FatwaFederal TerritoriesQuran & Hadith
IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-870: HUKUM MEMBACA AL-QURAN SECARA TERBALIK (REVERSE)
Is it permissible to recite the Quran in reverse order in order to strengthen memorisation?
Short answer
Reverse recitation falls into three categories. Reciting surahs in reverse order after al-Fatiha in prayer goes against what is more virtuous (khilaf al-awla) in the Shafi'i school but is not forbidden, and leniency is given to those studying and memorising.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hukum (Umum)
- Topic
- Quran & Hadith
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Reverse recitation falls into three categories. Reciting surahs in reverse order after al-Fatiha in prayer goes against what is more virtuous (khilaf al-awla) in the Shafi'i school but is not forbidden, and leniency is given to those studying and memorising. Reciting a surah from its last verse back to the first is basically forbidden, since verse order is tauqifi. Reversing the order of words is absolutely forbidden because it turns the verse into foreign wording and defiles the sanctity of the Quran.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Bagi kategori kedua, membaca surah bermula dengan ayat yang terakhir hingga ayat pertama adalah dilarang sama sekali.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-870: HUKUM MEMBACA AL-QURAN SECARA TERBALIK (REVERSE)”, 22 November 2024. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-hukum/umum/6039-irsyad-hukum-siri-ke-870-hukum-membaca-al-quran-secara-terbalik-reverse. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-reciting-quran-in-reverse-order/