✿ Etiquettes and Sunnah Method of Reciting the Qur'an ✿
Umm al-Mu’minin Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها narrated:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite:
اَلْـحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ
Then he would pause; then
الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ, then pause again; then
مٰلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّيْنِ.
He used to stop at the end of each verse and did not join the next verse with the previous one.”
(Abu Dawood, al-Huruf wal-Qira’at, 1004 – declared authentic by al-Hakim and al-Dhahabi)
This narration has been transmitted through multiple chains and holds foundational significance in this matter. A large number of Salaf al-Salihīn (pious predecessors) used to pause at the end of every verse, even if the next verse was semantically connected. Yet, they would recite each verse individually.
This is the Sunnah method of recitation, although most Qurra (reciters) today have abandoned this style.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited the Qur'an slowly and distinctly in obedience to Allah’s command. He pronounced each letter separately, such that even a short Surah felt lengthy due to his method.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“It will be said to the memoriser of the Qur’an: Recite and ascend (in Paradise) just as you used to recite slowly in the world. Your final destination will be where your recitation ends.”
(Abu Dawood: 4641 – authenticated by Ibn Hibban and Tirmidhi in Fadā’il al-Qur’an 4/192)
Narrated from Sayyiduna Bara’ bin ‘Āzib رضي الله عنه:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Recite the Qur'an in a beautiful voice.”
(Abu Dawood, Bāb Kayfa Yustahabbu al-Tarteel fi al-Qirā’ah: 8641 – authenticated by Ibn Hibban and Ibn Khuzaymah)
Sayyiduna ‘Uqbah bin ‘Āmir رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Learn the Book of Allah, memorize it, and recite it in a beautiful voice. By the One in whose hand is my soul! The Qur’an escapes from memory faster than a tied camel when its rope is untied.”
(Darimi, Fadā’il al-Qur’an, Bāb fī Ta‘āhud al-Qur’an: 2533, and Musnad Ahmad 4/641, 20540)
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said: “A memoriser of the Qur’an retains it as long as he continuously recites it day and night. If he abandons recitation, he forgets it.”
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Salat, Bāb Fadā’il al-Qur’an, al-Amr bi Ta‘āhudi al-Qur’an: 798)
The Prophet of Mercy ﷺ said:
“Allah has not listened to anything with as much attention as He listens to a prophet reciting the Qur’an in a beautiful voice.”
(Sahih Bukhari, Fadā’il al-Qur’an, Bāb Man Lam Yataghanna bi al-Qur’an: 5023; Muslim: 793)
◈ Etiquettes of Reciting the Noble Qur'an
❀ Pausing at Each Verse During Recitation
Umm al-Mu’minin Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها narrated:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite:
اَلْـحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ
Then he would pause; then
الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ, then pause again; then
مٰلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّيْنِ.
He used to stop at the end of each verse and did not join the next verse with the previous one.”
(Abu Dawood, al-Huruf wal-Qira’at, 1004 – declared authentic by al-Hakim and al-Dhahabi)
This narration has been transmitted through multiple chains and holds foundational significance in this matter. A large number of Salaf al-Salihīn (pious predecessors) used to pause at the end of every verse, even if the next verse was semantically connected. Yet, they would recite each verse individually.
This is the Sunnah method of recitation, although most Qurra (reciters) today have abandoned this style.◈ Command to Recite the Qur’an Slowly and Clearly
❀ Slow and Deliberate Recitation
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited the Qur'an slowly and distinctly in obedience to Allah’s command. He pronounced each letter separately, such that even a short Surah felt lengthy due to his method.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“It will be said to the memoriser of the Qur’an: Recite and ascend (in Paradise) just as you used to recite slowly in the world. Your final destination will be where your recitation ends.”
(Abu Dawood: 4641 – authenticated by Ibn Hibban and Tirmidhi in Fadā’il al-Qur’an 4/192)
◈ Emphasis on Reciting the Qur’an Melodiously
❀ Recitation in a Beautiful Voice
Narrated from Sayyiduna Bara’ bin ‘Āzib رضي الله عنه:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Recite the Qur'an in a beautiful voice.”
(Abu Dawood, Bāb Kayfa Yustahabbu al-Tarteel fi al-Qirā’ah: 8641 – authenticated by Ibn Hibban and Ibn Khuzaymah)
◈ Importance of Memorising and Reciting with Melody
❀ Preserving the Qur’an and Beautifying the Recitation
Sayyiduna ‘Uqbah bin ‘Āmir رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Learn the Book of Allah, memorize it, and recite it in a beautiful voice. By the One in whose hand is my soul! The Qur’an escapes from memory faster than a tied camel when its rope is untied.”
(Darimi, Fadā’il al-Qur’an, Bāb fī Ta‘āhud al-Qur’an: 2533, and Musnad Ahmad 4/641, 20540)
◈ Consistent Recitation Aids Memorisation
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said: “A memoriser of the Qur’an retains it as long as he continuously recites it day and night. If he abandons recitation, he forgets it.”
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Salat, Bāb Fadā’il al-Qur’an, al-Amr bi Ta‘āhudi al-Qur’an: 798)
◈ Allah Loves to Hear the Qur’an Recited Beautifully
The Prophet of Mercy ﷺ said:
“Allah has not listened to anything with as much attention as He listens to a prophet reciting the Qur’an in a beautiful voice.”
(Sahih Bukhari, Fadā’il al-Qur’an, Bāb Man Lam Yataghanna bi al-Qur’an: 5023; Muslim: 793)
