Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Meeting with Quran Reciters during the Blessed Month of Ramadan

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

We thank God for granting us the opportunity to once again participate in this luminous Quranic gathering with the presence of our talented and young reciters.

This year, and in some other years, thanks be to God, we have inaugurated the month of Ramadan with this very good and distinguished Quranic session. The distinction of this session lies in the fact that these young individuals reciting the Quran here possess very brilliant talents, which, if the means and facilities for nurturing these talents are fully provided and they achieve the necessary growth, our country will become the pinnacle of Quranic recitation in the Islamic world. The voices are good, the learning is good, the readiness is good - and this is a great blessing - but we need to create a bit more of an environment for the growth and flourishing of these young people.

We have repeatedly stated that reciting the Quran excellently, with a pleasant voice and correct melody, encourages a general inclination towards the Quran in hearts, souls, and minds. This is not a pastime; it is not an unnecessary or ceremonial act. If we understand correctly what we are doing, this is a logical movement and a firm step towards the widespread understanding and knowledge of the Quran. We mention this so that you dear Quran reciters - most of whom present here are either enthusiasts of the Quran or reciters of Quranic melodies - can advance this work as much as you can and lay solid foundations for it. Of course, the recitations I listened to today indicate that this year has improved compared to last year; this shows that we are progressing. Many of the recitations by our own young people, some of whom have recited here, are better than many recitations that are sometimes broadcast on the radio and that I occasionally listen to; this indicates that we are moving forward. Of course, this work, like all other works, has its conditions; one must learn the necessary points from their teachers:

Whoever learns something Must learn from the master.

Being self-taught leads to the waste of resources and talents; when a person becomes self-taught, optimal use of their talent does not occur; all aspects must be correct, including the proper reading of the text - which, thanks be to God, has improved significantly, and these young people have very good recitation skills. Some of the precision we apply in recitation, I have sometimes seen that these second-rate Egyptian reciters who come here often do not observe some of these points - both the voices, which are very good among our group, must be maintained.

A major flaw in our recitations - which, thanks be to God, is being corrected - is the lack of attention of the reciter to the meaning of the verse they are reading. When you are fully familiar with the meaning of the verse, you yourself are influenced while reading, and the very act of being influenced affects your tone, voice, melody, and even your outward movements, and it impacts the audience and the gathering as well. You have seen a similar phenomenon in Persian poets and singers who have beautiful voices and sing in some gatherings; a good poem they recite influences them, and their tone is affected by this self-influence, making it more penetrating, sweeter, and more pleasant; the same applies to Quran recitation. Some of the Egyptian reciters who pay more attention to this aspect have more pleasant and delightful tones. This is a point that must be considered, and it also affects pauses and beginnings and matters of this nature.

I want to tell you, who are all experts in recitation, that one of the merits of this year's session was that there was no insistence on loud reading and showing deep breaths; this is very good. Reciters should not insist on demonstrating that their breath is long; no, this long breath is only necessary in places where cutting the verse would ruin the meaning; it is there that a long breath is good; if one does not have that length of breath, they will fall short here. Of course, there are ways to compensate for that; you see that among Egyptian reciters, some are top-tier, but their breaths are short; like Abdul Fattah or some others; this is not considered a fundamental flaw and can be compensated; that is, the skilled teacher knows how to read the continuation of the verse if their breath is short so that it seems uninterrupted; they read beautifully; many of these old reciters are like this; however, the new ones who are now present and come to Iran often suffer from this very ailment; the ailment of breathlessness and loud reading; sometimes they struggle, but do not cut! This is not considered a virtue; its only virtue is in places where one needs a long breath, and if their breath is short, they will fall short; it ruins the recitation, which is also a decorative aspect; it is good; but otherwise, it is not necessary. See where you should shorten the verse; where you should pause; where you should show a meaning with a pause or with repetition; sometimes with a single word, convey a meaning; these must be observed.

One of the issues in our recitation is the matter of the musicality of recitation and these correct melodies of recitation, which must be read correctly. Now there is no time to talk about this; this is also very important. These also have a method and style, which, of course, I see has improved significantly, and it was not like this before. The melodies and Quranic tunes must be learned. Of course, much of it is also artistic intuition; I must mention this; that is, if someone has artistic intuition, without needing to learn and read notes, they understand what they should do; the nature of the reciter's intuition draws them towards a correct melody. The less you imitate in these areas from others, the better it is.

Today, we were also deprived of Mr. Mousavi's prayer.

O Lord! Through Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, keep us alive with the Quran and resurrect us with the Quran; grant us distinction and honor in understanding the lofty teachings of the Quran; never separate us from the Quran; make us recipients of the pure prayers of the Awaited Savior.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.