Essential Etiquette and Manners for Holy Quran Recitation

Dr. Smer Gabr

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, and upon his family and companions.

Allah (The Exalted) says in His decisive Book:

“That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allāh — indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.” (Quran, Al-Ḥajj: 32)

(ذَٰلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ)

Allah (The Exalted) made the honoring of His Symbols a sign of the heart's piety, the purity of intention, and the soundness of the mind and thought, as well as reverence for Allah. How great then is the one who honors the Book of Allah, observes the proper etiquette with His Divine Speech, and embodies the morality of the Holy Quran!

Therefore, one of the most important ways to honor the symbols of Allah is to revere His Book and His Speech. Scholars throughout Islamic history have authored many books on the etiquette of Quran recitation (Ādāb Tilāwat al-Qur’ān), detailing the proper demeanor of the reciter before, during, and after the recitation. Among the most famous of these books are:

Akhlāq Ḥamalat al-Qur’ān (The Morals of the Bearers of the Qur’ān) by Abū Bakr al-Ājurrī (d. 360 AH).

At-Tamhīd fī Ma‘rifat at-Tajwīd (The Preamble in Knowing Tajwīd) by Abū al-‘Alā’ al-‘Aṭṭārī (d. 560 AH).

At-Tibyān fī Ādāb Ḥamalat al-Qur’ān (The Clarification Regarding the Manners of the Bearers of the Qur’ān) by Abū Zakariyyā Yaḥyā bin Sharaf An-Nawawī (d. 676 AH), which is considered the best for its comprehensiveness, organization, and brevity.

We will summarize here the most important etiquette points so that the reciter may be fully aware and committed to these manners whenever they approach the Holy Quran for recitation and contemplation.

We can summarize the essential manners that a Muslim should adopt with the Book of our Lord to achieve the proper reverence for His Speech and Book, and they fall into three categories:

 

First: Etiquette to Observe Before Recitation

Purification: It is recommended for the reciter to perform wuḍū’ (ablution) before starting, choose a clean place, and wear clean clothing that covers the ‘awrah (nakedness).

Using Siwāk (Toothstick): It is a Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) to use the Siwāk to clean the mouth and teeth, as the mouth is the channel for the words and letters, and its cleanliness is an act of pleasing the Lord and revering the Quran. It was narrated that ‘Alī (may Allah be pleased with him) encouraged the use of Siwāk and said: "When a man stands up to pray, the angel approaches him to listen to the Quran, and keeps drawing nearer until he places his mouth upon the reciter’s mouth, so no verse is uttered except that it enters the angel's internal parts." (Hadeeth: إن الرجل إذا قام يصلي دنا الملكُ منه يستمع القرآن فما يزال يدنو منه حتى يضع فاه على فيه، فما يلفظ من أيةٍ إلا دخلت في جوفه)

Choosing a Quiet Location: It is better for the reciter to choose a place far from distractions, allowing for greater concentration and minimizing disturbance.

 

Second: Etiquette to Observe During Recitation

Seeking Refuge: To seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan, according to the saying of the Almighty: "So when you recite the Qur’ān, [first] seek refuge in Allāh from Satan, the expelled [from His mercy]." (Quran, An-Naḥl: 98). The intent is: if you intend to recite, seek refuge.

Observing Tajwīd (Pronunciation Rules): To ensure proper recitation and adherence to the rules of Tajwīd, such as extending the Madd (vowel lengthening) where required, merging letters (Idghām), and so on, based on the saying of the Almighty: "...and recite the Qur’ān with measured recitation." (Quran, Al-Muzzammil: 4). And the Prophet’s (PBUH) saying: "The one who is skilled in the Qur’an will be with the noble and righteous scribes (angels)..." (Hadeeth: الماهر بالقرآن مع السفرة الكرام البررة...). We mention this rule here, even though it is an obligation, to emphasize the importance of the reciter’s commitment to it, as many who read the Quran do not observe its Tajwīd rules, as if they are reading any ordinary book or newspaper.

Contemplation (Tadabbur): To contemplate the verses being read and reflect on their meanings. The command to reflect on the Quran has been mentioned in many places, such as the saying of Allah (The Exalted): "[This is] a Book which We have sent down to you, full of blessing, that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember." (Quran, Ṣād: 29).

Interaction (Ta’awwul): To apply the commands within the Quran during recitation. If one passes a verse of glorification, they should glorify Allah (Subḥānallāh); if a verse of seeking forgiveness, they should seek forgiveness (Astaghfirullāh); if Paradise is mentioned, they should ask Allah for Paradise; and if the Fire is mentioned, they should seek refuge with Allah from the Fire.

Prostration of Recitation (Sujud at-Tilāwah): To perform the prostration whenever one passes a verse requiring it.

Beautifying the Voice: To beautify one's voice with the Quran and chant it (Tataghannā). The more one recites and recites aloud, the better they become at refining and adorning their voice.

Observing the Levels of Recitation: To observe the three recognized speeds (Marātib) of recitation: Taḥqīq (slow), Tadwīr (moderate), and Ḥadr (fast), ensuring the application of Tajwīd rules in each level.

Dua' after Completion: To recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah and the first five verses of Sūrat al-Baqarah when completing the entire Quran (Khatmah), and then supplicate to Allah, as that supplication is answered.

 

Third: General Manners Related to Recitation

Acting upon the Quran: To practice the teachings of the Quran and embody its morals.

Upholding the Demeanor of the People of the Quran: By frequently engaging in Dhikr (remembrance), deep contemplation, minimizing idle talk, and diligently performing worship and obedience.

Teaching the Quran: To be keen on teaching the Quran and conveying its verses to others, as the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Convey from me, even if it is one verse." (Hadeeth: بلغوا عني ولو أية)

Striving for Mastery and Precision (Itqān): To be keen on mastering and meticulously controlling the recitation. It was narrated from Ash-Shāfi‘ī (may Allah have mercy upon him, d. 204 AH) that he said: "Whoever learns knowledge should be precise in it." (Hadeeth: من تعلّم علماً فليُدقّق فيه)

Establishing a Daily Portion (Wird): To have a daily portion of the Quran, reading at least one juz’ (part) every day to complete the entire Quran once a month; the more one reads, the better.

Reciting in Night Prayer: To recite from the Quran what is easy for them during the night prayer (Qiyām al-Layl) to maintain this Sunnah.

Memorization and Review: To be keen on memorizing what they can of the Holy Quran and continually review it for fear of forgetting.

Making up Missed Portions: If one misses their nightly portion, they should recite it between sunrise and noon.

Guarding the Senses: To protect one's stomach from unlawful food, one's tongue from idle talk, one's hands from taking what is forbidden, and one's feet from seeking sin.

Written by: Dr. Sāmer Jaber PhD in Tafsīr and Quranic Sciences (Amman, Jordan)