The Art of Reciting the Qur'an (Paperback) - Common

by Kristina Nelson

For the Muslim faithful, the familiar sound of the Qurʾanic recitation is the predominant and most immediate means of contact with the Word of God. Heard day and night, on the street, in taxis, in shops, in mosques, and in homes, the sound of recitation is far more than the pervasive background music of daily life in the Arab world. It is the core of religious devotion, the sanctioning spirit of much cultural and social life, and a valued art form in its own right. Participation in recitation, as reciter or listener, is itself an act of worship, for the sound is basic to a Muslim’s sense of religion and invokes a set of meanings transcending the particular occasion. For the most part, Westerners have approached the Qurʾan much as scriptural scholars have studied the Bible, as a collection of written texts. The Art of Reciting the Qurʾan aims at redirecting that focus toward a deeper understanding of the Qurʾan as a fundamentally oral phenomenon. By examining Muslim attitudes toward the Qurʾan, the institutions that regulate its recitation, and performer-audience expectations and interaction, Kristina Nelson, a trained Arabist and musicologist, casts new light on the significance of Qurʾanic recitation within the world of Islam. Her landmark work is of importance to all scholars and students of the modern Middle East, as well as ethnomusicologists, anthropologists, linguists, folklorists, and religious scholars.

Genres: Islam, Religion

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Kristina Nelson received her Ph.D. in Arabic studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

Reviews

[Mina · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ambitious book that disappoints in that it doesn't delve into the technical depths of recitation and its system. Overall a good introduction by a passionate devotee.

[Raylo]

Very useful book.

[Lisa Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book about Qur'anic recitation, mostly concerning the Egyptian "school" of reciters.

[Nurfaizatul Aisyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a very good book for people to understand the various way of reciting the Quran. The recitation of Quran is rhythmic and is considered an art.