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The aim of the Quran which is divine with its words and meaning is to guide humankind to the true path. The recitation, study and memorization of the Qur’an are among the acts of worship for Muslims. Such acts have been performed in the Muslim World since the the very beginning as a religious command and a supererogatory worship in order to get closer to Allah. Besides, reciting the Qur’an is regarded as the first step to understand it.
Since the beginning of human history, worship has played a central role in people’s lives. It is the purpose of existence in Islam. This truth is stated in the Qur’an as, “And I have not created the jinn and the men except that they should serve Me.” (Dhariyat, 51/56)Worshipping Allah is a comprehensive concept in Islam. Along with traditional rituals such as praying and fasting, any action a person does with the awareness of servitude to Allah and in the hope of earning reward is regarded as worship. Therefore, devoting oneself to Allah in Islam does not require a person to enter a place of worship nor embrace monasticism. Rather, fulfilling this purpose of life is an active daily pursuit from the Islamic perspective. Hence, a Muslim can be engaged in worship throughout the day, be it at home, work or anywhere else. Indeed, every act a persondoes can fit under the umbrella of worship in Islam so long as the person’s intention is to please Allah and the action does not contradict with the Qur’an and Sunnah.
There are certain criteria that determine whether an act can be considered worship or not. For instance, Islam teaches that the value of a person’s action depends on their intention. Muslims believe that Allah looks at not just actions but people’s hearts as well. For an action to be regarded as worship, it must be performed with the pure intention of earning the pleasure of Allah. Therefore, the concept of worship in Islam encourages people to connect with Allah in every action they take, strengthening their bond with their Creator. In doing so, a person gains a sense of true peace that stems from carrying out their purpose in life. There are many proofs in the Qur’an and the Sunnah expressing that reciting the Qur’an is a reason for being rewarded. One of the hadiths on this issue is as follows: “Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah, he will have a reward. And that reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not saying that ‘Alif, Laam, Meem’ is a letter, rather I am saying that ‘Alif’ is a letter, ‘laam’ is a letter, and ‘meem’is a letter.” (Tirmidhi)
Is reciting the Qur’an without understanding it rewarded? This is one of the academic discussions held today. Preoccupation with the Qur’an is one of the most virtuous acts of worship, whether by reciting it, pondering on its meanings, or living by its teachings. Worship is made for Allah. Therefore, it is not an obligation to understand the inner face of worship. If one approaches with belief and sincerity, recitation and understanding of the Qur’an becomes a source of reward. There are many evidences in the Qur’an and Sunnah that prove the great rewards of reciting the Qur’an. It is desirable to understand the Qur’an while reciting it. But this is not possible for everybody. Reciting by understanding is an encouraged and ideal style of reading. The reward for this style is of course more. But, not understanding what is recited does not eliminate the reward. Therefore, recitation of the Qur’an and understanding and living by it are the deeds to be treated separately. A person will be rewarded for reciting it whether s/he understands its meanings or not. In this study, the concepts about Qur’an recitation such as qira’at, tilawah, and tartil are examined. In addition, it is discussed whether reciting the Qur’an without understanding its meaning is a rewarded act or not.