The Quran is the final revelation from Allah Almighty to all mankind. It is not merely a book to refer to occasionally. It is the greatest foundational source of guidance and wisdom that will be valid for people till the end of time. In the Quran, there are answers to all questions of man. So reading the Quran is not simply about the correct pronunciation of the Quranic verses; it is a continuous journey of reasoning, reflection, transformation, and connection to God.
In this article, we will discuss the oral tradition concept of the Quran, and why reading the Quran correctly is very important to all Muslims and even to non-Muslims who wish to learn about Islam. We will also tackle the main types of Quran recitation and the rewards that a Muslim can expect from reading the Quran. Finally, we will talk, in some detail, about how to get better at reading the Quran.
Table of Contents
Meaning of Reading the Quran
Reading the Quran is more than just pronunciation; it’s a profound journey of reflection and personal growth. It serves as a timeless source of divine wisdom and guidance, providing answers to life’s questions and helping believers connect deeply with their Creator. By immersing oneself in its teachings, one finds spiritual transformation and a continuous path to inner peace.
Traditionally passed down orally, the Quran’s recitation preserves its authenticity and reinforces its significance in the hearts of millions. Through this practice, believers not only uphold a sacred tradition but also experience a profound spiritual connection and tranquility. This act of devotion cultivates a closer relationship with God and enriches one’s faith.
Quran As An Oral Transmission Reading Tradition
In essence, the Quran is an ORAL revelation. It was revealed from Allah to Angel Gabriel to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to all mankind through the oral form. Writing down the Quran was a later supplementary stage done to reinforce its preservation. However, the original form of the Quran is the oral one.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) got the Quran from Angel Gabriel and passed it to his companions in exactly the same way he heard it from Angel Gabriel. The Quran was revealed over a period of 23 years. The companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) used to memorize the Quranic verses, reciting it in exactly the same way they heard it from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This is the way the Quran has passed from one generation to another, and it will be always passed through this way till the end of time.
The very word “قرآن” (Quran) means, in Arabic, that it is to be read and recited rather than written down. The word قرآن is from the verb قرأ which means “to read” or “to recite”. So the very word “Quran” emphasizes the importance of reading the book of Allah.
That’s why if all the written scriptures on Earth, including the scriptures of other religions, vanished overnight, the only book that can be fully restored to its written form within less than one day is the Quran. The reason is that the Quran is the only book in the world that is fully memorized and kept in the hearts of millions and millions of people around the world. Therefore, reading it is so important for all Muslims.
Types Of Reading The Quran
There are mainly 2 types (levels) of reading the Quran: Beginner and advanced.
These 2 levels are explained in the following Hadith by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
“The one who is proficient in the recitation of the Quran will be with the honorable and obedient scribes (angels) and he who recites the Quran and finds it difficult to recite, doing his best to recite it in the best way possible, will have two rewards.”
.”الذي يقرأ القرآن وهو ماهر به مع السفرة الكرام البررة، والذي يقرأ القرآن ويتتعتع فيه وهو عليه شاق له أجران”
This Hadith clarifies that there are 2 types of people reciting the Quran:
1- An advanced reciter:
Who knows and follows Tajweed rules? This person makes Tilawah (تِلاَوَة) which means pronouncing the Quranic words and verses accurately and following the rules of Tajweed. The reward for this type of recitation is that he/she will be with the noble angels.
2- A beginner Reciter
Who tries to read the Quran, but with difficulty. The reward for this person is doubled. That is the reward for reading the Quran and the reward for being persistent in reading it even though it is hard for him/her.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) makes it clear that no matter how fluent or literate you are with Tilawah and Tajweed rules, all Muslims should read the Quran and do their best to be better at reciting it. That’s the main mission of the Quran: to be read, understood, and followed.
How To Get Better At Reading The Quran
In Islam, the act of accurately and consistently reading the verses of the Quran is known as “Tilawah” (تِلاَوَة). It takes more than just reading to guarantee that the Quran is pronounced and communicated correctly; it also entails adhering to certain rules and standards. There are some steps that you can do to make your reading better. For example, you can:
1- Learn Basic Arabic Grammar:
The Quran was revealed in Arabic language.
Allah says:
“Certainly, We have made it a Quran in Arabic so perhaps you will understand.”
“إِنَّا جَعَلْنَـٰهُ قُرْءَٰنًا عَرَبِيًّۭا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ”
That’s why it is very important to learn Arabic grammar, especially the basics. When you learn it, reading the Quran fluently will be much easier for you. You can join one of our Arabic courses at Riwaq Al Quran. You can even try the course you like for free. There is a dedicated course for Arabic grammar at Riwaq Al Quran, for which you can easily sign up.
2- Learn Tajweed:
Tilawah is to recite the Arabic words of the Quran with proper pronunciation and articulation. This entails following the rules of Tajweed, which govern the correct pronunciation of every word, as well as proper emphasis, and stopping points. You can enroll in one of our online Tajweed classes at Riwaq Al Quran to learn the basics to be able to recite the Quran as it was originally revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
3- Focus On Places Of Articulation:
In Tajweed, “places of articulation” (in Arabic: مخارج الحروف) refers to the specific places in the vocal tract where the different Arabic letters are produced. This involves the correct use of the articulators (tongue, teeth, lips, and glottis). This refers to where in the mouth is a specific sound made.
In Arabic, there is a big difference between pronouncing the letters ق and ك as well as the letters س and ص. This is not the case in Latin languages like English for example. That’s why learning about places of articulation needs to be done with the help of a well-versed Tajweed mentor who can guide you until you are able to properly differentiate between the close vocal sounds. At Riwaq Al Quran, we have many experienced Quran instructors who can help you a lot. You can check them here.
4- Listen To Qualified Reciters:
Make it a daily habit to listen to well-known Quran reciters who are renowned for their precise and elegant recitations. Take note of their pace and pronunciation. Recommended reciters to listen to are Shaikh Al Hossary and Shaikh Al Minshawy.
5- Practice Regularly:
Listen to well-known Quran reciters and repeat after them while you imitate how they pronounce each word. This will greatly help you improve your pronunciation.
Set aside dedicated time each day to recite the Quran this way with focus.
6- Spot Areas For Improvement:
Identify challenging points where you often struggle, whether it’s pronunciation, Tajweed rules, etc. Then, dedicate practice time to specifically address those areas.
7- Record Yourself:
A good way to spot your areas of improvement is to record yourself while reciting the Quran. After recording, just listen back and spot how well or badly have you recited that specific part. Repeat to deal with these challenges until you are satisfied with your level of Tilawah. This is a beneficial self-assessment tool.
8- Seek Feedback And Correction:
Find a Quran teacher who can provide guidance and feedback on your recitation and help you correct any mistakes. Remember the point that we have established that the Quran is an oral tradition in the first place; just like Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) listened to it from Angel Gabriel, you need to listen to an experienced Quran instructor and then repeat after him/her. Then, they can correct your mistakes. That’s how reciting the Quran is perfected. At Riwaq Al Quran, many highly qualified Quran mentors can help you.
9- Start Slow:
Take your time. Recite slowly at first, paying attention to Tajweed rules and correct pronunciation. Then, you can increase your pace gradually as your fluency gets better.
In this context, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“The religion is ease, but if anyone overdoes it, it gets the better of him; so keep to the right course, approximate to perfection, rejoice, and ask help in the morning, the evening, and some of the latter part of the night.”
«إِنَّ الدِّينَ يُسْرٌ وَلَنْ يُشَادَّ الدِّينَ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا غَلَبَهُ فَسَدِّدُوا وَقَارِبُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالْغَدْوَةِ وَالرَّوْحَةِ وَشَيْءٍ مِنَ الدُّلْجَةِ»
In this Hadith, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) tells Muslims to take things easy and gradually so that they do not get overwhelmed, for instance, by reading the Quran too much or trying to perfect it too quickly.
For example, if you perfect the pronunciation of the Arabic word “فرعون” (Pharaoh), this means you perfect 1 and a half pages of the Quran; that’s where the word “فرعون” is repeated in the entire Quran.
10- Understand The Meaning:
Your recitation of the Quran will improve massively if you can relate to its meaning. To understand the meaning of the verses you are reciting, read Tafseer of the part you intend to read and then read that part. You will see that your recitation is much easier after you realize the meaning. You can join our online Tafseer course at Riwaq Al Quran to get all the help you need.
11- Pray:
Last and most importantly, pray to Allah to make reading the Quran an easy task for you.
Allah says in the Quran:
“As for those who struggle in Our cause, We will surely guide them along Our Way. And Allah is certainly with the good-doers.”
“وَٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ”
In this verse, Allah confirms that whoever tries his best to get closer to Allah, through any kind of worship, Allah will surely guide him/her.
What Are The Rewards Of Reciting The Quran?
Being a form of worship in Islam, reciting the Quran has so many benefits which contribute to a believer’s comfort, well-being, tranquility, and connection with Allah, both in this worldly life and in the hereafter. These benefits include:
1- Reading The Quran Makes You A Better Muslim Who Is Closer To Allah:
The Quran is Allah’s direct word. So reading it automatically makes you more connected to the Author (Allah). In addition, it gives you spiritual strength and tranquility.
In this context, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“The example of him (a believer) who recites the Quran is like that of a citron which tastes good and smells good. And he (a believer) who does not recite the Quran is like a date which is good in taste but has no smell. The example of a dissolute wicked person who recites the Quran is like the Raihana (sweet basil) which smells good but tastes bitter. The example of a dissolute wicked person who does not recite the Quran is like the colocynth which tastes bitter and has no smell.”
“مَثَلُ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَالأُتْرُجَّةِ طَعْمُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَرِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَالَّذِي لاَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَالتَّمْرَةِ طَعْمُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَلاَ رِيحَ لَهَا، وَمَثَلُ الْفَاجِرِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الرَّيْحَانَةِ رِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَطَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ، وَمَثَلُ الْفَاجِرِ الَّذِي لاَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الْحَنْظَلَةِ طَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ وَلاَ رِيحَ لَهَا”
This Hadith urges all Muslims to read the Quran so that they are both internally and externally better. Unlike other people, a believer’s faith is within his/her heart, and the fruit of this faith is shown when he/she recites the Quran.
2- Intercession On The Day Of Judgement:
On the Day of Judgement, the Quran will intercede in front of Allah for those who used to recite it regularly. This is evident in the following Hadith by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
“Fasting and the Quran intercede for a man. Fasting says, ‘O my Lord, I have kept him away from his food and his passions by day, so accept my intercession for him.’ The Quran says, ‘I have kept him away from sleep by night, so accept my intercession for him.’ Then their intercession is accepted.”
“الصِّيَامُ وَالْقُرْآنُ يَشْفَعَانِ لِلْعَبْدِ، يَقُولُ الصِّيَامُ: أَيْ رَبِّ إِنِّي مَنَعْتُهُ الطَّعَامَ وَالشَّهَوَاتِ بِالنَّهَارِ فَشَفِّعْنِي فِيهِ، وَيَقُولُ الْقُرْآنُ: مَنَعْتُهُ النُّوْمَ بِاللَّيْلِ فَشَفِّعْنِي فِيهِ، فيشفعان”.
In this Hadith, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encourages Muslims to read the Quran as it will intercede for them on the Day of Judgement.
3- Multiplied Good Deeds:
For Muslims, it is well established that reading the Quran is a form of worship and that reading one letter of the Quran brings a tenfold reward and Allah multiplies the reward to whomever He wishes. This is explained in the following Hadith by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
“If anyone recites a letter of God’s Book he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a tenfold reward (Quran, 6:160). I do not say that A.L.M is one letter*, but alif is a letter, lām is a letter and mīm is a letter.”
“مَنْ قَرَأَ حَرْفًا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَلَهُ بِهِ حَسَنَةٌ وَالْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا لَا أَقُولُ: آلم حَرْفٌ. أَلْفٌ حَرْفٌ وَلَامٌ حَرْفٌ وَمِيمٌ حَرْفٌ”.
In this Hadith, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) says that reciting a single letter of the Quran, gives the person a good deed and this deed can be multiplied as much as Allah wishes.
4- Quran As A Source Of Tranquility And Peace Of Mind:
Being the final revelation of Allah to guide mankind, the Quran provides any Muslim who reads it, or even listens to it, with comfort, inner peace, and hope in times of hardship. This is very clear in the Quran itself:
“Those who believe and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort.”
“ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ”
This verse makes it clear that all kinds of remembrance of Allah, including reading and listening to the Quran, give the person’s heart comfort and tranquility.
Learn Quran, Arabic, And Islamic Studies Online With The Best Native Tutors
Riwaq Al Quran is a comprehensive online platform that offers personalized Quran, Arabic and Islamic Studies Online classes for individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
Their experienced instructors use a structured curriculum to cover Tajweed, Tafsir, and Memorization, providing easy and effective access to learning the Quran.
The advanced online classes allow for seamless communication and interaction between students and teachers. Join Riwaq Al Quran for a deeper connection with the Quran.
We offer several courses such as:
- Online courses for kids.
- Online Quran classes for kids and adults.
- Online Arabic courses
- Online Ijazah courses
- Online Islamic Studies courses.
Here are a sample of our set of Quran Courses that will be helpful for you:
- Online Tafseer Course: Delve into Quranic meanings with our insightful online Tafseer course.
- Noorani Qaida Online: Learn Quranic basics efficiently through our Noorani Qaida online program.
- Online Quran Recitation Course: Enhance Quranic recitation skills through our expert-led online course.
- Online Tajweed Classes: Master Tajweed rules for beautiful Quranic recitation in online classes.
- Quran Memorization Online Course: Memorize the Quran effectively with our specialized online memorization course.
- Online Qirat Course: Explore diverse Qirat styles with our comprehensive online Qirat course.
- Online Quran Classes for Kids: Nurture a love for the Quran in kids through interactive online classes.
Conclusion:
Remember that the Quran is the final divine guidance for all mankind till the end of time. It is the compass (or the GPS tool) that shows us the shortest way to get to our final destination (Jannah, hopefully). So if you cannot memorize it, you NEED to read it regularly to ensure you are on the right path that ends up in Jannah. Reciting the Quran should be a way to connect with Allah. Approach it with sincerity and focus on the beauty of the words and the meanings. Don’t forget that improvement always takes time and dedication. Be patient with yourself and enjoy the journey of refining your recitation.
