1. Tajweed:
In this connection, the first step we
are required to take is to acquire a thorough knowledge of the Arabic alphabet,
their phonetic sounds, and the significance of the different kinds of
pauses used in
the Qur’an. The
technical term used for this knowledge is tajweed, which is a
must for a good fluent recitation. In the thirties and forties, almost every
Muslim child in the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent would start his education with
the learning of tajweed. At the very outset he was given a clear idea of
the letters of
the Qur’an and
their correct phonetic sounds. Although, as already stated
in the beginning of this booklet, some efforts have been made in Pakistan and
other Muslim countries to popularize tajweed, still the fact remains that a
vast majority of the Muslim youth, even a large number of adults and
old people among
us, cannot read
the Qur’an properly.
This lack of ability to read even the
bare text of the Qur’an is due, on the one hand, to the decline of the
classical system of education that was imparted in the mosques and maktabs to
all the children of the community, rich and poor, and, on the other hand, to
the popularity of the kindergarten and other types of modern primary schools
which do not include the recitation of the Qur’an in their curriculum.
Here I will suggest that all such persons, to whichever age group they may belong, as do not possess the ability to read the Qur’an properly should realize their deficiency and take necessary steps to remove it. We should also adopt it as a decided policy that the education of our children will start with tajweed and the first thing they will learn will be how to read the Qur’an correctly. Over-emphasis on this point may not be very desirable, nevertheless it is incumbent upon every educated person to acquire the ability of reading the Qur’an with a correct accent and pronunciation, carefully observing the pauses used in it. Without acquiring this ability our obligation of reciting the Qur’an cannot be fulfilled.
Here I will suggest that all such persons, to whichever age group they may belong, as do not possess the ability to read the Qur’an properly should realize their deficiency and take necessary steps to remove it. We should also adopt it as a decided policy that the education of our children will start with tajweed and the first thing they will learn will be how to read the Qur’an correctly. Over-emphasis on this point may not be very desirable, nevertheless it is incumbent upon every educated person to acquire the ability of reading the Qur’an with a correct accent and pronunciation, carefully observing the pauses used in it. Without acquiring this ability our obligation of reciting the Qur’an cannot be fulfilled.
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