Tajweed: Haram? Halal?

[Zaid 'Abdur-Rahman]

Malik said: Recitation with melodies does not please me...Do you think that this is anything to do with the way Rasulullah sallallahu 'alaihi salaam used to recite?

Being a hard core Maliki , I agree with this opinion of Imam Malik. Even before I became a Maliki, I found the concept of tajweed a little, well, ridiculous.

So, what is everyone's else opinion? We know that the practice of tajweed arose in egypt; we also know that it was not practiced by the salaf.


After all, "Tajweed" itself merely means articulating and reciting clearly, not necessarily "singing". In accordance, this is promoting all sorts of "recording artists" making money off of Al-Qur'an.




Opinions?

Wasalaam,
Zaid

[Mossy]

Interesting signature.. I suppose it's because the others there stimulate your mind and thought processes?

Haram? No..

As you have stated, Tajweed is essentially the process of clear recitation in a set and measured way , as is indicated in surah al-muzammil, ayat 4 for example. A form of tajweed was performed by the salaf - this is why our Qu'ran has lovely dashes and vowels.. In addition, don't we have narrations in which various companions were commended for their clear and excellent recitation of it's words..

In addition, as far as I know, this hasn't traditionally been put under the definition of "singing" (the English meaning not being the Sharii meaning ) - indeed, it has been explicitly excluded from it by many.. Even if it is, then there aren't many who deem singing per se to be haram.

When certain bits are tacked on - for example, singing about rude thingers or obviously unislamic doodas, then the haram nature of these things makes the entire action haram.

With regards to the selling of cds.. Well, there isn't any real prohibition against making money from the Qu'ran. If there were, then how would people who sold bound copies make a living?

The meaning of the word Qu'ran is also somewhat pertinent to this discussion..

[Zaid 'Abdur-Rahman]

Interesting signature.. I suppose it's because the others there stimulate your mind and thought processes?

Absolutely. Jinnzaman is the most intellectually stimulating person I have ever met.

Haram? No..

As you have stated, Tajweed is essentially the process of clear recitation in a set and measured way , as is indicated in surah al-muzammil, ayat 4 for example. A form of tajweed was performed by the salaf - this is why our Qu'ran has lovely dashes and vowels.. In addition, don't we have narrations in which various companions were commended for their clear and excellent recitation of it's words..

Let's not forget also that some of the salaf were against adding diacriticals to the mushaf.

Good point about some of the narrations, but the vast majority of the ahadith (that I am aware of) commend the companions for articulation, etc, not for "melodising" (or whatever, I think i just invented a word) Al-Qur'an.

In addition, as far as I know, this hasn't traditionally been put under the definition of "singing" (the English meaning not being the Sharii meaning ) - indeed, it has been explicitly excluded from it by many.. Even if it is, then there aren't many who deem singing per se to be haram.

It can be established that First Generation didn't approve of singing, or engaged in it.

[/quote]

When certain bits are tacked on - for example, singing about rude thingers or obviously unislamic doodas, then the haram nature of these things makes the entire action haram.

Agreed.

With regards to the selling of cds.. Well, there isn't any real prohibition against making money from the Qu'ran. If there were, then how would people who sold bound copies make a living?

I guess I should clarify: My problem is not necessarily the fact that they are making CD's on Al-Qur'an, my problem lies in the fact that some of these individuals are adding much pomp and circumstance to "tajweed" making it some big ordeal, and as such, mock Al-Qur'an

The meaning of the word Qu'ran is also somewhat pertinent to this discussion..

Great, here we go...


Wasalaam,
Zaid

[Mossy]

Absolutely. Jinnzaman is the most intellectually stimulating person I have ever met.

Alhamdulilah.

Let's not forget also that some of the salaf were against adding diacriticals to the mushaf.

Good point about some of the narrations, but the vast majority of the ahadith (that I am aware of) commend the companions for articulation, etc, not for "melodising" (or whatever, I think i just invented a word) Al-Qur'an.

Tajweed isn't melodising necessarily as we agree upon.. So then the discussion shifts to whether melodising (melodizing?) the Qu'ran is impermissable as opposed to whether tajweed is impermissable, non?

We shouldn't also forget that not all of the salaf were against the addition of diacriticals to the mushaf - the pro-diacritical lobby appears to have won out it seems.. Did any of the mujtahid imams object to their usage, having evaluated all of the evidences from the source texts and salaf?

It can be established that First Generation didn't approve of singing, or engaged in it.

This doesn't, of course, make it haram. As I mentioned, Qu'ranic recitation isn't defined as singing by many anyway

I guess I should clarify: My problem is not necessarily the fact that they are making CD's on Al-Qur'an, my problem lies in the fact that some of these individuals are adding much pomp and circumstance to "tajweed" making it some big ordeal, and as such, mock Al-Qur'an

Ah.. Then that's a whole new ballgame - we now have elements of pride and arrogance, impermissable, creeping in, as well as possibly... Bidah!?!

Still.. Haram is a strong term.. And grey comes in many shades

Great, here we go...

Aww, come on, isn't it relevant?

[Zaid 'Abdur-Rahman]

Alhamdulilah.



Tajweed isn't melodising necessarily as we agree upon.. So then the discussion shifts to whether melodising (melodizing?) the Qu'ran is impermissable as opposed to whether tajweed is impermissable, non?

Perhaps, however the common conception of Tajweed (at least from an american standpoint) is melodising the Qur'an.

And yes and no on the two latter parts: Melodising the Qur'an is, I think, haram, or at least makruh. Tajweed, NOT MELODISING ARGH! is not haram (or makruh or whatever shade of grey you like )

We shouldn't also forget that not all of the salaf were against the addition of diacriticals to the mushaf - the pro-diacritical lobby appears to have won out it seems.. Did any of the mujtahid imams object to their usage, having evaluated all of the evidences from the source texts and salaf?

Imam Malik was against diacriticals and "voweling", save for "instructional" Qur'an for children.

Ah.. Then that's a whole new ballgame - we now have elements of pride and arrogance, impermissable, creeping in, as well as possibly... Bidah!?!

There should be a script on this page for an ominous drumroll and thundercrash for when anyone types "Bidah"

Aww, come on, isn't it relevant?

It is, but we have enough on our plate as it is, mash'Allah


Wasalaam,
Zaid

[salman]

Sallamu Alaikum

Melodising the Quran cannot be said to be Haram, nor is it Makruh, since the Prophet praised Ibn Masud for his recitation of the Quran. As Ibn Qayyim says in his book:

-- Allah gave permission to his Prophet to recite the Qur'an in a melodious way. Abu Musa Ash`ari one time was reciting the Qur'an in a melodious voice and the Prophet was listening to him. After he finished, the Prophet congratulated him on reciting in a melodious way and said, "You have a good voice." And he said about Abu Musa Ash`ari that Allah gave him a "mizmar" (flute or horn) from Dawud's mizmars. Then Abu Musa said, "O Messenger of Allah, if I had known that you were listening to me, I would have recited it in a much more melodious and beautiful voice such as you have never heard before."

Further, Ibn Qayyim continues:

-- The Prophet said, "Decorate the Qur'an with your voices," and "Who does not sing the Qur'an is not from us."

Ibn Qayyim comments:

-- To take pleasure in a good voice is acceptable, as is taking pleasure in a nice scenery, such as mountains or nature, or from a nice smell, or from good food, as long as it is conforming to Shari`a. If listening to a good voice is haram, then taking pleasure in all these other things is also haram."


أين المساعد للهوى من قاطع أسبابه عند الجهول الساهي إن لم يكن خمر الجسوم فإنه خمر العقول مماثل ومضاهي فانظر إلى النشوان عند شرابه وانظر إلى النشوان عند تلاهي وانظر إلى تمزيق ذا أثوابه من بعد تمزيق الفؤاد اللاهي فاحكم بأي الخمرتين أحق بالتحريم والتأثيم عند الله وكيف يكون السماع الذي يسمعه العبد بطبعه وهواه أنفع له من الذي يسمعه بالله ولله وعن الله فإن زعموا أنهم يسمعون هذا السماع الغنائي الشعري كذلك فهذا غاية اللبس على القوم فإنه إنما يسمع بالله ولله وعن الله ما يحبه الله ويرضاه ولهذا قلنا : إنه لا يتحرر الكلام في هذه المسألة إلا بعد معرفة صورة المسموع وحقيقته ومرتبته فقد جعل الله لكل شيء قدرا ولن يجعل الله من شربه ونصيبه وذوقه ووجده من سماع الآيات البينات كمن نصيبه وشربه وذوقه ووجده من سماع الغناء والأبيات ومن أعجب العجائب : استدلال من استدل على أن هذا السماع من طريق لقوم وأنه مباح : بكونه مستلذا طبعا تلذه النفوس وتستروح إليه وأن الطفل يسكن إلى الصوت الطيب والجمل يقاسي تعب السير ومشقة الحمولة فيهون عليه بالحداء وبأن الصوت الطيب نعمة من الله على صاحبه وزيادة فى خلقه وبأن الله ذم الصوت الفظيع فقال : ^ إن أنكر الأصوات لصوت الحمير ^ [ لقمان : 19 ] وبأن الله وصف نعيم أهل الجنة فقال فيه : ^ فهم في روضة يحبرون ^ [ الروم : 15 ] وأن ذلك هو السماع الطيب فكيف يكون حراما وهو في الجنة وبأن الله تعالى ما أذن لشيء كأذنه أي كاستماعه لنبي حسن الصوت يتغنى بالقرآن وبأن أبا موسى الأشعري استمع النبي إلى صوته وأثنى عليه بحسن الصوت وقال : لقد أوتي هذا مزمارا من مزامير آل داود فقال له أبو موسى : لو علمت أنك استمعت لحبرته لك تحبيرا أي زينته لك وحسنته وبقوله : زينوا القرآن بأصواتكم

وبقوله : ليس منا من لم يتغن بالقرآن والصحيح : أنه من التغني بمعنى تحسين الصوت وبذلك فسره الإمام أحمد رحمه الله فقال : يحسنه بصوته ما استطاع وبأن النبي أقر عائشة على غناء القينتين يوم العيد وقال لأبي بكر : دعهما فإن لكل قوم عيدا وهذا عيدنا أهل الإسلام وبأنه أذن في العرس في الغناء وسماه لهوا وقد سمع رسول الله الحداء وأذن فيه وكان يسمع أنسا والصحابة وهم يرتجزون بين يديه في حفر الخندق : نحن الذين بايعوا محمدا على الجهاد ما بقينا أبدا ودخل مكة والمرتجز يرتجز بين يديه بشعر عبد الله بن رواحة وحدا به الحادي في منصرفه من خيبر فجعل يقول : والله لولا الله ما اهتدينا ولا تصدقنا ولا صلينا فأنزلن سكينة علينا وثبت الأقدام إن لاقينا إن الذين قد بغوا علينا إذا أرادوا فتنة أبينا ونحن إن صيح بنا أتينا وبالصياح عولوا علينا ونحن عن فضلك ما استغنينا فدعا لقائله وسمع قصيدة كعب بن زهير وأجازه ببردة واستنشد الأسود بن سريع قصائد حمد بها ربه واستنشد من شعر أمية بن أبي الصلت مائة قافية وأنشده الأعشى شيئا من شعره فسمعه وصدق لبيدا في قوله ألا كل شيءما خلا الله باطل ودعا لحسان أن يؤيده الله بروح القدس مادام ينافح عنه وكان يعجبه شعره وقال له : اهجهم وروح القدس معك

Taken from Ibn Qayyims مدارج السالكين بين منازل إياك نعبد وإياك نستعين , Madarij As Salikeen.

Wallahu A'lam

[Saleel]

I just came across the following fatwa by Mufti Nawal-ur-Rahman. It applies to women, but the principle is the same, .

http://www.shariahboard.com/fatwa/Quran/1266.php

There are probably more detailed fatwas around, but as mentioned, I was just browsing the site and came across it.

[Muslimsister]

"english translation to be uploaded soon"... please, someone?

[Saleel]

"english translation to be uploaded soon"... please, someone?

"If non-mahrams cannot hear the voice, there is nothing wrong with the woman reciting the Quran in a happy tone."

Someone please correct me if I have errored in the translation.

[muslim786]

"If non-mahrams cannot hear the voice, there is nothing wrong with the woman reciting the Quran in a happy tone."

Someone please correct me if I have errored in the translation.

Assalamulikum,

Don't know about the Urdu but I have heard Shaikhs say the same thing regarding this.