The Legacy of Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary: A Master of Quran Recitation
He was the first Qari to release his Tarteel recitation of the entire Quran in cassettes. He was also the first president of the Quran Reciters Union and a prominent scholar and teacher of Al-Azhar University. His voice and style have influenced generations of Quran reciters and learners around the world.
Early Life and Education
Al-Hussary was born on September 17, 1917, in a village called Shobra al-Namla in the Gharbia Governorate of Egypt. He came from a religious family and showed a remarkable talent for Quran memorization and recitation from a young age. He entered the Quran School at the age of four and completed the Hifz of the whole Quran by age eight. He started reciting at public gatherings by age 12 and enrolled for training at the acclaimed al-Badawi Mosque in Tanta.
He later joined Al-Azhar University in Cairo and obtained a diploma in "al-Qira'at al-'Ashr" ('the ten recitations'), which are the ten canonical methods of reciting the Quran according to different schools of thought. He also studied and taught Hadith, Fiqh, and Tafsir at Al-Azhar.
Career and Achievements
In 1944, al-Hussary made his debut on the radio with Quran recitation on February 16. He also participated in a competition held by Egypt Radio to select the best Qari among 200 contestants, and he won the first place. He was then appointed as a reciter at the Ahmad al-Badawi Mosque in Tanta and later at the Al-Hussein Mosque in Cairo, where he remained in service for 29 years until his death.
Al-Hussary was the first Qari to record and broadcast the entire Quran in both styles of recitation, murattal (tarteel) and mujawwad (tajwid). His recordings have been widely distributed and listened to by millions of Muslims around the world.
He was elected the first president of the Quran Reciters Union in 1968 and represented Egypt in several international Quran conferences and competitions.
Death and Legacy
Al-Hussary died on November 24, 1980, during a trip to Kuwait, where he was invited to recite the Quran at a mosque. He was buried in Kuwait and his funeral was attended by thousands of people who mourned his loss.
Al-Hussary was a generous and humble person who dedicated his life and wealth to serving the Quran and helping Quran memorizers. He bequeathed one-third of his property to be spent on charitable causes related to the Quran.
Al-Hussary's recitation of the Quran has been praised by many scholars and listeners for its clarity, accuracy, and beauty. His voice and style have influenced generations of Quran reciters and learners around the world. He is widely regarded as a master of Quran recitation and a source of inspiration and guidance for Muslims.
