Fatwa

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  2. The Noble Quran
  3. Manner of Reciting and Learning the Qur'an
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Repeating the Quranic recitation along with the reciter on CD
Fatwa No: 176767

Question

In order to improve my recitation of Quran, can I practice recitation while listening to it on a CD and reciting along with it loudly? Actually someone told me that I can not recite loudly along with a recitation I am listening to because when Quran is heard one should only concentrate on listening. Does that apply to my case also in which I am basically trying to improve my recitation?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

It is permissible for you, dear brother, to repeat the recitation along with the CD and you are not obliged to listen to the recitation, because the listening that is enjoined on us and which is made obligatory on us in the verse in which Allaah Says (what means): {So when the Quran is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.} [Quran 7:204]; is during the prayer.

Besides, Ibn Abbaas interpreted the verse to mean when one listens to the Quran in prayer, whereas some righteous predecessors interpreted it to mean during the prayer and during the Khutbah (Friday sermon).

On the other hand, Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen was asked about the ruling of reciting along with the reciter on the cassette player, and whether this contradicts the Saying of Allaah {So when the Quran is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.} [Quran 7:204]; and he replied: “If this is for the purpose of memorizing the Quran, then this is permissible but if it is for anything else, then it could be said: It is better to listen.”

In another Fatwa, Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said: “Imaam Ahmad said regarding the verse {So when the Quran is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.}; this is in regard to the recitation during the prayer, as regards outside the prayer, the person is free, he may listen when someone recites, and if he does not wish, he may not listen and do something else.”

For more benefit on the best ways of learning the Quran, please refer to Fataawa 82523 and 86474.

Allaah Knows best.

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