The best way of the different recitations of the Quran and the ruling of reciting without tajweed

Shaykh al-Uthaymeen رحمه الله

Q. Allah revealed the Quran in the Arabic language but I’ve learned that there are various ways of recitation. What is best way of the different recitations of the Quran and what is the ruling of reciting the (mushaf) Quran without madd (elongation) of some words or making ghunna (nasalizing) letters or vibrating?

A. All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all things, may prayers and peace be upon our prophet Muhammad, his family and all of his companions. As the questioner mentioned, the Quran was revealed in the Arabic language as Allah says:

“Indeed we revealed it as an Arabic Quran.”

and Allah says: “Indeed we made it an Arabic Quran”

and Allah says:

“The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down

upon your heart, [O Muhammad] - that you may be of the warners. In a clear Arabic tongue (language).”

And also without doubt the Quran has various recitations and the known recitations are seven. The sunnah is for the one who knows them to recite with them at different times because the seven recitations are firmly established from many chains from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Therefore when they are all established from the Prophet then it is legislated to recite one way sometimes and another way at other times. Just as we say regarding established worship (performing them) in different manners: it is befitting to be performed in all the prescribed types. Therefore one does it in this manner sometimes and another manner another in order that one performs all of the sunnah.

However, this is for the one who knows the recitations and not the one who (merely) guesses, thinking in this verse is a (particular) recitation and there isn’t. This is not permissible, rather the one who is not learned in these recitations should restrict himself with reciting what in the Mushaf in front of him.

And regarding the question is it permissible for the one reading the mushaf to leave off (reciting) the elongation, nasalization and echoing (of some letters) and other than this?

Whats correct in my view of this issue is it is permissible and reciting with tajweed (rules) according to its rules is only highly encouraged and most complete. As for being an obligation, this is only establishing (correct reading of) the letters in which they are not removed or added to. As for the descriptions of letters with elongation, nasalization and echoing, then this is from the angle of recommendation and not from the angle of an obligation from what I see of this issue.

سلسة فتاوى نور على الدرب : الشريط رقم ١٣٢

Translated by Abu Anas Atif Hasan