Qur'anic recitation (tilawa)

Shaykh Muhammad Rif`at

• Qur’anic recitation (mujawwad). Performed by Shaykh Muhammad Rif‘at ((May 9, 1882 - May 9, 1950), the earliest great reciter to be recorded in Egypt, during the early part of this century. This is again the mujawwad style; note the pauses, repeats, slow delivery, melisma, melodic inventiveness. This style allows the performer to maximize emotional power.

Shaykh `Abd al-Basit `Abd al-Samad

• Qur’anic recitation (mujawwad). Performed by Shaykh ‘Abd al-Basit ‘Abd al-Samad. A great Egyptian reciter who passed away relatively recently (1927-1988). Note how each reciter has his style. This too is the mujawwad style.

• Young Iranian boy reciting in Shaykh `Abd al-Basit's style

• Qur’anic recitation (murattal). Performed by Shaykh Ahmad bin Ali ‘Ajami, from Saudi Arabia. Note the contrast with the previous two examples: here, recitation is rapid, narrower in melodic scope, little melisma, always moving forward without pauses. This style, called murattal, was traditionally used for study and private devotions. Recently it has become more popular for listening, probably due to Egyptian worker migration to Saudi Arabia, as well as increasing religious conservatism; the conservatives critics often condemn the older mujawwad style as “singing” the Qur’an. From a commercial recording. Video: Surat Qiyama, with imagery of Mecca. Video showing the Shaykh himself

• Quranic recitation: Surat al-Rahman (video)