How should I recite and sit with the Qurʾan?
The scholars distinguished between recitation that moves the tongue and recitation that moves the heart. Here is how they taught the second.
10 passages from 6 books in the library
The classical scholars distinguished between recitation that merely moves the tongue and recitation that moves the heart, urging the second. Al-Ghazali teaches that the proper manner is tartīl, a slow and measured recitation, because the objective is reflection and understanding, not speed. He criticizes the heedless reciter and praises pausing between verses, as is recorded of Abu Hurayra. Beautifying the recitation, honoring the Book, frequent reading, and joining recitation to the study of its meanings are all part of sitting rightly with the Qurʾan.
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 6 books by Imam al-Ghazali — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"is Tartail, which is a slow, measured recitation of the Quran, because the objective of recitation"
-
"recitation of the entire Quran. He also said, Reciting when the earth is shaken in the striking"
-
"and reciting the Quran. In criticism of the recitation of the heedless, Anas ibn Malik"
-
"not understand it, was authenticated by al-Tirmidhi. When she heard a man reciting the Quran in a"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"Reading the Quran when impure is atoned for by honoring the Quran, frequent recitation,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"recitation of the Quran. In the two sahihs from Abu Huraira it is noted that he would pause between"
-
"not joining recitation too closely to the opening takbir nor the bowing to recitation. Two for the"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"This includes the embellishing of recitation in the Quran and the call to prayer, meticulousness"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"in the recitation and interpretation of the Quran and the study of hadiths and their meanings."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"so I start the recitation of the Quran, and by morning I still have not satisfied my longing."
Want a different angle?
Type your question below — JM Scholar will ground its answer in the same sources.