or adjacent consonants is allowed, and where recitation pause
Pause
Pause may refer to a rest, hesitation, or temporary stop.Examples:* Fermata, a musical pause of indefinite duration* Pause key, the Pause/Break key on computer keyboards...
s and caesuras are forbidden and possible (ibid, p. 155).
In this last respect their function is analogous to that of Biblical cantillation
Cantillation
Cantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...
marks, but unlike these they do not constitute a word-for-word notation of musical motifs.
Ways of recitation
Qira'at
In Islam, Qira'at, which means literally the readings, terminologically means the method of recitation. Traditionally, there are 10 recognised schools of qira'at, and each one derives its name from a famous reader of Qur'an recitation....
) and 3 Mashhur (these are slightly less wide in their transmission, but still so wide as to make error highly unlikely) as listed below:
Mutawalatir
- Nafi' (d. 169/785)
- Ibn Kathir (d. 120/737)
- Abu 'Amr ibn al-'Ala'Abu 'Amr ibn al-'Ala'Abu 'Amr ibn al-'Ala' al-Basri was the qari' of Basra, Iraq and an Arab linguist.He was the teacher of Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi and Yunus ibn Habib. He died in Kufa....
(d. 154/770) - Ibn 'Amir (d. 154/762)
- 'Asim (d. 127/744)
- Hamza (d. 156/772)
- al-Kisa'i (d. 189/904)
Mashhur
- Abu Ja'far (d. 130/747)
- Ya'qub (d. 205/820)
- Khalaf (d. 229/843)
However, the most common is Hafs on the authority of 'Asim, which have been used all over the world of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
See also
- Khutbah
- Torah readingTorah readingTorah reading is a Jewish religious ritual that involves the public reading of a set of passages from a Torah scroll. The term often refers to the entire ceremony of removing the Torah scroll from the ark, chanting the appropriate excerpt with special cantillation, and returning the scroll to...
and cantillationCantillationCantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...
in Judaism - SermonSermonA sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts...
, in Christianity - Bible study (Christian)Bible study (Christian)In Christianity, Bible study is the study of the Bible by ordinary people as a personal religious or spiritual practice. Some denominations may call this devotion or devotional acts; however in other denominations devotion has other meanings...
, private or small group reading predominantly in Protestant Christianity
Further reading
- Habib Hassan Touma (1996). The Music of the Arabs, trans. Laurie Schwartz. Portland, Oregon: Amadeus Press. ISBN 0-931340-88-8.
Learning to read online
Recently there is a growing trend to learn 'Quran Reading' via Internet. Most of these online Quran academies have their tutors based in developing countries and the students are from North America, Australia and EU countries. Examples;- Learn Quran Reading Online http://www.quranfocus.com/
- Read Quran Online http://www.learningquranonline.com/
External links
- Read Quran Online Online Version of Holy Quran
- Learn Quran Reading With Tajweed Learn to Read Holy Quran
- http://www.http://quraniclanguage.comlearn in hindi and english language word by word