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ETIQUETTE OF A MUSLIM WHILE RECITING THE NOBLE QUR’AN

There are external and internal manners and rules which must be observed by every person who recites the Noble Qur’an. The following are the external rules:-

1. It is highly recommended that one should perform ablution and take bath if necessary.

2. It is highly recommended to face the Qiblah while reciting the Noble Qur’an. There is no hadeeth about it but the scholars recommend it. Hence, if one is doing so it is better and there is no harm if one does not face the Qiblah while reciting it.

3. One must concentrate completely, while reciting The Noble Qur’an.

4. The intention when reciting the Noble Qur'an should be to gain the pleasure of Allah.

5. The voice should not be raised to such an extent where your recital will disturb others who are also engaged in some form of worship.

6. One must not eat or drink while reciting the Noble Qur’an.

7. If he or she feels hungry or thirsty then he or she should hold the recitation.

8. One must not mix recitation with other unimportant conversation.

9. One must read slowly, distinctly and intelligently with ones mind fixed always on meanings of the Noble Qur’an.

10. One must ask Allah’s forgiveness and His protection if one ever comes across the verses of the Hell-Fire or punishment. And similarly, if one comes across any verse of the Paradise or rewards then one must ask Allah to give him or her.

11. One must recite the following verse before reading the Noble Qur’an:
أَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
‘a-‘uo-zu bil laa-hi mi-nash- shay-taa-nir rajeem’

“I seek refuge of Allah from the accursed devil’

Then one must recite:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
‘bis-mil-laa-hir-rah-maa-nir-raheem’

“With the Name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful”

12. Others who are near the person who is reciting the Noble Qur’an must listen to him. Allah has said:

“When the Noble Qur’an is read, listen to it and remain silent so that you may receive mercy.”
[AL-‘ARAAF:CH. 7, V. 204.]

13. If a person is reciting the Noble Qur’an from the beginning of the Soorah then he or she should say:

أَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

Then one must:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

But if a person is reciting it from the middle of it then it is sufficient for him or she to say:

أَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

14. One must try to recite the Noble Qur’an with sweet and melodious voice.

The following are the internal rules of recitation of the NOBLE QUR’AN

1. One must not recite the Noble Qur’an mainly to win the competition or contest. It should be for the sake of Allah alone.
2. One must read the Noble Qur’an with a firm belief that it is the Word of Allah and that Allah is speaking with him and that an absent mind will surely be punished.

3. One must try to understand it deeply from one’s heart.

4. If one comes across any verse which has the mentioning of the sajdah, then it recommended to perform the sajdah, otherwise it is not compulsory.

SOME HADITHS OF THE PROPHET (صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ)

Narrated Ibn Abbas: Regarding His (Allah's) Statement:-- 'Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste therewith.' (75.16) And whenever Gabriel descended to Allah's Apostle with the Divine Inspiration, Allah's Apostle used to move his tongue and lips, and that used to be hard for him, and one could easily recognize that he was being inspired Divinely. So Allah revealed the Verse which occurs in the Surah starting with "I do swear by the Day of Resurrection.' (75.1) i.e. 'Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste then with. It is for Us to collect it (in your mind) (O Muhammad) and give you the ability to recite it 'by heart.' (75.16-17) which means: It is for us to collect it (in your mind) and give you the ability to recite it by heart. And when We have recited it to you (O Muhammad) through Gabriel then follow you its recital. (75.18) means: 'When We reveal it (the Qur'an) to you, Listen to it.' for then: It is for Us to explain it and make it clear to you' (75.19) i.e. It is up to Us to explain it through your tongue. So, when Gabriel came to him, Allah's Apostle would listen to him attentively, and as soon as Gabriel left, he would recite the Revelations, as Allah had promised him.
[SAHIH AL-BUKHARI: Vol. 6, Bk: 61, No. 564.]
Narrated Qatada: Anas was asked, "How was the recitation (of the Quran) of the Prophet?' He replied, "It was characterized by the prolongation of certain sounds." He then recited: In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful prolonging the pronunciation of 'In the Name of Allah, 'the most Beneficent,' and 'the Most Merciful.
[SAHIH AL-BUKHARI: Vol. 6, Bk. 61, No. 566.]

WORST QAAREE

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "There will appear some people among you whose prayer will make you look down upon yours, and whose fasting will make you look down upon yours, but they will recite the Qur'an which will not exceed their throats (they will not act on it) and they will go out of Islam as an arrow goes out through the game whereupon the archer would examine the arrowhead but see nothing, and look at the unfeathered arrow but see nothing, and look at the arrow feathers but see nothing, and finally he suspects to find something in the lower part of the arrow."
[SAHIH AL-BUKAHRI: Vol. 6, Bk. 61, No. 578.]




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