Stopping at Every Verse During Recitation

Authored by: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (Hafizahullah)

Question:

What is the Sunnah method of recitation? Is it necessary to stop at every verse?

Answer:

The Sunnah and most virtuous way of reciting the Qur'an is to pause at the end of each verse during recitation. It was the practice of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to stop at the end of every verse while reciting.

Sayyidah Umm Salamah (رضی اللہ عنہا) narrates:

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُقَطِّعُ قِرَاءَتَهُ...

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would recite verse by verse, pausing after:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ, then he would stop;
الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ, then he would stop.

– [Tirmidhi, Chapter on Recitation, Hadith 2927; Ahmad 2/302; Hakim 1/22; Ibn Khuzaymah 1/247; Bayhaqi 2/44; Darqutni 1/313; Tahawi 1/138]
Imam Hakim (رحمہ اللہ) graded this narration as authentic according to the criteria of Bukhari and Muslim. Imam Darqutni (رحمہ اللہ) declared it as having a sound chain of narration, and Imam Nawawi (رحمہ اللہ) also deemed it authentic.
[Al-Majmu', 3/333]

The narration explicitly highlights that the Prophet (ﷺ) would recite each verse distinctly. For instance, after reciting بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ, he would pause before proceeding to the next verse.

The View of Scholars on Pausing at Verses

Imam Suyuti (رحمہ اللہ) stated:

قَالَ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي الشُّعَبِ...

“Imam Bayhaqi (رحمہ اللہ) and other scholars mentioned that pausing at every verse is better as it aligns with the guidance and Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).”
[Al-Itqan, p. 122]
Imam Abu Umar Al-Rawaafi (رحمہ اللہ) remarked:

وَقَدْ كَانَ جَمَاعَةٌ...

“A group of Salaf and virtuous reciters from among the Imams preferred stopping at the end of each verse.”
[Irwa' Al-Ghaleel, 2/62]

Conclusion

The above explanations make it evident that whether one is leading the prayer or reciting individually, it is preferable to stop at the end of each verse during recitation. This method is considered the most virtuous and in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ).
 
Back
Top