Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Muzzammil Verse 4

Mufti Taqi Usmani

or make it a little more; and recite the Qur’ān clearly with tartīl (in a distinct and measured tone).

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

or a little more—and recite the Quran ˹properly˺ in a measured way.

Ruwwad Translation Center

or a little more, and recite the Qur’an at a measured pace.

A. J. Arberry

or add a little), and chant the Koran very distinctly;

Abdul Haleem

or a little more; recite the Quran slowly and distinctly:

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Or increase thereto. And intone the Qur'an with a measured intontion. s

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Or a little more; and recite the Qur'an in slow, measured rhythmic tones.

Abul Ala Maududi

or add to it a little; and recite the Qur'an slowly and distinctly.

Ahmed Ali

Or a little more, and recite the Qur'an slowly and distinctly.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Or increase a little upon it, and recite the Qur’an slowly in stages.

Ali Quli Qarai

or add to it, and recite the Quran in a measured tone.

Ali Ünal

Or add to it (a little); and pray and recite the Qur’an calmly and distinctly (with your mind and heart concentrated on it).

Amatul Rahman Omar

Or prolong it (a little more) and keep on reciting the Qur´ân distinctly and thoughtfully well.

English Literal

Or increase on it, and read or recite slowly, distinctly and clearly the Koran, slow distinct and clear reading or recitation .

Faridul Haque

Or increase a little upon it, and recite the Qur’an slowly in stages.

Hamid S. Aziz

Or add to it, and recite the Quran as it ought to be recited.

Hilali & Khan

Or a little more; and recite the Quran (aloud) in a slow, (pleasant tone and) style.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

The rising by night is surely the firmest way to tread and most effective in speech.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Or add to it, and recite the Quran as it ought to be recited.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Or add (a little) thereto - and chant the Qur'an in measure,

Muhammad Sarwar

and recite the Quran in a distinct tone;

Qaribullah & Darwish

or a little more; and with recitation, recite the Koran.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Or a little more. And Rattil the Qur'an Tartil.

Wahiduddin Khan

or a little more, but recite the Quran slowly and distinctly.

Talal Itani

Or add to it; and chant the Quran rhythmically.

Tafsir jalalayn

or add to it, up to two thirds (aw implies [free] choice), and recite the Qur'n, recite it carefully, in a measured tone.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ

A little less than that, or a little more.

meaning, `We have commanded you to stand in prayer for half of the night, either a little more than it or a little less. There is no hardship on you concerning that (slight increase or decrease).
The Way of reciting the Qur'an

Concerning Allah's statement,

وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْانَ تَرْتِيلً




And Rattil the Qur'an Tartil.

meaning, recite it slowly, for that will help in understanding the Qur'an and contemplating it. This is how the Prophet used to recite.

A'ishah said,

"He (the Prophet) used to recite the chapter slowly, so much so that it would be longer than chapters that were actually longer than it."

In Sahih Al-Bukhari, it is recorded from Anas that he was asked about the recitation of the Messenger of Allah , so he replied,

"He used to elongate the letters."

Then he (Anas) recited,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. (1;1)

and he elongated "In the Name of Allah,"

and he elongated "The Most Gracious,"

and he elongated "The Most Merciful."

Ibn Jurayj reported from Ibn Abi Mulaykah, who narrated from Umm Salamah that she was asked about the recitation of the Messenger of Allah , so she said,

"He used to pause in his recitation, verse by verse.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ الْحَمْدُ للَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَـلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is Allah's, the Lord of all that exists. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The Only Owner of the Day of Recompense. (1;1-4)

This was recorded by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi.

We have already mentioned the Hadiths which prove the recommendation of slow rhythmic recitation and beautification of the voice while reciting at the beginning of this Tafsir. For example, the Hadith which states,

زَيِّنُوا الْقُرْانَ بِأَصْوَاتِكُم

Beautify the Qur'an with your voices.

and the Hadith,

لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ لَمْ يَتَغَنَّ بِالْقُرْان

He is not of us who does not chant nicely with the recitation of the Qur'an.

and the Hadith,

لَقَدْ أُوتِيَ هَذَا مِزْمَارًا مِنْ مَزَامِيرِ الِ دَاوُد

Verily, he has been given this windpipe from the windpipes of the family of Dawud. Referring to Abu Musa.

Abu Musa replied,

"If I knew that you had been listening to my recitation, I would have truly beautified it for you."

It has been narrated from Ibn Mas`ud that he said,

"Do not scatter the (recitation of) Qur'an out like the scattering of sand, and do not rush through it like the hasty recitation of poetry. Stop at its amazing parts and make your heart move with it. None of you should let his concern be to reach the end of the chapter."

This has been recorded by Al-Baghawi.

Al-Bukhari recorded from Abi Wa'il that he said,

"A man came to Ibn Mas`ud and said, `I read the Mufassal chapters (from Qaf to An-Nas) last night in one unit of prayer.'

Ibn Mas`ud said,

`This is rushing like the haste of reciting poetry.'
The Magnificence of the Qur'an

Allah then said,

إِنَّا سَنُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ قَوْلاً ثَقِيلً