There is no doubt that a defining characteristic of a faithful and righteous nation is understanding the Holy Qur’an and establishing its boundaries that Muslims are prohibited from transgressing. Likewise, a faithful and righteous nation is characterized by its adherence to the rules and guidelines of pronunciation so that every letter is recited in accordance with the recitation of Imams and Sheiks who are directly linked to prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

From this point of view, we recognize the importance of receiving the Holy Qur’an from a skilled Sheik or Imam who is well versed in the recitation of the Qur’an and Tajweed rules. To recognize the importance of that, we extrapolate it from the life of the prophet that we strive to emulate in which he received the Qur’an from the Honest Spirit and truthful bearer of the revelation (Angel Gabriel) who transmitted the will and the words of Allah as embodied today in the Qur’an and verily Allah says in the Qur’an

 “إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ ﴿٤﴾ عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَىٰ ﴿٥﴾  سورة النجم.53

(4) It is no less than inspiration sent down to him:

(5) He was taught by one Mighty in Power,

(6) Endued with Wisdom: for he appeared (in stately form);

(Surat Al Najm)

In addition and according to the Qur’an, the prophet used to hasten his tongue during the recitation of Angel Jibreel because he is so eager to receive it and memorize it, so Allah commanded him not to do so but rather to wait until the recitation of Angel Jibreel is completed as mentioned in surat Al Qiyama:

لَا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ ﴿١٦﴾ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ ﴿١٧﴾ فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ

قُرْآنَهُ﴿١٨﴾ ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ ﴿١٩﴾ القيامة  75.

(16) Move not thy tongue concerning the (Qur´an) to make haste therewith.

(17) It is for Us to collect it and to promulgate it:

(18) But when We have promulgated it, follow thou its recital (as promulgated):

(19) Nay more, it is for Us to explain it (and make it clear)

(Surat AlQiyama)

Importantly, Angel Jibreel used to review and recite the Quran with The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) every year once in Ramadan, except for the year in which the prophet passed away in which he reviewed it twice, as narrated by Imam al-Bukhaari.  In short, the prophet (PBUH) learned the Quran throughout his prophethood with the authoritative honest Angel Jibreel.

Similarly, the companions themselves were ordered to receive the Qur’an by a teacher, the prophet peace be upon him said: “Take the Koran from four: from the son of Massoud, and Salem Mawla Abu Hudhayfah, and Maaz bin Jabal, and Abi bin Ka’b” narrated by Bukhari

I conclude by reflecting upon what Imam Alshokari said الإمام القشيري  in his book (Lataif Alisharat) لطائف الإشارات where he says if a student is arrogant to learn from a sheik and imam with the purpose of correcting his phonetics and he persists in distoring the letters and words of the Qur’an. He is undoubtedly sinful and sinning. He then adds that the maintenance of all letters of the Quran without switching and distortion is obligatory.

مما لا شك فيه أن الأمة كما هى متعبدة بفهم القرءان وإقامة حدوده فهم كذلك متعبدون بتصحيح ألفاظه وإقامة حروفه على الطريقة المتلقاة من الائمة المتصلين بحضرة النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم. من هذا المنطلق ندرك اهمية تلقى القرءان الكريم على يد معلم متقن لأحكام التلاوة ولنا فى النبى الاسوة الحسنة حيث تلقى القرءان على يد معلم ماهر وهو أمين الوحى جبريل عليه السلام مصداقا لقول ربنا سبحانه  “إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ ﴿٤﴾ عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَىٰ ﴿٥﴾  سورة النجم.53 . وكان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يتعجل القرءان ويسابق سيدنا جبريل في القراءة  فأمره القرءان الكريم بإتباع أمين الوحى بقوله سبحانه

لَا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ ﴿١٦﴾ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ ﴿١٧﴾ فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ﴿١٨﴾ ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ ﴿١٩﴾ القيامة  75.

وكان جبريل عليه السلام يعارض النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم القرءان كل عام مرة في رمضان إلا العام الذى قبض فيه عارضه القرءان مرتين كما رواه الإمام البخارى .

بل أمر الصحابة أنفسهم أن يتلقوا القرءان على يد معلم فقال صلى الله عليه وسلم” خذوا القرءان من أربعة: من ابن مسعود, وسالم مولى أبى حذيفة, ومعاذ بن جبل, وأبى بن كعب” رواه البخارى

وأختم بقول صاحب لطائف الإشارات حيث قال بعدما تحدث عن هذه القضية” فمن أنف الأخذ عن أستاذ يوقفه على حقيقة ذلك مع تماديه في تحريف ألفاظ القرءان فهو عاص بلا شك وآثم بلا ريب, إذ صيانة جميع حروف القرءان عن التبديل والتحريف واجبة” والله أعلم