Reading aloud - Iqra

In an article in the Reader’s Digest Canada on Why Reading Aloud is Good for You, the writer quoted that the second-century Greek doctor Antyllus prescribed reading aloud to his patients, suggesting that it is kind of a health giving tonic and that epic verses are good for one’s health.  [1]

In recent studies conducted by Colin Macleod, a psychology professor at the University of Waterloo Canada  shows how reading aloud is better for memory retention.  This is known as the ‘production effect’ in memory.[2]

MasyaaAllaah, yes because I love the Quran, I immediately connected to how God instructs us to recite the Quran.   Quran are always, normally, recited – read aloud.  It is so ingrained that it feels incomplete if you just read it in your head.  We don’t do silent reading of the Quran. 

96:1 “Recite in the name of your Lord who created”

87:6 "We will make you recite, [O Muhammad], and you will not forget, " (illa masyaaAllaah).

73:4 Muzammil. ‘..and recite the Qur'an in (slow) measured [rhythmic tones / recitation].”

7:110 Al-Isra “…Neither speak thy Prayer aloud, nor speak it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between.”

God said, recite the Quran not in a loud tone, nor in a soft voice but a middle voice.  I’m sure this in itself also has it’s benefits.  For one thing, others can hear it.  When Quran is read too loud, well, I don’t know about others, but for me, it is quite stressful and not pleasing to hear.   I personally prefer to listen to Quran read in a moderate voice.   I digressed a little.

The point is, again, God knows best what is best for us – the instruction to recite the Quran, as in read aloud, apparently is beneficial to us in terms of health (jogging your memory and brain) and also in terms of memory (remembering the reminders in the Quran).

So in any case, if you’re studying, make it a habit to read aloud to yourself, if you want to understand and memorise what you’re studying.    Also, there is another verse with regards to studying or being taught.  Writing. 

God says,

96:4-6  Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who taught by the pen— taught humanity what they knew not.

For another read, research and ponder.

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[1] Reading aloud health benefits - Why Reading Aloud Is Good for You | Reader's Digest Canada

[2] This time it’s personal: the memory benefit of hearing oneself by Noah D. Forrin &Colin M. MacLeod. Memory - Volume 26, 2018 - Issue 4 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09658211.2017.1383434