Ruling on Reciting the Qur'an Without Moving the Lips
❀ Source: Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ-e-Ḥadīth, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Volume 1
✔ Recitation of the Qur'an
✔ Dhikr: “Subḥān Allāh”, “Al-ḥamdu lillāh”, “Lā ilāha illā Allāh”
✔ Morning and evening supplications
✔ Supplications upon sleeping and entering the restroom
—it is necessary to move the tongue. These acts cannot be fulfilled merely by intention in the heart.
What is the ruling on a person who, during recitation in prayer, does not move his tongue, nor does he make any sound that he or another can hear?
He replied:
“This is not recitation. Recitation is that for which the tongue is moved.”
(al-Bayān wa al-Taḥṣīl: 1/490)
“Recitation is not possible without the movement of the tongue. For instance:
This explanation makes it clear that merely looking at or pondering the text does not constitute recitation.
✔ A person in a state of major impurity (junub) is prohibited from reciting the Qur'an verbally, but he is permitted to look at the Muṣḥaf and read it in his heart.
✔ This ruling indicates that recitation without tongue movement is not considered valid recitation.
(al-Majmūʿ: 2/187-189)
“Is it necessary to move the tongue for the recitation of the Qur'an in prayer, or is it enough to read in the heart?”
He replied:
“Recitation must be done with the tongue. If someone reads the Qur'an in the heart during prayer, it is not sufficient. Similarly, other forms of dhikr cannot be performed in the heart alone. Movement of the tongue and lips is essential because these are statements, and statements cannot be fulfilled without tongue and lip movement.”
(Majmūʿ Fatāwā Ibn ʿUthaymīn: 13/156)
For the recitation of the Qur'an, it is necessary to move the tongue and articulate the words.
Recitation without moving the lips is not valid recitation, and no reward of recitation will be attained.
However, reading in the heart or reflecting upon the meaning will earn the reward of reflection, not of recitation.
جزاکم اللہ خیرا۔
❀ Source: Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ-e-Ḥadīth, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Volume 1
❀ Question:
Will one receive a reward for reciting the Noble Qur'an without moving the lips?❀ Answer:
Reciting the Noble Qur'an without moving the lips does not fall under the category of qirāʾah (recitation), and therefore no reward of recitation will be granted for it. Such an act is essentially considered reflection (tadabbur), for which there is a reward of reflection, but not of recitation.❀ Necessity of Tongue Movement:
For those acts of worship and remembrances that are associated with the tongue—such as:✔ Recitation of the Qur'an
✔ Dhikr: “Subḥān Allāh”, “Al-ḥamdu lillāh”, “Lā ilāha illā Allāh”
✔ Morning and evening supplications
✔ Supplications upon sleeping and entering the restroom
—it is necessary to move the tongue. These acts cannot be fulfilled merely by intention in the heart.
❀ Statement of Imām Mālik (رحمه الله):
Imām Mālik (رحمه الله) was asked:What is the ruling on a person who, during recitation in prayer, does not move his tongue, nor does he make any sound that he or another can hear?
He replied:
“This is not recitation. Recitation is that for which the tongue is moved.”
(al-Bayān wa al-Taḥṣīl: 1/490)
❀ Statement of Imām al-Kāsānī (رحمه الله):
Imām al-Kāsānī (رحمه الله) stated:“Recitation is not possible without the movement of the tongue. For instance:
- If a person offering prayer does not move the tongue to articulate the letters, his prayer is invalid.
- If someone swears that he will not recite a sūrah of the Qur'an, but he merely looks at it and understands it without moving his tongue, his oath will not be broken.”
This explanation makes it clear that merely looking at or pondering the text does not constitute recitation.
❀ Clarifications from the Scholars:
According to the scholars:✔ A person in a state of major impurity (junub) is prohibited from reciting the Qur'an verbally, but he is permitted to look at the Muṣḥaf and read it in his heart.
✔ This ruling indicates that recitation without tongue movement is not considered valid recitation.
(al-Majmūʿ: 2/187-189)
❀ Fatwa of Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn (رحمه الله):
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn (رحمه الله) was asked:“Is it necessary to move the tongue for the recitation of the Qur'an in prayer, or is it enough to read in the heart?”
He replied:
“Recitation must be done with the tongue. If someone reads the Qur'an in the heart during prayer, it is not sufficient. Similarly, other forms of dhikr cannot be performed in the heart alone. Movement of the tongue and lips is essential because these are statements, and statements cannot be fulfilled without tongue and lip movement.”
(Majmūʿ Fatāwā Ibn ʿUthaymīn: 13/156)
❀Summary:
For the recitation of the Qur'an, it is necessary to move the tongue and articulate the words. Recitation without moving the lips is not valid recitation, and no reward of recitation will be attained. However, reading in the heart or reflecting upon the meaning will earn the reward of reflection, not of recitation.جزاکم اللہ خیرا۔
