Question

Al Salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuh

I feel rather embarrassed emailing such a question as I do not know whether it is a common matter that everybody knows, or whether it is obvious. I am very interested in the ahkam of reading the Qur'an and would like to learn tajweed. I however would like to ask, firstly what the type of reading that Abdul Baset Abdul Sammad reads when he holds his breath for a very long time, and reads for a very long period. I also wish to ask how such readers are capable of reading for so long without appearing to take a breath, when I try imitating it, I cannot do it. Is it the way they read or do they have a very long breath.
Jazakum Allah Kharan

 Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuh.

There is no need to feel embarrassed when asking questions in seeking knowledge.

Breath control is something that varies from person to person, and can be increased with experience and practice, with Allah’s Will.  There is no ruling stating we have to be able to read for a certain length of time in one breath, but we should try and make sure we stop on a good stop when our breath is about to run out then go back a few words, if necessary, to convey the correct meaning of the aayah we are reading.  If you practice and try to increase the amount of read of a specific long aayah each day by one word, insha’ Allah your breath control will increase, but the most important thing is to read the Qur’an correctly with good tajweed and apply the meaning to your life.  May Allah grant you this.  Ameen.

Please also see: http://www.abouttajweed.com/questionm.htm

Wa iyyaakum wa-l-muslimeen. Wa assalaam