Sect makes Quran recital uniform to suit devotee' busy lives

Mohammed Shaikh, a devout Muslim, does not think twice before moving from one end of the city, to another, during Ramzan. For Shaikh, and many like him, there is a solace of not committing the "sin" of breaking the chain of hearing Quran during Ramzan in the mosque.

Several mosques in the last three years - particularly from Ahle Sunnat Barelvi sect - have ensured that the reciting of the Quran happens at the same pace in each of them. This is to ensure that a person who is not close to where he last attended the recital of Quranic verses, can hear in continuation from the last verse he had heard without missing out on any of the chapter or verses while continuing with his busy work life.

Ramzaan is not just the month of fasting and praying, one is also expected to listen to the Quran. It is believed that during the month of Ramzan, the Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed. Since Quran has 30 chapters, most mosques try to finish the recital which happens after the Eisha, the last Namaaz of the day, within 27 days. As different mosques have a different pace, a person would often fear to commit the "sin" of missing out a part if one does not reach the same mosque where he last heard the Quran.

"Earlier I used to come back for the recitals. However, when I went to a mosque in Madanpura for the recital last year, I didn't miss out on any verse. Uniformity in recital of Quran has made it easier for many," said Shaikh who has a shoe factory and resides in Mira Road.