Quran Academy

Have you ever listened to a reciter of the Qur’an and wished that you could learnt how to recite the Qur’an with a good voice? To beautify your voice for the Qur’an in a way that seems reserved for only a select few?

Anyone can learn to recite the Qur’an in a beautiful way, and the holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) also encouraged us to beautify the Qur’an with our voices (Sunan Abi Dawud). If you have been yearning to recite the words of Allah in a good voice, these practical tips can help you.

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Learn to Recite Qur’an with Proper Tajweed

One of the most important steps to take when learning to recite is to learn how to recite the Qur’an with tajweed. That means articulating the words as they should be pronounced in the Arabic language.

You will notice that with professional or knowledgeable reciters of the Qur’an, their recitation usually features some pauses, deliberate pronunciation of certain letters and rhythm. All these are part of the tajweed rules of reciting the Qur’an, and if you can master that, you will notice a major difference in your recitation of the Qur’an.

For non-native speakers of Arabic, tajweed is not easy to learn without some help. It is advisable to enroll in a tajweed class where a teacher can guide you on the proper rules of pronouncing words in the Qur’an. There are many online courses that are excellent for this purpose.

But if you are unable to commit to a class, a good alternative is to use Qur’an apps that already have recordings of popular reciters. You can listen to these recitations anywhere and at any time.

You should know that there is a difference between reciting the Qur’an in a beautiful voice, and reciting in a sing-song melodious voice. The latter is frowned upon. When you beautify your voice in recitation, you use your natural voice, but in a way that is smooth and pleasing to the ears.

Listen to seasoned reciters

Do you have a favourite reciter of the holy Qur’an like Sheikh AbdulRahman as-Sudais or Mishary Alafasy? Follow their recitation and use it to practice your own recitation. You will learn how they pronounce certain words and how they undulate their voice to bring out that recitation that moves the heart.

It is not necessary to recite exactly in another reciter’s voice. But using their recitation to practice will help you get used to how to recite properly and soon enough you will develop your own voice.

Practice Consistently

For anyone learning to recite or memorize the Qur’an, constant practice is very important. The more you recite the words of the Qur’an the more you get used to the correct way of the reading of the Qur’an, and ultimately the better you get in your recitation.

Because Arabic may not be your first language, it is very easy to forget how to recite the Qur’an properly. That is why consistent practice is important. Aim to recite some portion of the Qur’an at least once a day using the rules of tajweed and attempting to beautify your voice.

Another way to practice consistently is to practice during salah.

Use the chapters that you are learning to recite properly when you are observing your salah. This helps you to remember not only the words but also to get used to the new way of reciting.

Learn to understand Arabic

It is possible to learn how to use tajweed and also to beautify your voice without learning Arabic. But it is better to improve your knowledge of the Arabic language, if you want to make your recitation better.

Imagine that there are some English words that you cannot pronounce, or you do not know the meaning of. Any time you see those words, maybe in a book, there is a tendency for you to slow down your reading in order to be able to read the word. Now if you knew the words and how to pronounce them, then reading and saying them becomes a breeze.

This is the case for learning Arabic too, especially when you are trying to improve your recitation of the Qur’an. When you are familiar with an Arabic word, you are also familiar with its correct pronunciation and usage. So when you come across such words in the Qur’an, you definitely know how to pronounce them.

You don’t have to put off your recitation till you understand all Arabic words. As you learn to improve your recitation, use that opportunity to understand the words that you come across.

Use the Mus’haf

The mus’haf is the hard copy of the holy Qur’an and you will find that it helps you stay in line with the tajweed rules that improve your Qur’anic recitation. This should be used concurrently with whatever online class or mobile application that you are using to improve your recitation.

The trick is to recite with a mus’haf, probably while your favourite reciter is playing, so that you can see for yourself how particular words are pronounced and written.

Reciting the Qur’an like a professional reciter is possible for anyone. As you can see, a readiness to learn more about the Qur’an and a dedication to practice will have you reciting in a clear, beautiful voice that will make you love the holy Qur’an more.

>>> Do you wish you could feel and understand the beauty of the Quran as you recite it? If so, click here to learn more.