Indigenous Qur’anic Intonations in Nigeria: Between Modernization and Standardization

Qur’anic recitation using intonations other than the Arab’s is not condemnable on the condition that such do not in any way, compromise the application of the principles of Tajwid. In Nigeria, some intonations, each of which, of course, has its distinctive features, are indigenous to the Muslims of the north and the south where Islam is predominant. In the light of the awareness created by the National Qur’anic Recitation Competition, which started in 1986, it thus becomes highly necessary to appraise these indigenous intonations with the view to seeing to what extent their users conform to the principles of Tajwid; and also to review the recent efforts being made at standardizing these indigenous intonations. The result shows that before the introduction of the National Qur’anic Recitation Competition, most reciters using the indigenous intonation were not applying the rules of Tajwid because they were ignorant of the rules as well as their application. The result equally shows that with the awareness created by the National Qur’anic Recitation Competition, unprecedented efforts are being made to standardize the indigenous intonations so that they could meet international standard.

Source: World Journal of Islamic History and Civilization

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