|
| The Importance of Pronunciation from The Islamic Perspectives |
| Mar 26, 2009 |
According to Islamic teachings, it is vital for us to know how to recite the Qur'an. This is because reciting the Qur'an is among one of the other supererogatory rituals in Islam. Other supererogatory rituals are dzikir and charity. In reciting the Qur'an there are particular guidelines and rules that we need to follow. In order for us to learn on how are we going to recite the Qur'an, first we need to know the so called 'alphabet' of the Qur'an or named as 'huruf hija'iyah'. Next, we have to know how to pronounce the 'huruf'. Here, the matter of phonetics and phonology comes into the picture. As Phonetics and Phonology is a study of sound pattern, clearly it shows that, it is important for us to know how to differentiate from one sound with another sound.
Furthermore, different sound refers to different meaning. This is another reason in which we need to learn on how must we articulate and pronounce 'huruf' or words correctly. For instance, the differences between 'huruf' qaf and kaf. If we utter 'qalbun', it means heart and if we utter 'kaf' it means a puppy. There is a very distinguish sound between 'qaf' and 'kaf' where by 'qaf' is much stronger sound compared to 'kaf'. This is also referring to the English language. We need to pronounce every word that we utter correctly so as not to be misunderstood by others. If we articulate the right letters it will produce the right sound and eventually produce the right word. Hence, miscommunication can be avoided.
Moreover,the importance of pronunciation can be looked in the aspect of choosing a leader. A person who can convey his or her ideas fluently and eloquently is a person who usually will be nominated as a good leader. From a very smooth speech, people will determine whether this person or that person qualified to be their leader. Speech can easily influenced the people as speech is either make or break a person. The source for a person to have such a fluent speech is to have a good pronunciation. From a good pronunciation comes a good speeches and later on will determine whether a person can be elected as leader or not. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the best leader in Islamic history. He has the skill of speech that can influence people to change from a bad to a better person.
In addition, good pronunciation is important in Islam because Muslims need an Imam to lead them in the congregational prayer five times a day. As an Imam also, he needs to give some piece of advises after the prayer as a reminder to the Muslims. And the Imam also needs to give a sermon during the Friday prayer which is one of the pillars for Friday prayer. In order for the 'jemaah' to understand completely the sermon of the Imam, first, the Imam himself needs to be a person who has a clear utterance and a good oratory skill.
Another matter in Islam that needs good pronunciation is the characteristic of a muezzin or the caller to the prayer. The muezzin needs to be able to pronoun and articulate each line of the adzan perfectly as to differentiate the first and the next line. Though we use microphone and speaker to volume up the adzan from the muezzin as to make the people of a particular hear the adzan, still we need a very articulate muezzin. This is because if the muezzin does not articulate the adzan correctly, the microphone and the speaker does not really necessary in the first place. |
posted by Future Phoneticians @ 6:35 AM  |
|
|
|
|
|
Post a Comment