Singing The Qur’an?
Author: Imaam ‘Abdul ‘Azeez Bin Baaz (rahimahullah)
Source: Majmoo’ Al-Fataawah by Imaam ‘Abdul ‘Azeez Bin Baaz (rahimahullah)
Translator: Abu ‘Abdis Salaam Siddiq Al Juyaanee
Q: What does your eminence say about a reciter of the Qur’an who recites according to the rules and the Musical Methods, which resembles and is in fact taken from the Musical Modes of the singers/musicians? Please benefit us may Allah bless you.
A: It is not permissible for a Muslim to recite the Qur’an according to (the rules of) musical melodies. Rather, it is incumbent that they recite it in the same manner that our Salafus Saalih (Righteous Processors) from the Companions of the Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), and those who followed them in good used to recite it. So recite with Tarteel (applying the rules of Tajweed), somberly, and fearfully so the hearts of the listeners and the reciter himself are affected. However, as far as reciting (The Qur’an) according to the ways and rules of the singers and musicians, THIS IS NOT PERMISSIBLE [1].
[1] 1- Imaam Ahmad (rahimahullah)
Hanbal reports: Abû ‘Abdillâh (Imâm Ahmad) (rahimahullah) used to detest this innovated recitation which is called Al-Alhân (melodious, musical recitation).
And it is reported that Imaam Ahmad (rahimahullah) said:
“This innovated recitation which is called Al-Alhân, I detest it.”
He was very strict against it. He said,
“I believe it resembles singing, and the Qur’an is to be preserved from this.”
2- Imaam Mâlik (rahimahullah)
Imaam Mâlik (rahimahullah) said:
“I do not like reciting in melodies, neither in Ramadan nor at other times, because it resembles singing, and it causes the Qur’an to be laughed at. It is said ‘this person is a better reciter than that person (the Qur’an becomes the subject of rivalry and entertainment).
It has reached me that the slave-girls are taught to recite like this as they are taught how to sing. Do you think this was the way Allâh’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to recite?”
[Al-Qayrawânî, Kitâb Al-Jâmi’ p166.]
3- Imaam Ibn Al-Jawzî (rahimahullah)
Imaam Ibn Al-Jawzî (rahimahullah) states:
"Know that melodious musical recitation (Al-Alhân) is detested for a number of reasons, amongst others: [its reciters] merge letters that are not supposed to be merged, they extend vowels (madd) where there should be no extension, and they omit the hamzah and the doubling of consonants (tashdîd) just in order to preserve the melody. Also, this kind of recitation causes people to get emotionally carried away (al-tarb) and it distracts people from pondering the Qur’an."
[Ibn Al-Jawzî, Al-Qussâs wa Al-Mudhakkirîn p335.]
