Question

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatuallah

 

Alhamdolillah I have read your encouraging advice to those with English as a first language who are seeking to memorise the Quran.  I am well past my 20s so perhaps it will be more difficult for me – Inshallah Allah will make it possible.  My question is, although I can now read the Quran with a little fluency, I still cannot pronounce many of the letters properly (although a listener could probably tell which letter I am trying to say).  So is this in any way a reason why I should not memorise?  I feel that if I wait until I have corrected my tajweed, then my whole life could pass before I am able to master the correct pronunciation of the alphabet.  On the other hand, is there any virtue in memorising the Quran to the best of your ability, knowing that some will be incorrect?  What is your advice please?

 

Jazakallahu khair wa Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullah.

 

Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. 

Our first advice to you is not to think about your age as a barrier.  There are many non-Arabs we know that have memorized all the Qur’an or a good portion of it after their 20’s.  If you seek Allah’s help through constant dua’, keep your intention solely for Allah, and work hard, you will insha’ Allah reach your goal.  Never give up. 

We do not know the degree of the inaccuracy in the letters you have, but you should memorize and at the same time work very hard to fix the articulation points that you cannot pronounce correctly.  The point is not to accept the incorrect letters, but move forward in your plan to memorize.  There are two links that may help you as to rulings on this:

http://www.abouttajweed.com/Why%20should%20we%20read%20the%20Quran%20tajweed.pdf  particularly page 5.  It is not considered sinful as long as you are trying your best to correct the problem.  Again we emphasize that you should work on both at the same time and do not stop working on the tajweed aspect until you have perfected it, by Allah’s will.

http://www.abouttajweed.com/q2060102.htm

May Allah grant you the memorization of the Qur’an with complete accurate tajweed.  Ameen.

 Wa iyyaaakum.  Wa assalaam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.