Repetition should be accompanied by recitation in a melodious tune; this is for the purpose of not being bored in the first place, and secondly, in order to reinforce the memorization. This is so because recitation with rhythm is likable to the hearing and it helps in the memorization of the noble Qur'aan. It also helps the tongue get accustomed to a certain tune, and thus, making it easy for you to recognize an error immediately your recitation does not follow the usual rhythm, or tune of the verse. So, the reader feels that his tongue would not obey him when there is an error, then the tune becomes broken, and then he remembers again. Besides, recitation with a melodious tune is a heritage of the sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), when reciting the noble Qur'aan, and should not be left without fulfilling it.
Evidences for Recitation with a Melodious Tune
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saying,
"Allah does not listen so attentively to anything as He listens to the recitation of the Qur'aan by a Prophet who recites well with a melodious and audible voice."
[Al- Bukhari/ 5023 and Muslim/ 792]
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Allah's Apostle said:
"Whoever does not recite Qur'aan in a nice voice* is not from us,"
[Al- Bukhari/ 7527]
*nice voice: to beautify his/her voice.
Al-Baraa ibn Aazib (May Allah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allah said:
"Beautify the Qur'aan with your voices, because the beautiful voice makes the Qur'aan more beautiful"
[Al- Bukhari/ 7527]
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Allah's Apostle said:
"Whoever does not recite Qur'aan in a nice voice* is not from us,"
[Al- Hakem, also in Sahih Al- jame'/3581]
Al-Baraa ibn Aazib (May Allah be pleased with them) also reported:
"I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) reciting Surah Wat-teen Waz-Zaitun (Chapter 95) during the 'Isha prayer. I have never heard anyone reciting it in a more beautiful voice than his."
[Al- Bukhari/769, and Muslim/ 464]
Imam An-Nawawi -may Allah's mercy be on him- said:
"Scholars from the predecessors and successors of companions, their followers, and others from the regions, and Imams of the Muslims agreed upon and recommended beautifying the voice while reciting the noble Qur'aan, and their words and deeds are quite well known. So we are in no need of mentioning from individual people when there is plenty of evidences in the hadeeth and sayings of the Prophet of Allah, that are available for the public and the elite."
Imam An-Nawawi -may Allah's mercy be on him- also said:
"It is preferable to improve the voice and beatify it while reciting the noble Qur'aan as long as the person does not exceed the limits of stretching, but if he does to the extent of adding or concealing one letter, it is forbidden." [Clarification in the mannerism of memorizing the Qur'aan, 91]
May Allah make us from those who will memorize the Qur'aan, following the sunnah of His prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and reciting it with a beautiful voice, aameen.
The source and main material used in preparing the content of this blog is the book, Ways of teaching the noble Qur'aan and memorizing it by Abu Abdrahman, Jamal ibn Ibrahim AlQirsh (طرائق تدريس القرآن الكريم وحفظه).