Recording the Noble Qur'an in Ascending Order According to the Arrangement of the Surahs
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Fatwa No. ( 16163 )
Q: Some educational administrations have inquired about the possibility of recording the Noble Qur'an in ascending order according to the arrangement of the surahs, meaning: the recording begins first
with al-Fatihah, considering it the opening of the Book, then Surat al-Nas, then al-Falaq, then al-Ikhlas, then al-Masad, then al-Nasr, then al-Kafirun, and so on until the end of the Noble Qur'an, via tapes where each tape is dedicated to recording the curriculum of one grade level. The motivation for this is likely the desire of some Qur'an teachers to provide the Noble Qur'an via recording tapes to accompany the student, allowing him to spend his free time with it, and to enable the family to review their son's academic curricula (whenever they wish), finding before them a correct, melodious, and well-recited reading that takes into account the students' abilities and aptitudes. As Your Eminence knows, regular schools, Qur'an memorization associations, and the circles of scholars and shaykhs all take into account beginning the study of the Noble Qur'an from the short surahs, progressing in ascending order until the end of the Noble Qur'an. This is how we studied and how those before us studied, and we do not know—so far as we know—that any of the distinguished scholars throughout the ages has objected to this method. However, some of our colleagues—may Allah reward them with good—during the discussion of this topic, paused on this issue; explaining their viewpoint that beginning the study of the Noble Qur'an in ascending order is a matter imposed by reality and necessitated by the interest of the student, with no room for choice in it; since it is not possible to begin studying the Noble Qur'an from its beginning due to the difficulty of doing so, and indeed its impossibility. As for recording, the matter is not necessary, nor does a definitive interest of the student depend on it; rather, it is a matter sought only for assistance. After deliberations and discussions, we decided to present the matter to Your Eminence
for your guidance on what you see regarding the possibility of recording the curriculum of each grade level (academic year) in ascending order for the reasons we mentioned, which we hope will be a factor in making the Qur'an beloved to students and their families, and an aid in ensuring that everyone masters its recitation and reflection on its meanings. We ask Allah for success for everyone.
A : It is not permissible to record the Noble Qur'an in reversed order of the surahs, beginning from Surat al-Nas to Surat al-Baqarah; because the arrangement of the surahs of the Noble Qur'an as it exists in the hands of the Muslims was established by the ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) in the era of 'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), and the Muslims and those after them continued with it, and the matter of the Muslims in education has proceeded by teaching their children according to the arrangement that is in their hands. Even if the beginning of education is from the short surahs of al-Mufassal, the arrangement is fixed and has not changed. As for recording it in reversed order, it involves a contradiction of what the Companions and the Muslims after them have practiced, and it entails other dangers. It is obligatory that the Book of Allah remain as the Muslims have inherited it, in the arrangement of its verses and surahs, both in writing and in recording. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: Some educational administrations have inquired about the possibility of recording the Noble Qur'an in ascending order according to the arrangement of the surahs, meaning: the recording begins first
with al-Fatihah, considering it the opening of the Book, then Surat al-Nas, then al-Falaq, then al-Ikhlas, then al-Masad, then al-Nasr, then al-Kafirun, and so on until the end of the Noble Qur'an, via tapes where each tape is dedicated to recording the curriculum of one grade level. The motivation for this is likely the desire of some Qur'an teachers to provide the Noble Qur'an via recording tapes to accompany the student, allowing him to spend his free time with it, and to enable the family to review their son's academic curricula (whenever they wish), finding before them a correct, melodious, and well-recited reading that takes into account the students' abilities and aptitudes. As Your Eminence knows, regular schools, Qur'an memorization associations, and the circles of scholars and shaykhs all take into account beginning the study of the Noble Qur'an from the short surahs, progressing in ascending order until the end of the Noble Qur'an. This is how we studied and how those before us studied, and we do not know—so far as we know—that any of the distinguished scholars throughout the ages has objected to this method. However, some of our colleagues—may Allah reward them with good—during the discussion of this topic, paused on this issue; explaining their viewpoint that beginning the study of the Noble Qur'an in ascending order is a matter imposed by reality and necessitated by the interest of the student, with no room for choice in it; since it is not possible to begin studying the Noble Qur'an from its beginning due to the difficulty of doing so, and indeed its impossibility. As for recording, the matter is not necessary, nor does a definitive interest of the student depend on it; rather, it is a matter sought only for assistance. After deliberations and discussions, we decided to present the matter to Your Eminence
for your guidance on what you see regarding the possibility of recording the curriculum of each grade level (academic year) in ascending order for the reasons we mentioned, which we hope will be a factor in making the Qur'an beloved to students and their families, and an aid in ensuring that everyone masters its recitation and reflection on its meanings. We ask Allah for success for everyone.
A : It is not permissible to record the Noble Qur'an in reversed order of the surahs, beginning from Surat al-Nas to Surat al-Baqarah; because the arrangement of the surahs of the Noble Qur'an as it exists in the hands of the Muslims was established by the ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) in the era of 'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), and the Muslims and those after them continued with it, and the matter of the Muslims in education has proceeded by teaching their children according to the arrangement that is in their hands. Even if the beginning of education is from the short surahs of al-Mufassal, the arrangement is fixed and has not changed. As for recording it in reversed order, it involves a contradiction of what the Companions and the Muslims after them have practiced, and it entails other dangers. It is obligatory that the Book of Allah remain as the Muslims have inherited it, in the arrangement of its verses and surahs, both in writing and in recording. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.