Beautifying One’s Voice

Answered by Sidi Waseem Hussain

Question: I would like to know whether there are any Prophetic methods in sweetening one’s voice. Unfortunately, my voice isn’t that beautiful to hear. I would like to know how to sweeten my voice in order to improve my recitation of the Quran

Answer: Assalamu Alaykum Warahmatullah,

May Allah reward you for your noble intention and great desire to recite the Qur’an beautifully.

The key to improving one’s voice is to learn tajweed and master it. It is a common mistake to focus on style and rythm while neglecting the actual pronounciation. Reciting the Qur’an beautifully is more about precision in pronounciation than it is a question of voice and rythm.

The scholars do not advise anyone who has not mastered his tajweed to focus on other things with regards to his recitation.

Once someone has mastered tajweed, then he should seek out a teacher who knows the “Maqamat” (“the tunes of recitation”). This is a delicate science, where one learns different rythms, tunes and methods of beautifying recitation. This is the science that will really help improve one’s voice.  But one should not study this until one has obtained mastery of tajweed.

One thing to keep in mind is that one’s voice will automatically be better when reciting with presence of mind. If one knows the meanings of the verses, then one can truly understand the tremendousness of what Allah is saying, and that will inevitably make an impact on ones voice.

Just like the best of duas is from the heart, then the best of recitations is also the one recited from the heart.

A few things, that are recommended to to when reciting the Qur’an, and will inshallah give you more baraka in your reading.

• Make sure you have wudu when reciting the Qur’an
• Use a miswak to use before reciting Qur’an
• Being seated facing the direction of the Qibla
• Being dressed properly, and with the head covered

Dont forget us in your du’as
Waseem Hussain

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani