reflection

The Quran is a crucial and central book in Islamic society as a guide for Muslims. Thus, performing the call to prayer is the most venerated act within the Islamic civilization; the ability to recite various sutras demonstrates one’s faith and reflects one’s religious identity. Tajwid, the Quaranic rules and standards of recitations, allows the reader to illicit aesthetic experience through its rhythm. According to Sells, the Quran’s literary and rhythmic qualities are “inherent quality of the text itself rather than superimposed musical ornamentations.” The text itself flows easily. I was very shocked at how these children from the movie were taught to memorize the Quran without understanding the meaning behind the text. Recitation of Quran, which is a reflection of one’s faith, creates a textual harmonics that creates emotional upbringings, but not understanding the meaning of Quran leads me to think that this kind of recitation is superficial. Only taught to memorize the physical nature of Quran, the speech and tajwid, the children are missing the point of the competition, which is to promote the understanding of Quran.