Ramadan Day 6: Is it compulsory to move the tongues while reciting Qur’an and Dhikr?
Editor's note: Muslims all over the world are expected to abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk during the month of Ramadan. But apart from this abstinence, there are other goods deeds that Muslims should engage in during this month and one of the most beneficially rewarding deeds is reading of the Holy Qur’an and the Dhikr (remembrance of Allah).
In this edition, Legit.ng looks at the importance of moving tongue while reciting Qur’an and Dhikr in order for every Muslim to get the full rewards during this sacred month and beyond.
In the name of Allah, The most beneficent, the most merciful, whoever Allah guides, no one can lead him astray and whoever Allah sends astray, no one can guide him.
Verily the best of speech is the Book of Allah (Qur’an) and the best guidance is the guidance of Prophet Muhammad (May Allah give him peace and bless him), and the most evil matters are those that are newly invented, for every newly invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the Hell fire. May Allah save us from the torment of Hell fire, (Aameen).
Firstly of all, remembering Allaah (dhikr) is one of the noblest deeds that a Muslim can do. Dhikr is not only verbal; rather we may remember Allaah in our hearts, on our lips and in our physical actions.
One of the great scholars of Islam, Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
“Remembrance of Allaah (dhikr) may be in the heart, on the tongue or in one’s physical actions. The basic principle is remembrance in the heart as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “In the body there is a piece of flesh which, if it is sound, the entire body will be sound, but if it is corrupt the entire body will be corrupt. It is the heart.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim. What counts is remembrance in the heart, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
READ ALSO: Ramadan Day 5: The categories of Muslims exempted from fasting
“And obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, and who follows his own lusts” (Al-Kahf 18:28).
Remembering Allaah with one's physical actions means every deed which brings one closer to Allaah, such as standing, bowing and prostrating in prayer, engaging in jihad, paying zakaah. All of these are remembrance of Allaah, because when you do them you are obeying Allaah. Hence you are remembering Allaah when you do these actions.
Hence Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And perform As‑Salaah (Iqaamat‑as‑Salaah). Verily, As‑Salaah (the prayer) prevents from Al‑Fahsha’ (i.e. great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse) and Al‑Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed) and the remembering (praising) of (you by) Allaah (in front of the angels) is greater indeed [than your remembering (praising) of Allaah in prayers)” (Al-‘Ankaboot 29:45).
Secondly, with regard to the adhkaar which are spoken on the tongue, such as reciting Qur’aan, saying tasbeeh (Subhaan Allaah – glory be to Allaah), tahmeed (al-hamdu Lillaah – praise be to Allaah) and tahleel (Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah – there is no god but Allaah), and the dhikrs to be recited in the morning and evening, when going to sleep, when entering the washroom, and so on, it is essential to move the tongue, and a person is not regarded as having said them if he does not move his tongue.
Ibn Rushd narrated in al-Bayaan wa’l-Tahseel (1/490) that Imam Maalik (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about a person who recites when praying, but no one can hear him, not even himself, and he does not move his tongue. He said: “This is not recitation, rather recitation is that in which the tongue moves.”
READ ALSO: The merits of offering fasting people food to break their fast
According to Al-Kasaani in Badaa’i’ al-Sanaa’i’ (4/118): “Recitation can only be done by moving the tongue to say the sounds. Do you not see that if a worshipper who is able to recite does not move his tongue, his prayer is not acceptable? Similarly he swears that he does not recite a soorah (chapter) from the Qur’aan but he looks at it and understands it but he does not move his tongue, then he is not breaking his oath.
This is also indicated by the fact that the scholars said it is not allowed for a person who has not taken bath after intercourse with his wife to recite Qur’aan with his tongue, but they said it is permissible for him to look at the Mus-haf and recite Qur’aan in his heart, without moving his tongue. This indicates that there is a difference between the two things, and that not moving the tongue is not counted as reading or reciting.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked: Is it obligatory to move the tongue when reciting Qur’aan in prayer or is it sufficient to say it in one's heart?
He replied:“Recitation must be done with the tongue. If a person recites it in his heart when he is praying, that is not sufficient.
PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 new app
"The same applies to all other adhkaar; it is not sufficient to recite them in one's heart, rather it is essential to move one's tongue and lips, because they are words to be spoken, and that can only be achieved by moving the tongue and the lips." (Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 13/156).
May Allah make this Ramadan fasting easy for us and may we reap all the rewards for engaging in it.
Source: Legit.ng
