question on qirat

[ZebunNissa]

Salam to all.  Is the word "qirat" and its practice mentioned in the Quran?

[Ruhi_Rose]

Walaykum As-Salam.  This word is not in the Quran to the best of my knowledge.   Qirat (قراءات) or Qirah (قراءة) is an Arabic word which means recitation of the Quran, and 'Qari' is a person who recites the Quran.

However, Verse 73:4 of Surah Al-Muzzamil states:

وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا (warattili al-Qurana tartīlan)  =  "and recite the Qur'an with measured recitation."  73:4  Al-Muzzamil.

But this does not refer to the kind of qirat we hear from our qaris, sometimes too loud or too slow or too much emphasis on certain words, too little emphasis on some words or making it too 'musical' to keep up a certain style of chant etc.   All that is more like singing and many of them do not understand much of what they recite.   In fact, the tradition of qirat emphasizes least on understanding the Quran particularly when one is attending a "qirat competition."  Verse 73:4 highlights that the Quran must be recited calmly and clearly with the correct pauses.  Thus, dialectical marks have been inserted in the written copies of the Quran to help make reading  better.  By the way, being loud in worship is also not liked by The Almighty which He has stated:  "And be not loud-voiced in your worship nor yet silent therein, but follow a way between."  17:110  Al-Isra.

Quoting the interpretation of A.A. Maududi of V.73:4:

"Do not recite it quickly and in haste, but slowly and distinctly: pause at every verse so that the mind understands the meaning and purpose of Divine Revelation well and takes effect from it.  Briefly put, In short, the recital does not only consist in uttering the words with the tongue, but it should involve thoughtful consideration of the meaning."

In accordance with the above explanation, the tarawih kind of recitation is certainly not right. 

The traditional method of qirat certainly comes from Hadith:  Ibn Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:  “Gabriel taught me to recite in one mode, and when I replied to him and kept asking him to give me more, he did so till he reached seven modes. Ibn Shihab said he had heard that those seven modes are essentially one, not differing about what is permitted and what is prohibited. [Sahih Muslim]." 

Of course the Noble Quran never mentions that angel Gabriel (Jibraeel) taught the Prophet (pbuh) how to recite the Quran.  Allah only confirms that the Divine Revelations were sent by Him to the Prophet through angel Jibraeel.  Verse 73:4 makes it quite evident that it is Allah Almighty Who teaches the Prophet (pbuh) how to read or recite the Quran.
 

[N. Truth Seeker]

V.73:4 further highlights the importance of understanding the Quran properly. 

تَرْتِيلًا (tartīlan) = measured or rhythmic recitation does not mean to acquire the singing trend of the Quranic Verses as our qaris do.  It means to carefully discern the structure of the sentences in every Ayat and try to read it according to its stress-patterns which will help to understand it better.  The stress-pattern makes up the rhythm, and rhythm can be defined by punctuations, though this isn't an allusion that poor pronunciation of Quranic words by non-Arabs who geniuinely know little Arabic is sin or violation.  Please dispel this notion from your mind, if it exists. The revelation of the Noble Quran was verbal and therefore abstract, not written.  Every revelation was written soon after or during revelation, the first hafez being the Prophet (pbuh) himself, who had all revelations that came to him in his memory.  Subhan'Allah.   Therefore, when the Quran Verses began being written, it was important to insert the basic punctuations as well as dialectical marks as guide to understanding the sentences within the Ayats and its correct rhythm.

[Ruhi_Rose]

Absolutely correct brother.

[ZebunNissa]

JazekAllah khair for the info.   

The word qirat is also a Muslim name mostly for girls.  I heard from some people that the word qirat is picked from the Quran as a Muslim name.

[Ruhi_Rose]

..

The word qirat is also a Muslim name mostly for girls.  I heard from some people that the word qirat is picked from the Quran as a Muslim name.

I think there is some confusion in regard to that opinion.   I've not heard of Qirat as a name.  The name for Muslim girls is Qurat which is a Quranic word for sure.  But it has a different definition.  "Qurat" means something that provides happiness and comfort to the eyes when you watch it.  The reference is to the comfort and beauty of Jannah for those who are fortunate to acquire maghfirah and allowed entry into Jannah.

The name given to Muslim girls is Qurat-al-Ayin, which means happiness or comfort of the eyes.  It is sometimes abbreviated by family and friends as Qurat.


(32:17 As-Sajdah)  فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَا أُخْفِيَ لَهُمْ مِنْ قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

Transliteration:  "falā taʿlamu nafsun mā ukh'fiya lahum min qurati aʿyunin jazāan bima kanu ya'maluna."   32:17 As-Sajdah

Translation: "And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do."  (32:17)  As-Sajdah   

[ZebunNissa]

Thank you, I didn't know this.

[Sabra]

Can we say that Qirat is an important part of our iman as Muslims ?

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Indeed it is.  Every event that involves the recitation of the Noble Quran has a specific purpose; it is thus very important and part of our iman.   This is the real point. 

Analyzing this aspect:

When someone recites long passages of the Quran (and people do that with different rhythms during qirat) or an entire juz (or para), they usually recite it through memory.  For example, as we see during Tawawi prayers in Ramadan, every evening after the Iftar meal and Isha prayer, the imam recites an entire juz.  With a total of 30 juz in the Noble Quran, on the 30th night the recitation of the Quran is complete.  Although Allah Almighty does not command us that we must finish the entire Quran during the month of Ramadan, those who recite a juz every evening by memory either know the entire Quran by memory or certainly they know several juz or paras by heart.  This is a very good practice which helps the preservation of the Quran universally. 

Now .. if someone knows the entire Quran by heart or knows half of it by heart and at the same time is also well-versed in Arabic and understands everything they recite, then Mash'Allah.  What can be more excellent than that?  They achieve their goal one-hundred percent!   

There are also many who know the Quran by heart but do not understand the Arabic language and thus don't follow what they recite.  In this case, they have fulfilled half of their responsibility, that is, learning the Quran or parts of it by memory.  The other half of their responsibility is to carefully study the Quran in a language they follow with a reliable translation so that they can implement the orders of The Almighty in their practical lives.  That will complete their goal.   

But to think that only memorization without following the contents of the Quran is enough is incomplete work. 

[Sabra]

Right, agree.  What about those who recite the Quran with the mushaf in their hand because they don't know it by heart?   Does reciting the Quran by reading from the mushaf earn lesser blessings than recitation through memorization?

[Lara Umar]

What is mushaf please?

[N. Truth Seeker]

Reciting by reading from the mushaf is just as good, Alhumdulilah.  As Sister explained, memorization is a wonderful achievement and a work of talent as it helps to safeguard and protect the Quran universally.  But memorization is not mandatory.  Every person might not have the expertise to memorize lengthy passages of the Noble Quran even if they desire to do so.  That's not a problem.  What is mandatory is the sincerity, honesty and earnestness within our hearts.  If someone is reciting by reading from the open pages of the mushaf truly for love of Allah Almighty and for the benefit of their souls, then there is no reason to presume it's less worthy than recitation through memorization.   Allah Almighty knows what is deep down in our hearts and minds, and HE always takes that into consideration. 

Mushaf, in conversation, refers to the compiled written copy of the Noble Quran.   However, intellectually, if you try to carefully analyze it, there is a kind of difference between the terms Quran and mushaf.   This has been very well explained by Br. Louay Fathoohi in his article The Difference Between Quran and Mushaf at Quran Studies.

[Sabra]

JazekAllah khair.

[Lara Umar]

If someone can't read nor understand Arabic and depends entirely on translation, is that okay?

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Of course that's okay too.  After all, of the total 1.8 billion Muslims in the world at present, not more than 25% know Arabic.  While the original Noble Quran is only ONE and will always remain ONE, Alhumdulilah, translations of the original are currently available in more than 100 languages.  At least 60 authors have translated the Noble Quran into English.  Additionally there are also Quran dictionaries and Corpus Quran that explain Arabic Quranic words in English, as well as plenty of online outlets with audio recitation of the original Arabic Quran which helps to learn the correct Arabic pronunciations.  So, if someone is not able to speak or read Arabic, that should cause no obstacle to study the Quran with a suitable translation.  Just make sure you choose a reliable translation.   It's the entitlement of all humanity to reach out to the Noble Quran which is the foundation of Faith, it's the foundation of this temporary earthly life and the foundation of the permanent Afterlife.   Subhan'Allah.