Reading books is so profound because it denies you the ability to speak when confronted with an idea. You must listen. It isn't a conversation. Sometimes it shouldn't be a conversation. Sometimes we should just listen. Just listen.
When I was 7 years old, my Sheikh, who, out of his kindness, liked my voice in recitation, would ask me to lead the circle. I would recite and the other students would recite after me. One day, I had a sore throat and he asked me to lead. I tried but my voice wouldn't let me
He said: "Too many people care too much about what others say about them, and care too little about what they say about others. You be the opposite. Care little about what others say about you, but watch every word that comes out of your mouth when it comes to others."
I can't believe it.
ูุง ุญูู ููุง ููุฉ ุฅูุง ุจุงููู ุฅูุง ููู ูุฅูุง ุฅููู ุฑุงุฌุนูู
The great Egyptian Qari' Sheikh Abdullah Kamel has reportedly just passed away today in New Jersey. They reportedly went to check on him after he missed Salah in the Masjid and found that he had died
I became overwhelmed with embarrassment and sadness and began to cry. He took me outside and asked me what was wrong and I told him I was afraid the other kids would make fun of me. I remember exactly what he said because the older I grow, the more I appreciate it.
One of our shuyukh in Alexandria used to say: "When we went to study Qur'an in Tanta, they'd ask us if we had memorized the Qur'an. We used to answer yes. They'd then ask if we had strong knowledge of the Tafsir. When we'd say no, they'd ask how we knew where to start and stop...
I often think of the first time Sheikh al-Hudhaify led Salah in Masjid al-Nabawy. In his second rak'ah, he made a mistake and you could almost feel the weight of leading prayer in the Prophets Masjid for the first time.
Nearly 46 years ago. Just a legend unlike any living legend
Sheikh al-Sha'rawy tells a story of a man who had a horse which he loved dearly. One day the horse fled and the people of the village came to console the man. The man stopped them and asked them "Who told you that this is a bad thing?". A while later, the horse returned
(1/4)
Nothing fills my heart with such pure peace as listening to Sheikh lead Salah
No fancy mic, no echo, just the middle of the desert and some pure people
"When Musa entered upon Madyan, he had no shelter, no employment, and no wife
He did a good deed and made his du'aa
The sun did not set except for that he was given shelter, employment, and a wife
Do a deed for the sake of Allah and make du'aa"
- Sheikh Islam Fikri
One thing I love about Egypt is that even the greatest of Muqri'een can always find a Muqri' more senior to recite to.
Sheikh al-Ma'sarawy reciting to Sheikh Zakariya al-Dasuqi may Allah have mercy on him
A beautiful recitation in the true Egyptian way in the riwayah of Warsh 'an Naafi'.
It is few in the modern day who continue to adopt the old Egyptian school of recitation in their recitations
I don't mean to be dramatic, but I genuinely feel like Allah has placed the love of Sheikh Hudhaify in my heart. I cannot explain it nor express it. The walls of Medinah have witnessed him reciting the book of Allah in the Prophet's mosque for decades and decades
There's nothing more to memorizing than repetition. No hacks no tricks no shortcuts. No podcast or playlist will do it for you.
Find an empty wall or pillar. Sit. Recite over and over and over again. Test yourself. Have your sheikh test you. Repeat into the night
A friend just forwarded me this recitation of Surah Yusuf & said that this was the best reading he's ever heard.
I was skeptical, as that's high praise indeed, but after listening to it, I'll add my vote as well: this is the *best* recitation I've heard!
One day, there will be an entirely new generation of Egyptian Muqri'een who will sit and command the seats of Iqraa'. May Allah protect them
A young boy reciting with the Qira'at on our Sheikh the great Muqri' 'Ali al-Nahhas
Wallahi if we understood the rights of our parents over us, we'd be overwhelmed with guilt and shame. Overwhelmed. Seeing my father deal with the death of his mother has truly shattered me. May Allah have mercy on her and forgive her. May Allah allow me to be as dutiful a son
Once again coming back to this video of Sheikh Muhammad Jebril, representing Egypt, dominating the 1986 international Qur'an competition to the point where the judges immediately begin praising him
In the Hereafter when it is said to you
"ุงูุฑุฃ ูุฑุชู ูุงุฑุชู ูู ุง ููุช ุชุฑุชู"
"Recite and rise in status as you used to recite"
And not a word of the Revelation escapes your memory. Then, and only then will you be a hafidh. Live your life knowing that is the hifdh exam to prepare for"
I truly believe how good of a person you are, is directly proportional to how introspective you are. That was the way of the prophets and their companions.
And, as his son was injured, they left him with his father, safe in the refuge of his own home.
You never know what's best for you, but the One who loves you, the One who has bestowed all His mercy upon you, does know. Put your faith in Him
(4/4)
Wallahi this life is but days that pass faster the more you beg them to slow down. Black hairs turn to white, the body grows frail, our memories grow opaque and washed out. Everything rushes to an inevitable decline.
Cling to the Qur'an and allow your tears to purify your heart
"The beauty of a recitation is entirely in its ability to bring the meanings of the words to hearts who only need to hear it read with Taddabur. Each reading is a tafsir and each Muqri' who stands in the Mihraab is a mufassir for those who stand behind him"
โI will tell you.โ
Depending on which of these 4 words you stress, the sentence will have different connotations.
The same goes for reciting Qurโan - the meanings can be complemented by stressing, accentuating, and pausing thoughtfully.
The sounds of Taraweeh in Alexandria. As Ramadan approaches, close your eyes, listen, and ponder the verses. May Allah allow us to reach His blessed month.
From the most touching scenes, from my beloved city of Alexandria, as one of the students finishes his khatmah, spanning 4 years, on our beloved Sheikh al-Zawawy, in the Riwayah of Hafs 'an 'Aasim
The strange caption aside, this ayah is an interesting case study in Waqf and Ibtidaa'.
The scholars of the science have mentioned that it is not permissible to stop on any word in this ayah without going back and linking it to what's before it until the end of the ayah.
I love the Qur'an so much, it boggles my mind. It genuinely feels difficult to contain the love within and the only way out is through tears and recitation.
May Allah keep us sincere and make our love for His Book not just in its recitation but in following its guidance
This is your reminder that you do NOT need vocal gymnastics to be a good reciter. You need patience, practice, and mindfulness. Worry about the meanings of what you recite, there is a unique beauty only you can tap into when you do that. We're all different.
These are the children that will one day command the seats of Iqraa' in Egypt. Incredible young reciter reading in the Qira'at and bringing forth the evidences from al-Shatibiyah and al-Durrah.
Your motivation to start taking your relationship with the Qur'an more seriously
Best breakdown I've heard:
Sheikh al-Banna to hear the events of the Qur'an as if they are happening before you
Sheikh Abdul Basit for your soul to soar with the Words
Sheikh al-Hussary for Sakeenah to settle in your heart
Sheikh al-Minshawi to make your soul weep
The great former Muqri' of Libya, Sheikh al-Ameen Qaneewah passionately correcting the Waqf and the completeness of a madd of a student reciting to him in Qaloon
The Sheikh had read upon Sheikh al-Hussary and was Sheikh al-Dukali's Sheikh
He passed away 10 years ago in July
If you preserve the Qur'an in your memory, the Qur'an will preserve your memory for you.
As was narrated from Ibn Abbas and 'Ikrimah: "He who recited the Qur'an is not left to weaken in mind (of old age) to the point that he forgets everything he once knew"
Do you wonder why most masjid and takbeerat say the takbeerat in the same tune as the Haram?
This wasn't always the case! From the beautiful things I've been remembering from childhood is the beauty of the old melodies of takbeerat of the small side street Masajid of Alexandria
My biggest advice to those who wish to improve their relationships with the Qur'an is to read everything you can about it. Read about tafsir, read about the reasons for Revelations, read about the people of the Qur'an. Read read read
ุงูููู ุจูุบูุง ุฑู ุถุงู
There are 100 days left until Ramadan!
May Allah allow us to reach it!
This is going to be the first of many threads from now until then on how to memorize, recite, and improve your relationship with the Qur'an before Ramadan
"ู ุนู"
"With you"
๐งต(1/9)
Listen to the words of the great Muqri' of our times, Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil al-Hussary. Help make the printing of this book easy for its authors and I ask Allah to make it heavy on your scales and make the Day of Judgement easy on you โค๏ธ
The question I get asked by far the most is how to increase the amount recited without straining the voice. As a person who suffered a major vocal chord injury in the past:
Recite in a way that you are comfortable with and stop trying to belt out and imitate others
May Allah have mercy on the late Imam of Masjid al-Aqsa, Sheikh Muhammad Rishad al-Sharif. A man leading his masjid even in his advanced age, leaning on a cane. The true role models of men.
A beautiful video. Sheikh Jaarallah, a major Kuwaiti Muqri', receiving an ijazah from Sheikh al-Sharqawi, a senior Egyptian Muqri', in front of Sheikh al-Ma'sarawy, Sheikh Ayman Suwaid, and Sheikh Abdul Raheem al-Nabulsi, three of the most senior Muqri'een of our times
"And he turned away from them and said, "Oh, my sorrow over Yusuf," and his eyes became white from grief, for he was of that a suppressor"
From the saddest moments in the Qur'an
Khalaf 'an Hamzah
Just thinking of how Sheikh al-Qaradawi and the Queen were born the same year and died the same month. Two extremely different lives. One long life spent in striving towards what's right and the other spent clinging to the riches of this life
Those who were warned, โYour enemies have mobilized their forces against you, so fear them,โ the warning only made them grow stronger in faith and they replied, โAllah alone is sufficient as an aid for us and He is the best Protector.โ
May Allah protect Palestine ๐ต๐ธ๐ต๐ธ๐ต๐ธ๐ต๐ธ
The simplicity of life in Medinah.
Where nothing matters except for making the salawat and staying in the Masjid. Sitting reading Qur'an. Standing reading Qur'an. Sitting listening to Qur'an. Standing listening to the Qur'an.
May Allah grant us a permanent abode there
My father was just telling me that Egypt's biggest export are reciters to lead Taraweeh during Ramadan ๐ may Allah keep the country and people close to the Qur'an
Alexandria continues to produce some of the best Quraa' and Muqri'een ุงูุญู ุฏ ููู
Reading in the 10 Qira'at Jam3 on the beloved Sheikh al-Muqri' Yusry 'Iwadh
Not because what we came with at first wasn't great, but because they themselves never claimed that they were hafidh and did not want us to think that there was ever a destination when it came to memorizing the Qur'an. You will be a hafidh only when you are asked to read ...
Some people don't realize how incredible a blessing it is to have a beautiful voice to recite Qur'an with. It is narrated that Ibn Jurayj explained
ูุฒูุฏ ูู ุงูุฎูู ู ุง ูุดุงุก
"He increases in creation whatever He wills."
Refers to increasing in the beauty of the voice
Just the absolute greatest ๐ may Allah protect him, preserve him, and allow me to reunite with him soon.
A voice that makes me wish I was that child who walked into the Masjid for Maghrib and prayed behind him for the first time ๐
Slow down. Recite from the heart. Think truly about what you're uttering. The contents of the Book will make it break your life, your death, your Hereafter, your absolute everything. Be conscious of that.
De-normalize imitating reciters. Literally every single one of them, from Sheikh Abdul Baasit to Sheikh Yasir al-Dossary have told people not to copy them and to recite according to the unique way that suits them (after having gone through the learning stages)
From memory according to the science of Rasm. When we struggled to do so, they'd ask us where our memory went. They would tell us that we had not memorized well. Every time we went to our shuyukh they found a way for us to improve the preservation of the Qur'an in our hearts...
No one can recite like you as well as you can. The new fad of imitating reciters was never a goal for the great Quraa'. In fact, many Quraa', like Sheikh Abdul Baasit, came out and specifically preached against imitation. Just ponder the meanings and try to read from the heart
The legendary Sheikh of the Quraa' of Istanbul, Sheikh AbdurRahman Gรผrses. The Sheikh was imprisoned during the Ataturk regime. He was the teacher of the former Sheikh of the Quraa' of Istanbul Sulayman Shaheen and the chief of the reviewers of the Masahif, Sheikh Uthman Shaheen
The way you recite will evolve and grow more unique and more sustainable for your voice the more you recite and the more you learn about what you're reciting. Focus on yourself and the Qur'an and give yourself the opportunity to grow and find what comes naturally
Sheikh Gawthani reading in Warsh 'an Nafi' next to the great Muqri' Sheikh al-Zu'by with the attendance of the Muqri' of al-Shaam Sheikh Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddan may Allah have mercy on him
A meeting of the scholars of Syria
Always slow down when I get here. My grandmother's favorite Ayaat may Allah have mercy on her. First Ramadan without her. May Allah grant her
ูุฒูุง ู ู ุบููุฑ ุฑุญูู โค๏ธ
"Accommodation from the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful Lord.โ"
Reminder that there are roughly 260 days until next Ramadan. For all of those who said I will read more Qur'an, I will memorize, I will review what I have memorized, we are nearly a third of the way to next Ramadan. Do not wait. Time is running out. Start now.
It is narrated that Abu al-Sammak was such a great Imam of Qira'ah, but so occupied with worshipping that he didn't have time to narrate the Qira'at except for what was taken from him in Salah.
Such can so much be gleaned from the great scholars of Qur'an, even in Salah
They would then tell us that we had not yet memorized correctly. When we finished studying Tafsir and went to study with the shuyukh of el-Beheira, they'd ask us if we had memorized the Qur'an. We'd answer that we had. They then asked us to write three pages from Surat Hud...
Sometimes, reading the Qur'an will shatter you to the point where your very soul feels wrung out. Verses you've read hundreds if not thousands of times will always pierce the hardness of the heart. May Allah soften our hearts with our relationships with the Qur'an ๐
al-Ashmuni writes: "And there is no stopping between the words ุงุนูู ูุง and ุญุทุงู ุง due to the connected meaning between the words..."
It is important to consider the length of your breath and breath control when it comes to situations like these
ุณุจุญุงู ุงููู
A 79 year old applicant for the tajweed class ๐ what excuses do any of us have to continue striving and seeking z no matter what
The allowable ways to do wasl between Surahs with the Basmalah - by majority opinion
1. End of Surah - pause - Basmalah - Pause - Beginning of Surah
2. End of Surah - pause - Basmalah + Beginning of new Surah
3. End of Surah + Basmalah + Beginning of new Surah
Modern mujawwad recitations are all pretty much the same and, as Sheikh al-Ma'sarawy said, 95% poor recitations. When melody and maqam are the main focus, the recitation loses that intangible quality that comes from actually thinking about the words for the meanings
How many days pass without the ayaat of the Qur'an being recited in your house?
al-Bazzar narrates from Anas: "The household in which the Qur'an is often recited increases in good and the household where the Qur'an is seldom recites decreases in good."
and brought with it a number of other horses. So the people of the village came to congratulate him. The man once again stopped them and asked "Who told you that this is a good thing?". A few days passed and his son, excited to ride the horse, fell of the horse
(2/4)
and broke his leg. The people of the village came once again to console the man but yet again he stopped them and asked "Who told you that this is a bad thing?". A while later, government officials showed up demanding men to be drafted into the army.
(3/4)
Until Ramadan comes around, I will be posting Taraweeh recitations I have, especially from Egypt, to soften our hearts before the blessed month begins.
News that hurts the heart and chills the spirit. May Allah enter him into Jannah. May Allah enter him into Jannah without account. May Allah have mercy on him. May Allah forgive him. May Allah give patience to his family. May Allah make his recitations a means of Jannah for him
Sometimes the Qur'an is the one thing tethering one to hope. How many stories have we heard of people climbing out of pits of impenetrable darkness with the pure light of the Qur'an? How many have salved unhealable wounds by sitting with the Qur'an in the depths of the night?
Do we recite just to recite or do we understand and fear what will be written in our record?
The great late Sheikh of the Quraa' of Egypt, Sheikh Abdul Hakeem Abdul Lateef crying while reciting in his Qur'an circle in al-Azhar
ุฑุจูุง ูุฑุญู ู ููุบูุฑ ูู ููุณููู ูุณูุญ ุฌูุงุชู
Stories of the Muqri'een of Alexandria:
Sheikh Muhammad Abdul Hameed al-Skandari studied under Sheikha Umm Sa'd al-Skandariyah for a decade. He recited the Qur'an 21 times to her. One time for each narrator plus another time combining each two narrators for each Qira'ah.