Qāriʾ facts for kids

A Qari (pronounced "Kah-ree") is a special person who recites, or reads aloud, the Quran, which is the holy book of Islam. They follow very specific rules to make sure the recitation sounds beautiful and correct.

What is a Qari?

A Qari is someone who has learned to recite the Quran with great skill. This isn't just reading words; it's about following special rules called Tajwid. These rules teach how to pronounce each letter, where to pause, and how long to hold certain sounds. It makes the recitation very musical and clear.

Learning to Recite

To become a Qari, a person spends a lot of time studying and practicing. They learn the correct way to say every word and verse from the Quran. While many Qaris have memorized the entire Quran, it's not always a requirement just to be able to recite it beautifully with the rules. However, many of the most famous Qaris have indeed memorized the whole book.

Why are Qaris Important?

Qaris play a very important role in Muslim communities. They often lead prayers, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, when the entire Quran is recited. Their beautiful recitations help people connect with the words of the Quran and understand its meaning better.

Famous Quran Reciters Around the World

Many talented Qāriʾs have shared their beautiful recitations with the world. Here are some notable reciters from different countries:

Reciters from Egypt

Egypt has been home to many famous Qāriʾs. In Egypt, a leading reciter is sometimes called a "Shaykh al-Maqâriʾ" (شيخ المقارئ), meaning "Scholar of the Recitation Schools."

• Muhammad Rifat (1882–1950)
• Mohamed Salamah (1899–1982)
• Mustafa Ismail (1905–1978)
• Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary (1917–1980), a respected Shaykh al-Maqâriʾ
• Muhammad Siddiq Al-Minshawi (1920–1969), also a Shaykh al-Maqâriʾ
• Kamil Yusuf Al-Bahtimi (1922–1969)
• Abdul Basit 'Abd us-Samad (1927–1988)

Reciters from Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia also has many well-known Qāriʾs, whose voices are heard globally.

• Abdul-Rahman Al-Sudais
• Abu Abd al-Rahman Ibn Aqil al-Zahiri
• Abu Bakr Ash Shatry
• Ahmad bin Ali Al-Ajmi
• Ali Abdullah Jaber (1954-2005)
• Ali ibn Abdur-Rahman al Hudhaify
• Saad al Ghamdi
• Saud Al-Shuraim
• Maher Al-Mu'aiqly
• Muhammad Ayyub (1952-2016)
• Yasser Al-Dosari

Other Notable Reciters

Qāriʾs come from many different countries, sharing their talent and devotion.

• Afghanistan
  • Muhammad ibn Tayfour Sajawandi
• Bangladesh
  • Muhammad Ibrahim Ujani (1863–1943)
  • Abdur Rahman Kashgari (1912–1971)
  • Syed Muhammad Ishaq (1915–1977)
  • Muhammadullah Hafezzi (1895–1987)
  • Abdul Latif Chowdhury Fultali (1913–2008)
  • Saleh Ahmad Takrim (2008–)
• India
  • Husain Burhanuddin
• Indonesia
  • Maria Ulfah
  • Muammar Z.A.
  • Mu'min Ainul Mubarak
• Iran
  • Hamed Shakernejad
• Kuwait
  • Mishary Rashid Alafasy
• Pakistan
  • Shakir Qasmi (1943–2023)
  • Qari Ghulam Rasool
  • Hassan Ali Kasi
  • Syed Sadaqat Ali
  • Zahir Qasmi
• Somalia
  • Abdul Rachid Soufi