As-salaamu 3laikum, I have attended various ladies' halaqahs in order to learn correct tajweed of the Qur'an. Some ladies who teach tajweed recite according to the proper rules, but I feel that their voices are not beautiful, so when I listen to them sometimes I feel put off by their voices even though I appreciate the Qur'an itself and I appreciate them for what they are doing in teaching tajweed. I never get this feeling when listening to a well-known reciter. Also one time a sister who was also learning was sitting directly opposite me and she was reciting very loudly so that it was harsh on my ears and I felt uncomfortable listening. Are these feelings that I had sinful? What is the correct attitude in this situation? Jazaak Allahu khair.

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.

The heart of the Muslim should be attached to the verses that are being recited and not to the voice of the reciter and his/her performance. However, not liking the voice of the reciter, and not willing to listen to him is a matter of the heart which a person may not have control of. So, he is not to be blamed in this regard and he is not sinful.

Also, a person is not blamed for being disturbed and harmed by someone who raises his voice when reciting the Quran. It is for this reason that it is Islamically prohibited for the worshippers to disturb each other by raising their voice when reciting the Quran. Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri said, “The Messenger of Allaah observed I‘tikaaf (i.e. seclusion for the purpose of worship) in the Masjid and heard worshippers reciting the Quran out loud. He opened the curtain and said: “Verily, each of you is in a private conversation with his Lord so you should not disturb each other. And you are not to raise your voices against each other in recitation.” [Abu Daawood - Al-Albaani graded it Saheeh (sound)]

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 193453.

Allaah Knows best.