When Recitation Breeds Pride

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اِعْلَمْ أَنَّ فِي كُلِّ طَائِفَةٍ مِنْ عُلَمَاءِ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ مَا يُذَمُّ وَيُعَابُ فَتَجَنَّبْهُ

Know that in every group of scholars of this nation, there is what is blameworthy and disgraceful, so avoid it.

عِلْمُ الْقِرَاءَةِ وَالتَّجْوِيدِ

The science of Qur'anic recitation and Tajweed:

فالقراء المجودة فيهم تنطع وتحرير زائد يؤدي إلى أن المجود القارىء يبقى مصروف الهمة إلى مراعاة الحروف،

For the exaggerated recitation among them involves excessive detail, leading the refined reciter to focus solely on the articulation of letters,

وَالتَّنَطُّعُ فِي تَجْوِيدِهَا بِحَيْثُ يُشْغِلُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ تَدَبُّرِ مَعَانِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى

and such excessive articulation in its recitation distracts him from pondering the meanings of the Book of Allah, the Exalted,

وَيَصْرِفُهُ عَنِ الْخُشُوعِ فِي التِّلَاوَةِ لِلَّهِ

and it diverts him from humility in reciting for Allah.

ويخليه قوي النفس مزدريا بحفاظ كتاب الله تعالى،

And it makes him self-assured, looking down on the keepers of the Book of Allah, the Exalted,

فَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ بِعَيْنِ الْمَقْتِ وَأَنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ يَلْحَنُونَ

so he views them with an eye of disdain and that the Muslims make mistakes in recitation,

وبأن القراء لا يحفظون إلا شواذ القراءة

and that the reciters do not preserve except the rare readings.

فَ لَيْتَ شِعْرِي أَنْتَ مَاذَا عَرَفْتَ وَمَا عِلْمُكَ

I wish to know what you have understood? And what is your knowledge,

وَأَمَّا عَمَلُكَ فَغَيْرُ صَالِحٍ وَأَمَّا تِلَاوَتُكَ فَثَقِيلَةٌ عَرِيَةٌ عَنِ الْخَشْيَةِ وَالْحُزْنِ وَالْخَوْفِ

As for your deeds, they are not righteous, and your recitation is heavy, devoid of fear, sorrow, and apprehension.

فَ اللَّهُ يُوَفِّقُكَ وَيُبَصِّرُكَ رُشْدَكَ وَيُوقِظُكَ مِنْ رَقْدَةِ الْجَهْلِ وَالرِّيَاءِ

May Allah guide you, make you see your right path, and awaken you from the slumber of ignorance and hypocrisy.