Qur'an Recitation

The experience of huzn in Qur’an recitation is intricately tied to the cadence and melody employed by the qari (someone who recites the Qur'an with tajwid——the rules of recitation), transforming the verses of the Qur’an into a captivating sound. The beauty of this recitation is not merely aesthetic but is intended to evoke profound emotions within the listener, stirring the soul and allowing the meaning of the text to resonate deeply.
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Al-Quran by Joko_Narimo from Pixabay

The
Verses

Michael Sells, in Approaching the Qur’an, explores huzn within Qur'anic verses. He describes huzn as “the sadness that comes with a personal realization of a loss that is part of the human condition,” (Sells 29). He writes that this sadness arises not from fear but from a recognition of life's transitory nature that people often overlook in daily life. Sells highlights verses that highlights God's miracles in nature or remind listeners of life’s impermanence, the meaning reaching the listeners fully enhancing the Qur'an's message and an awareness of divine truths.

When discussing the Qur’an's warnings of Judgment Day, Sells compares the Qur’anic tone to that of the Bible: “...these warnings are not more dire or grim than the warnings the Biblical Jesus gives in the parables about burning and gnashing of teeth.” Importantly, Sells observes that the Qur'anic tone is one “not of anger or wrath, but of sadness (ḥuzn)” (26). This sadness is a compassionate reminder rather than a threat, conveying the sorrow of disconnection from God rather than fear of divine punishment. The verses uses a tone of sadness to convey these warnings, creating a sense of loss. By framing huzn as a reflective sadness rather than anger, the recitation of these verses can evoke a longing for reunion with God, softening the heart towards viewing the message as a divine mercy, not punishment.

Melodic & Sound Qualities

Sells also draws parallels between Qur’anic recitation and the adhan (call to prayer). He describes the adhan as “drawn out in a sustained, emotive cadence” that embodies the Qur'anic sound quality of ḥuzn (143). This call to prayer, in Sells’s words, is “...a call to turn back to home” (143). Here, huzn becomes a gentle calling, an reminder that invites believers to return to God, as a sort of origin, and worship through prayer.

The intention to evoke huzn through Qur’anic recitation is a widely agreed idea by many Islamic scholars. Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, a prominent Muslim jurisconsult, echoes Islamic scholar Ahmad Ibn Hanbal’s thoughts on Qur’anic recitation, “Melodic recitation does not please me unless it be hazanan and recited with huzn...” (Nelson 91). This statement points out that the primary purpose of melodic cadence is to elicit an emotional response, allowing listeners to enter a reflective state, enhancing their spiritual engagement with the verses. Many scholars recognize the skill of the qari in using huzn to sway the hearts of the listener, making the message of the Qur'an resonate on a deeply emotional and spiritual level.

Surah Al-Intifar (The Tearing)

Sells gives an example of how huzn could be heard in Surah Al-Intifar, or The Tearing in the chapter, "Hearing the Qur’án: The Call to Prayer and Six Suras". In verses 9-19, he argues that through their endings in a consonant sound (with the exception of verse 19), the qari is able to elongate the letter or “extend the note of Qur’anic ḥuzn or sadness”. Play the recording of the verse 9-19 recited by Mishary Rashid Alafasy.

Recording taken from AYAT from Youtube.

Huzn as
a Vocal Quality

The role of huzn in Qur’anic recitation can extend beyond an emotional state and becomes a vocal quality. As Nelson explains, “Some scholars see huzn not as a state or emotion, but as a vocal quality” (92). She cites Islamic scholar, Ibn Qutaybah, who interprets the phrase “his reciting was hazanan [replete with huzn]” as meaning that “there is riqqah in his voice” (92). In this context, huzn becomes an attribute that adds riqqah (gentleness) and sensitivity to the qari's voice. it conveys a delicacy that enhances the spiritual and emotional impact of the recitation.

Said Nursi expands on the idea of huzn as an vocal quality by likening it to sounds in nature. He compares the calls of nightingales or the cries of cats at night to expressions of gratitude toward God, stating, “That is to say, his sorrowful song is not a complaint arising from animal grief, it is thanks in return for the gifts of the most Merciful…” (Turner 165). Here, Nursi presents huzn as a sound of gratefulness, rather than grief. This sound of huzn reveals a recognition of God in creation, reflecting an appreciation that moves beyond human sorrow to a spiritual acknowledgment of God’s mercy. For Nursi, huzn becomes a way to perceive God’s presence in the world. For Nursi, the sound of huzn is an expression of divine love and appreciation. In this sense, huzn can be seen as both an aesthetic and spiritual quality, one that resonates in the soul of the listener. The qari's tone, imbued with huzn, draws listeners into a space of spiritual reflection, allowing them to feel the verses emotionally, and understand the meaning on another level than intellectually.

▶ Part III: Huzn and the Listener