Ruling on Imitating Others When Reciting the Quran

28-2-2019 | IslamWeb

Question:

Asalam u aliekum warahmattulahi wabarakathu. Is it necessary for a person to follow the words of Quran with his / her finger (if yes, which one?) while reading it ? And also how to beautify the recitation of Quran ? I had try to copy many Reciters (Qaris) but when i opens Mushaf next day or after some time i forget the tune of that particular reciter. Please give some suggestion. JazakalAllah u khairan
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

It is not obligatory to follow the words of the Quran with the finger when reading from the Mus-haf.

Reciting with a beautiful voice is by recitating with a melodious voice when reciting the Quran. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Whoever does not recite the Quran in a melodious voice is not one of us.” [Al-Bukhari]

As for imitating the voice of some reciters, then it is better for you to recite in your own voice without burdening yourself to imitate anyone. It could be that your voice is better than the voice of the one whom you try to imitate.

Additionally, the scholars differed in opinion about the ruling on imitating the voice of reciters. Some of them are of the view that it is permissible, as stated by Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen may Allaah have mercy upon him when he was asked about the ruling on imitating some imams when reciting the Quran; he replied: “This is acceptable if the person who imitates has a good voice and recites properly; this is acceptable.”

However, some other scholars believe that it is not legislated (i.e., disliked) as stated by Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd may Allaah have mercy upon him as he said:

“It is not known that anyone has ever sought to get closer to Allah by the virtue of imitating the voice of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) or the voice one of his companions, or the voice of anyone who came after them, and so on. This is evidence that this imitation is not legislated.” [End of quote]

Therefore, we advise you to be keen on reciting the Book of Allah while trying to recite in a melodious voice and gradually improve your voice tone without overburdening yourself by imitating anyone of the reciters.

Allah knows best.

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