In any case, it is established that beautifying one's voice with the Quran and reciting it with melody is recommended and not disliked, provided that this does not lead to altering its wording or adding [letters to it] (64). It has been narrated from Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "I was listening to a man's recitation in the mosque, and I have never heard a recitation more beautiful than his." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stood up and listened to his recitation, then said: "This is Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hudhayfah. Praise be to Allah who has placed in my nation the likes of this" (65). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to Abu Musa: "I passed by you last night while you were reciting; you have indeed been given a flute from the flutes of the family of David." Abu Musa said: "If I had known that you were listening, I would have embellished it for you with ornamentation" (66). This is along with the reports we have mentioned. And Allah knows best.
(64) In A, M: "its letters." (65) Narrated by Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on the Beautiful Voice with the Quran, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/425. And Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 6/165. (66) Narrated by al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter on the Beautiful Voice in Recitation, from the Book of the Virtues of the Quran. Sahih al-Bukhari 6/241. Muslim, in: The Chapter on the Recommendation of Beautifying the Voice with the Quran, from the Book of the Traveler’s Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/546. Al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter on the Merits of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, may Allah be pleased with him, from the Chapters of Merits. Aridat al-Ahwadhi 13/241. Al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on Beautifying the Quran with the Voice, from the Book of the Opening of Prayer. Al-Mujtaba 2/140, 141. Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on the Beautiful Voice with the Quran, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/425, 426. Al-Darimi, in: The Chapter on Singing with the Quran, from the Book of Prayer, and in: The Chapter on Singing with the Quran, from the Book of the Virtues of the Quran. Sunan al-Darimi 1/349, 2/472. And Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 2/369, 450, 5/349, 351, 359, 6/37, 167.
