Is the recitation of the Qur'an exactly presrcibed?

Question

I mean, can you "sing" it in a different way too? I was just wondering if the Al-Fatiha could be performed as a hip hop song on MTV... I'm not trying to be offensive, but it could promote Islam well, right?
Anyways, is there a standard form of recitation or can you improvise?

Answer 1

Thank you for this question.

There are actually several different ways of reciting Quranic verses. And, also there are individual variations within those methods. But all of them subscribe to a basic tenets, pronunciation, stresses and other rules of Quranic recitation.

That being said, the intention of recitation is very important. Muhammad (saw) told us that our actions are known by our intentions. So, therefore, one can be kneeling on the ground and still not be praying if one's intention in the kneeling is not prayer.

Similarly, one can recite the scriptures of any religion, but if one's intention is not the glorification and remembrance of He who inspired scripture, and to learn the message contained, then one is being disrespectful to that scripture.

We are taught that when the Quran is recited we should listen with all our attention and all our heart for contained in those words is the message of our cherisher and creator. We should be free of distraction and make it our highest hope to hear and learn from it. It should not be our intention to enjoy the beat of the music or the beauty of the voice doing the recitation, these are not important, what is important is the message that the Quran contains.

So my opinion on this question is that, although I see nothing wrong with a new style of recitation (as long as the rules of pronunciation and tajweed are followed), I would caution against any form of recitation, either classical or modern, that distracts from concentrating on the beauty and meaning of the message.

And Allah knows best,

Peace and Blessings,

Salim

Answer 2

By The Name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful

Assalam Alykom (Peace Unto You)

Singing is different from recitation. Recitation has its own rules, way of spelling words and sentences, and contains no music whatsoever. Singing Qur'an is not acceptable by Muslims, but singing religious things is OK. Anyway, the art of reading Qur'an is called Tajweed (Which is an Arabic word meaning literally: To beautify, to make good). Recitation of The Noble Qura'n has departments of its own in colleges that teach Islamic Religious Sciences.
Standard forms are avialble and there are some rules that all readers agree on, but you can find differences here and there and the way of spelling some letters or words, but keeps the same exact words with same exact meanings among all Muslims.

Answer 3

I hope you do not mean to be offenseive really but to answer your question, there are different styles and ways you can recite the Quran. You could notice it yourself with different sheikhs. However, enough respect should be paid to the words of Allah when recited. Also complete attention should be paid to them when recited. You do not promote the words of Allah through a hip hop song on MTV! Thank you.

Answer 4

Recition is not exact the similar .. but it's very far away from singing and has a science called the science of tajweed .. which is not easy

try to listen

http://quran.islamway.com/quran3/45/001.rm