Components of Meaning-Centric Recitation from the Perspective of Ayatollah Khamenei

The act of reciting the Quran stands as one of the eminent worship practices and the most significant method of disseminating the teachings of the Holy Quran, emphasized in both the verses and narrations. It should not merely be reduced to an art of vocal performance. A Quran reciter ought to articulate the Quranic verses in a manner that effectively conveys its teachings to the audience, leaving a positive impact. Hence, it becomes essential for the Quran reciter to adopt a "meaning-centric recitation," ensuring the transmission of Quranic teachings to the recipients. Meaning-centric recitation is the recitation where the axis of its execution is organized based on diverse aspects of understanding the meanings of the verses. This article, utilizing a descriptive-analytical approach, aims to elucidate the components of meaning-centric recitation from the perspective of Ayatollah Khamenei. Following the explanation of the essence and nature of this type of recitation, the components are categorized into two sections: "Pre-recitation Components" and "During-Recitation Components." In each section, Ayatollah Khamenei's statements are referenced, supplemented and interpreted with the insights of scholarly opinions, arts experts, and Quranic narrations. One of the key findings of this article underscores that a Quran reciter, for influencing the audience, must consider preliminary aspects such as familiarity with the translation and interpretation of the verses and understanding the positions of pauses and beginnings. During the recitation, skills such as "employing melodies corresponding to the meaning" and "utilizing recitation variations in conveying the meaning" should be applied. By employing this engineered recitation, the right of Quran recitation can be effectively fulfilled.