Quran Expert Advocates for 15-Year Imitation for Young Qaris

IQNA – A prominent Quranic expert said students of Quran recitation should spend at least 15 years imitating and mastering the styles of famous qaris before developing their own unique method.

 

Mahmoud Lotfinejad made the remarks during a specialized session of Iran’s Supreme Quran Council in Tehran on Wednesday.

He presented his paper, titled “Imitation and Innovation in Quran Recitation”, arguing that a prolonged period of imitation is essential for building a proper foundation.

“Imitation is the first stage in learning Quran recitation,” Lotfinejad said. “A reciter must be able to copy a famous recitation as a work of art, and then present it appropriately based on their own ability and capacity.”

He highlighted Egypt’s centuries-long tradition in the art of Quran recitation.

He said despite having an elite community of reciters in Iran, many of whom are creative, “we are still in the early years of reaching a level where we can have a distinguished recitation stemming from Iranian culture and art.”

The expert emphasized that Iranian reciters are not yet in a position to abandon imitation entirely. “It is not beyond fairness to say that we are not currently at a level where we can completely abandon imitation.”

Lotfinejad outlined a structured learning process. The first step involves a student choosing a single recitation style to emulate, avoiding the confusion that comes from sampling too many different styles early on. The learner must then immerse themselves in their chosen model through intensive listening.

“The learner must store all the subtleties and intricacies of recitation in their memory through abundant listening,” he explained. “They must be able to present everything they have learned in a session, exactly as it is.”

He also stressed the importance of using high-quality audio sources to ensure correct pronunciation, especially for children and teenagers who often learn through online platforms. He recommended that learners always have the written text of the verses in front of them and pay close attention to rules of Tajweed and grammar.

Lotfinejad concluded his presentation by recommending specific reciters for beginners to study, highlighting the work of Ahmad Aboqassemi and Mohsen Yarahmadi as valuable models.

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