The Meaning of Abu Musa’s Statement to the Prophet: “I Would Have Adorned It for You with Adornment”

Question:
May Allah reward you. The questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, when the noble Companion said, “I would have adorned it for you with adornment,” how is this answered?

Answer:
The meaning of “I would have adorned it for you with adornment” is that I would have beautified my voice for it. This is evidence for the recommendation of beautifying the voice for the Qur’an. The hadith was reported with Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him) because he had a beautiful voice for the Qur’an. He used to stand in prayer at night, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by his house and heard his voice reciting the Qur’an with its beauty (may Allah be pleased with him). He stopped to listen, and then said to him the next morning, “If you had seen me listening to you last night.” He said, “If I had known that you were listening, I would have adorned it for you with adornment,” meaning I would have fortified it with my voice, beautifying it with the beauty of voice that Allah granted him. It is recommended, and the scholars derived from this that it is recommended to beautify the voice in recitation, because this is more effective in its impact and it involves honoring the speech of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Yes.