AlMujtaba Islamic Articles

THE HOLY QURAN – PART 8 - ETIQUETTES OF QURAN: TARTEEL

Allah (SWT) is commanding us to recite the Holy Quran with ‘Tarteel’.

“And recite the Quran with Tarteel (in a measured tone)”. (73:4)

There are different translations given to this verse of the Holy Quran:

M H Shakir writes: “And recite the Quran as it ought to be recited”.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali writes: “And recite the Quran in slow, measured rhythmic tones”.

S V Mir Ahmad Ali writes: “And intone the Quran in a regulated tone”.

According to Shia’ Imams (as), ‘Tarteel’ has several meanings:

When Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (as) was asked to explain ‘Tarteel’, he (as) said, “Tarteel means to recite the Quran in a clear manner (words are understandable). Do not recite it like a poem in which you hurry in some part and slow down in some; nor recite it in a manner that you scatter them (its words) like particles of soil. Rather, recite it in such a way that you soften the hard hearts and awaken them. Let not your objective be to hastily reach at the end of the Surah”. (Tafseer-e-Namoona)

Imam Ja’ffar as-Sadiq (as) has said, “It (Tarteel) means to recite the verses with a pause after every verse and to recite in a beautiful tone”. (Tafseer-e-Namoona)

There are two other traditions reported from Imam as-Sadiq (as) in explanation of ‘Tarteel’:

“If you pass by a verse in which Paradise has been mentioned then (pause and) ask for Paradise; And if you pass by a verse in which Hell has been mentioned then (pause and) seek refuge in Allah from hell-fire”. (Tafseer-e-Namoona)

“Quran should not be recited hastily. When you come across a verse in which Hell-fire has been mentioned then seek refuge in Allah from Hell-fire”. (Tafseer-e-Namoona)

We therefore conclude that ‘Tarteel’ means:

Not to recite the Holy Quran hastily with the objective of completing it.

To recite the verses of the Holy Quran slowly, clearly and in beautiful tone such that it softens the hearts and awakens our souls and that of the other listeners.

To respond to the verses of the Holy Quran.

RECITING QURAN IN GOOD VOICE

The recitor of the Holy Quran should strive to recite with beautiful voice. There are numerous traditions in this regard, some of which have been mentioned hereunder:

The Holy Prophet (saww) has said, “Verily good voice is an adornment for Quran”. (Bihar al-Anwaar)

He (saww) also said, “Verily for everything there is something that adorns it and the adornment of Quran is good voice”. (Bihar al-Anwaar)

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