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Question

Assalamu Alaikum brother,

What does it take to be able to read the Qur'an like As-Shuraim or any of these blessed beautiful reciters?? Tell what I must study, and recommend any books in particular. JazakAllahu khair

Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuh.

May we suggest that you set your goals to the highest goal for Qur’an recitation?  That goal is reciting the Qur’an as the Prophet Muhammed, , did. This isn’t to detract from the recitation of any of the well known qurraa’, may Allah reward them all, but if we put our goal as reading as the Prophet  did, the steps to take are clearer and the goal measurable. To achieve this goal, you need to find a good teacher of the Qur’an, preferably one who has an ijaazah to listen and correct your recitation.  You need to study the tajweed rules, and apply them to your recitation.  The tajweed books recommended by this site are the books shown at www.tajweedbooks.com .  These are not the only tajweed books available in English but they cover the rules in the same way as this site. As you learn the tajweed rules and apply them to your reading, you should be memorizing the Qur’an.  Once you have perfected your recitation with the correct rules and memorized the Qur’an, you need to seek out a teacher with an ijaazah, which is someone with an authentic confirmed chain of recitation going back to the Prophet, .  You should try and find the highest level of chain (lowest number of links between your teacher and the Prophet, ), with strong masters of recitation throughout the chain.  We ask Allah to grant you this high achievement and make you of “ahl Al-Qur’an.”

Wa iyyaakum wa-l-muslimeen.

Wa assalaam aliakum