Is it obligatory for the one praying in the ritual prayer to recite with measured recitation, reflection, and humility?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : If a person is praying alone, whether this prayer is a voluntary prayer or an obligatory one, is it obligatory for him to recite Surat al-Fatihah and whatever is easy of the Qur'an?
The Shaykh : Is it obligatory?
The questioner : Is it obligatory for him to recite Surat al-Fatihah and whatever is easy of the Qur'an with measured recitation, reflection, and humility, and what is the recommended practice in this regard?
The Shaykh : The recommended practice for the one praying in the ritual prayer when reciting the Qur'an is to pause at every verse and to elongate what should be elongated. The recitation of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was elongated; he would say:[Al-Fatihah 1:2-4] He would elongate and pause at every verse. This is the best and the well-known practice, but it is not obligatory. If a person does not pause at every verse and does not elongate, there is no harm. However, the best is this. And if a person is alone, let him recite as he wishes, with lengthening, measured recitation, or speed, provided he does not corrupt the letters and vowel movements, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih al-Bukhari 703 As for if he is an imam, it is not permissible for him to lengthen the prayer for them in a way that contradicts the Sunnah.
The questioner : Okay, if it is an ordinary recitation?
The Shaykh : There is no harm; there is absolutely no obstacle. The important thing is that he does not drop any of the letters and does not change any of the vowel movements.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good
The Shaykh : Yes
The Shaykh : Is it obligatory?
The questioner : Is it obligatory for him to recite Surat al-Fatihah and whatever is easy of the Qur'an with measured recitation, reflection, and humility, and what is the recommended practice in this regard?
The Shaykh : The recommended practice for the one praying in the ritual prayer when reciting the Qur'an is to pause at every verse and to elongate what should be elongated. The recitation of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was elongated; he would say:
(2) [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds - (3) The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, (4) Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.
الحمد لله رب العالمين الرحمن الرحيم مالك يوم الدينand if anyone among your prays alone then he may prolong (the prayer) as much as he wishes.
إذا صلى أحدكم لنفسه فليطول ما شاءThe questioner : Okay, if it is an ordinary recitation?
The Shaykh : There is no harm; there is absolutely no obstacle. The important thing is that he does not drop any of the letters and does not change any of the vowel movements.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good
The Shaykh : Yes