5. Tarteel (Reading in
slow,
measured rhythmic tones):
The ideal way
in which the Holy Book
should
be recited is that one should stand in post-midnight prayer before
his
Lord, with hands folded in all humility, and recite the Qur’an
in a receptive state of mind, slowly and patiently, pausing at proper places so as to enable one’s heart to imbibe its influence. This kind of recitation is called
tarteel, and perhaps the most important instruction that was given to the Holy Prophet (SAW) in the earliest stage of his prophetic mission was to
recite the Qur’an in
this manner:
O you wrapped in garments! Stand (in prayer) by night. But
not all night; half of it, or a little less, or a little more.
And
recite the Qur’an
in slow, measured rhythmic tones. (Al- Muzzammil 73:1-4)
Reading the Qur’an slowly
and thoughtfully, making
pauses at proper points in its text,
has a resemblance with the
mode
of its revelation. As we all know, the whole Qur’an was not
revealed at once but
it has descended piecemeal at intervals. In the Surah entitled “Furqan,” by way
of answering those who objected as to why the Qur’an was not revealed all at once,
Allah
(SWT) says addressing His Messenger (SAW):
…thus (is it revealed) that We may strengthen your
heart
thereby, and we have revealed it to you in slow well-arranged stages, gradually. (Al-Furqan 25:32)
This signifies that tarteel is an effective means
of strengthening the heart’s convictions. Undoubtedly, reading
the Qur’an on this pattern does the greatest good to the human
heart. It often moves one to tears with intensity of feeling. While explaining
tarteel, Allama Ibn Arabi (RA), the
author of Ahkam- ul-Qur’an,
has quoted the following
tradition narrated on the
authority of Hasan Ibn
Ali (RAA):
Once the Holy
Prophet (SAW) happened to pass by a person
who was reading the Qur’an. He was reading
it ayah by ayah,
and
the end of each he paused and wept. Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said to his Companions (RAA): “Have you heard
Allah’s command:
‘Read the Qur’an in slow, measured tones.’ Look, here you have its demonstration.”
The
following words of the
Holy Prophet
(SAW) contain a similar instruction for tarteel, i.e., reading the Qur’an in
slow
rhythmic tones.
Recite the Qur’an and weep. (Narrated by Ibn Majah)
The Holy Prophet’s (SAW) own condition during the
night prayer, which has been described
in books of tradition, is
a case in point. When he stood in his night prayer reciting
the Qur’an slowly and thoughtfully, making
short pauses in the
recitation, holding
a communion with
his
Lord, he would
weep with such intensity
of feeling that his breast would produce a sizzling
sound as if it were a kettle on fire in which something was being cooked.
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