Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Asalaam Alaikum,

First of all Jazak`Allah for running this service, insha`Allah Allah(SWT) will reward you for your efforts. Ameen.

I have a questions regarding the use of different styles of recitation in prayer. For example if in 1 rakah I was to recite a Surah in Warsh style, and the rest in the standard Hafs style, is this generally regarded as permissible? Or is it recommended to only use 1 style in the same prayer?

I personally have only been raised to recite using Hafs, but I would like to recite parts of the Qur`an in Warsh style in my prayer, is there any ruling on this matter?

Jazak`Allah Khair. 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Quran in different dialects

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth. If our humble and modest efforts have helped even one brother or sister get closer to Allah and His Deen of Truth, then we would consider ourselves indeed fortunate to have been given this opportunity by the Lord Most Merciful to serve in His Cause. We hope, beg, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our shortcomings, and saves you, us, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire. Ameen.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1789 Narrated by Ubayy ibn Ka'b

The Messenger of Allah (saws) was near the cistern of Banu Ghifar when Jibrael (a.s.) came to him (saws) and said: ‘Allah has Commanded you to recite the Qur'an in one dialect to your people.’ Upon this the Prophet (saws) said: ‘I ask from Allah pardon and forgiveness. Make affairs easy for my people.’ He (Jibrael (a.s.)) then came for the second time and said: ‘Allah has Commanded you that you should recite the Qur'an to your people in two dialects.’ Upon this he (saws) again said: ‘I seek pardon and forgiveness from Allah, Make affairs easy for my people.’ He (Jibrael (a.s.)) came for the third time and said: ‘Allah has Commanded you to recite the Qur'an to your people in seven dialects, and in whichever dialect they recite, they will be right.’

Your Question: …..Or is it recommended to only use 1 style in the same prayer?

In principle, one is at absolute liberty to recite the Glorious Quran in any of its revealed dialects.

The scholars and jurists in Islam are of the opinion that if one is leading the prayer congregation as the ‘imaam’, it would be akin to wisdom to recite the Verses of the Quran in the standard dialect which is used or prevalent in the region….so as not to cause any confusion or disunity amongst the believers who might not be aware or used to the different dialects of the Quran.

But if one is offering one’s Sunnah or Nafl prayers alone, and Allah Subhanah has blessed one to learn and recite the Quran in its various dialects, one is at absolute liberty to recite the Quran in any of its dialects one wills and pleases. There is absolutely no compulsion or condition in Shariah that one is required to recite the Glorious Quran in any one of its dialects in the same prayer.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan