Understanding Quran Should Precede Mastery of Melody and Recitation: Expert
Speaking at a scholarly seminar titled "Quran Recitation: Worship, Knowledge, or Art?", organized by the Iranian Association for Quranic Studies and Islamic Culture, Hamidreza Mostafid urged qaris to prioritize comprehension over aesthetics.
"We must not approach Quran recitation purely as an artistic or vocal performance," said the senior Quranic expert, who has acted as a member of panel of arbiters of Quran competitions both in Iran and abroad.
"In Egypt, no reciter is without full memorization of the Quran,” he said, adding that this should be a universal standard, yet many qaris do not follow this model.
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"Recitation is a form of worship, not merely a skill to master," he noted.
Mostafid stressed that in Egypt, Quranic recitation is treated as a scholarly discipline, deeply rooted in knowledge and proper application.
"Egyptian qaris like Mustafa Ismail and Abdul Basit didn’t just master melody; they were well-versed in the sciences of Tajweed and Qira’at. Some of our reciters today focus solely on musicality without a deep understanding of these sciences, which is concerning."
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He also criticized the overemphasis on vocal embellishments in certain Quranic recitations. "Recitation should not be about musical entertainment. Some young reciters today focus on intricate melodies but lack mastery over Tajweed, Waqf and Ibtida, and proper pronunciation," he regretted.
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