Teenagers should learn the techniques of reciting the Quran to achieve thoughtful recitation.

According to Ashura News, quoted by Mehr News Agency: The Holy Quran is the divine word and a source of guidance for humanity. Reciting this divine book is a valuable act of worship and brings peace to the heart. But beyond mere recitation, there is an approach that can elevate our understanding of the Quran to a deeper level, which is reflective recitation. Reflective recitation is a process in which recitation is accompanied by thought, contemplation, and an effort to understand the meaning and concept of the verses. This approach takes us beyond superficial hearing of the verses and guides us to the depths of the meanings and divine messages. In reflective recitation, each verse is viewed as a window to divine knowledge.

Reflective recitation has several methods. One of the most important of these methods is pausing and reflecting on the meanings of the verses. After reciting each verse, we spend a few moments thinking and trying to understand the meaning of the verse. We can ask ourselves: What does this verse say? What message does it have for me? How can I apply this verse in my life? Using reliable commentaries can also help us understand the verses more deeply. Commentaries provide explanations and analyses of the verses that can help us understand the meanings and concepts of the Quran. We can also pay attention to the relationship of the verses to each other and to other teachings of the Quran.

Contemplative recitation is a way to approach the Quran and benefit from its guidance. With this approach, we can go beyond superficial reading of the verses and reach the depth of the meanings and divine messages. Contemplative recitation calls us to think, reflect, and act, and can transform our lives.

In a series of conversations with Quranic activists, especially reciters of the Holy Quran, we intend to become more familiar with the mood of Mu’ast in harmony with the word of revelation.

Jafar Fardi was born in Tehran in 1988 and began learning and reciting the Quran from childhood. He continued this path, especially during his school years, and gradually, through various experiences, he strengthened his skills in this field. His presence in the presence of Professor Mohammad Hossein Saeedian was a turning point in his training in reciting the Holy Quran. With great effort and dedication, he succeeded in winning brilliant titles in Holy Quran competitions and religious singing and Ibtihal competitions. For example, in 2004, he won second place in the national competitions in the field of religious Ibtihal. Apart from his national successes, he also won distinguished titles by participating in international competitions.

Jafar Fardi's most important international title is the first place in the international competitions of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which he won in 2014. As one of the country's distinguished reciters, he has traveled to various countries to recite the Holy Quran among Muslims around the world, including Indonesia, Qatar, Turkey, Sudan, South Africa, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia.

Regarding the importance of thoughtful recitation, Jafar Fardi said: In the field of reciting the Holy Quran, the question has always been whether it is enough to have a beautiful voice and observe the techniques of Tajweed, or should we also pay attention to understanding the meanings of the verses and conveying concepts to the audience in addition to these skills? In other words, is reciting the Quran merely a vocal art, or does it have a mission beyond that? The answer to this question leads us to the concept of "reciting thoughtfully"; a recitation in which the reciter not only thinks about the beauty and correctness of the recitation, but also tries to convey the divine message to the audience by reflecting on the meanings of the verses.

Contemplative recitation is a gradual process that requires several stages

In response to the question whether the necessary infrastructure is available to promote contemplative recitation in the community of reciters, he said: To answer these questions, it should be noted that achieving contemplative recitation is a gradual process that requires several stages. A reciter must first spend years learning recitation techniques, imitating masters, and improving the quality of recitation. After gaining relative maturity in recitation, he can focus on understanding the verses, topics, and meanings of the Holy Quran. In other words, a novice reciter cannot be expected to immediately engage in contemplative recitation.

This international reciter of the Quran stated: The question arises as to whether our community of reciters has the necessary infrastructure and platforms to realize this type of recitation? Are the reciters of the Quran equipped with sufficient skills and knowledge to deeply understand and meaningfully convey the message of the Quran? The answer to this question requires a careful and realistic examination of the current situation and identification of strengths and weaknesses. It must be acknowledged that achieving thoughtful recitation is a time-consuming process that requires several stages. A Quran reciter must first spend years learning the techniques of recitation and Tajweed, practicing continuously, and imitating prominent masters of this art in order to become proficient in this field. After that, he can gradually move towards understanding and contemplating the meanings of the verses and strive to enrich and make his recitation more effective by understanding the concepts and messages of the Quran. In other words, a novice reciter cannot be expected to immediately engage in thoughtful recitation; this requires patience, perseverance, and continuous effort.

Fardi said: Fortunately, in recent years, we have witnessed an increase in the attention and interest of reciters in thoughtful recitation. Many young reciters, while trying to improve the technical level of their recitation, have also turned to studying and pondering the meanings of the verses. This positive trend promises that in the not too distant future, we will witness the emergence of reciters whose recitation is not only beautiful and pleasant in terms of voice and tone, but also rich and influential in terms of conveying the meanings and messages of the Quran.

Lack of appropriate and sufficient educational resources to promote thoughtful recitation

He added: However, we should not ignore the challenges and obstacles in this path. One of the most important challenges is the lack of appropriate and sufficient educational resources to promote thoughtful recitation. Unfortunately, most of the existing resources only teach recitation techniques and Tajweed and do not pay much attention to issues related to understanding the meanings and pondering in the verses.

The Quran reciter continued: In addition, the lack of suitable and accessible models for thoughtful recitation is another challenge facing reciters. Young reciters need models that they can observe and imitate to improve their recitation style and get closer to thoughtful recitation. In the meantime, we can benefit from the valuable experiences of prominent and renowned reciters such as Sheikh Mustafa Ismail, Sheikh Muhammad Rifaat, and Sheikh Abdul Baset Abdul Samad. In addition, in the last few years, it has been observed that some reciters have gradually paid attention to this issue and are trying to pay attention to both good rhythm and tone in their recitations and the meanings of these verses. In fact, the reciter should be serious in pursuing this issue and consider himself responsible not only for reciting the Quran beautifully, but also for conveying its meanings.

Quran recitation is not limited to just an entertaining or technical task

Fardi stated: Quran recitation is not limited to just an entertaining or technical task. The ultimate goal of the reciter should be to create a spiritual impact on the audience. Although a reciter may not be able to convey this impact well at first, with continued learning and practice, he will gradually be able to incorporate deeper emotions and meanings into his recitation.

Paying attention to great reciters is a role model for teenagers

Emphasizing some points in this regard, he said: Paying attention to great and well-known reciters such as Professor Mustafa Ismail and… can be a role model for young reciters to learn from their techniques and experiences. Each of these professors has a special style that can inspire young reciters. For example, Professor Mustafa Ismail is known for his special abilities in reciting and influencing the audience. Along with using beautiful techniques, he also paid attention to meanings and content, which made him one of the greatest reciters in history.

A reciter affects the soul and soul of the listeners with a recitation of meanings and deep emotions

The prominent reciter added: Similarly, reciters must convey the emotions and meanings of the verses in their recitations. This will only be possible by mastering the various techniques of recitation and a deep understanding of the meanings of the Quran. If reciters want to recite only in appearance and without paying attention to the meaning, this will lead to less impact on the audience. Therefore, paying attention to pondering and understanding the meanings of the verses along with learning the techniques of recitation is very vital.

Finally, the role that reciters play in conveying Quranic concepts and influencing society is of great importance. They can affect the soul and soul of the listeners with a recitation that contains meanings and deep emotions. I suggest that more workshops and specialized meetings be held in this field so that younger readers can become familiar with the issue of reflection and gain more information and teachings in this field. This action can help institutionalize the culture of reflective recitation among readers and audiences of the Quran.