Question
Assalaamu Alaikum Brothers
and Sisters
I would like to know about the origins of the Maqaamat (musical scales) -
also what is the ruling by the Ulamaa' as to whether it is permissible to
recite the Qur'an with the Maqaamat in salaah.
Shukran
Wassalaamu Alaikum warahmatullah
Answer
Wa alaikum assalaam wa
rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
The Qur’an was not revealed
with musical scales, the Prophet,
did not read the
Qur’an with musical scales, nor did the companions and those after them.
Dr. Sheikh Ayman Swayd, may
Allah preserve him, wrote a small book entitled “Al-Bayaan lihukm qira’at
al-Qur’an Al-Kareem bil-Alhaan”, meaning “The Clear statement on the ruling
of reading the Qur’an with melodies”. In this small book, which is quite
thorough, on page 44-45 , we have his concluding statements [translated and
condensed]:
-
Reciting the Glorious Qur’an with tunes
and musical melodies is bid’a, it was not by the Messenger of Allah,
,
nor the honorable companions, nor did Jibreel bring the revelations with
them.
-
Beautifying the voice when reciting the
Glorious Qur’an is a matter that is praiseworthy and desired in
Sharee’ah, but that should be in with ones natural recitation and with
natural Arabic tones, not with the foreign tones.
-
If one reads the Qur’an with a specific
melody of musical melodies or tunes then the matter falls into one of
two categories:
If he/she gives the tilaawah rules preference and focuses on them more
than the musical tune, then the ruling is one of detest (karaahah),
since this is not from the Prophet.
If he/she focuses on the musical tune more than the tajweed rules, then
the scholars are in agreement that this form of reading the Qur’an is
haraam and it is haraam to listen to it also.
Dr. Ayman also mentions in
subsequent points the hadeeth in which we are ordered by the Prophet, to
read the Qur’an with “yataghanna”, translated by some as tones, and explains
that “yataghanna” has been stated by the scholars to mean one of two
things:
-
The Qur’an replaces “yastaghnee” what is
besides it as far as news and books. This is the statement of Sufyaan
bin ‘Uyaanah and a large number of the taabi’een. [note that this
meaning then has nothing to do with the sounds or tones when we are
reading.]
-
One beautifies their voice when reading
the Glorious Qur’an with his natural abilities not by following musical
melodies.
As to the origin of musical
scales, that is something can be searched on the Internet and beyond our
scope of knowledge.
Afwan.
Wa assalaam alaikum wa
rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.