prolonging (madd) and softness (layn), so long as that does not lead him to excessive stretching (tamtit); because of the saying of Allah the Exalted: {And recite the Quran with measured recitation} (31). It was narrated from (32) Umm Salamah that she was asked about the recitation of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), and she said: He would segment his recitation verse by verse: {In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful (1) Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds (2) The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful (3) Master of the Day of Judgment}. Narrated by Imam Ahmad in his "Musnad" (33). From Anas, he said: The recitation of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was extended, then he read {In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful}, prolonging {Bismillahi}, prolonging {al-Rahman}, and prolonging {al-Rahim}. Narrated by al-Bukhari (34). If that reaches the point of excessive stretching and singing (talhin), it is disliked, for one might turn vowels into letters. Ahmad said: "What pleases me of the recitation of the Quran is that which is natural." And he said regarding his (the Prophet's) saying: "Adorn the Quran with your voices (35)," he said: "He beautifies it with his voice without affectation." It has also been narrated in another report (36): "The best of people in recitation is the one whom, when you hear his recitation, you see that he fears Allah (37)." And it was narrated: "Verily, this Quran was revealed with sadness, so recite it with sadness" (38).
(31) Surah al-Muzzammil 4. (32) Omitted from the original. (33) Its authentication (takhrij) has already been mentioned in the footnote on page 148. (34) In the chapter: "On prolonging recitation," from the book "Virtues of the Quran." Sahih al-Bukhari 6/240, 241. It was also narrated by Imam Ahmad in: al-Musnad 3/127, 198. (35) Narrated by al-Bukhari in the chapter: "The statement of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): The one who is skilled in the Quran is with the noble, righteous scribes, and Adorn the Quran with your voices (the section title)," from the Book of Tawhid. Sahih al-Bukhari 9/193. It was also narrated by Abu Dawud in the chapter: "The recommendation of measured recitation (tartil) in reading," from the Book of Witr. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/338. And by al-Nasa'i in the chapter: "Adorning the Quran with the voice," from the Book of Opening the Prayer. al-Mujtaba 2/139. And by Ibn Majah in the chapter: "On having a beautiful voice for the Quran," from the Book of Establishing the Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/426. And by al-Darimi in the chapter: "On chanting (taghanna) the Quran," from the Book of Virtues of the Quran. Sunan al-Darimi 2/474. And by Imam Ahmad in: al-Musnad 4/283, 285, 296, 304. (36) Omitted from the original. (37) Narrated by Ibn Majah in the chapter: "On having a beautiful voice for the Quran," from the Book of Establishing the Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/425. And by al-Darimi in the chapter: "On chanting the Quran," from the Book of Virtues of the Quran. Sunan al-Darimi 2/471, 472. In Sunan al-Darimi it says: "You see that he fears Allah." (38) Narrated by Ibn Majah in the chapter: "On having a beautiful voice for the Quran," from the Book of Establishing the Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/424. It contains: "So when you recite it, weep; and if you cannot weep, then feign weeping..." in place of: "Recite it with sadness."
