In the narration of al-Bara Ibn ‘Aazib (may Allah be pleased with him) the Prophet (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) said:
Adorn your voices with the Quran.
(Related in Abu Dawud)
Is this translation correct?
Is the maf’ul (object) ‘the Quran’ or ‘your voices’?
(should we beatify our voices with the Quran or the Quran with our voices). Jazakallah
Answer
This Hadith is recorded in several Hadith sources, among them are the following:
Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 8829, Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 1463 & Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 749.
The literal translation is as follows:
‘Adorn the Quran with your voices.’
The commentators have differed in the explanation to the above;
Some have left is in its literal meaning, while others have explained it to mean the opposite (like you have in your translation).
i.e, they say it means: Adorn your voices with the recital of the Quran.
References for the above:
Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 4576, footnotes on Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 1463 -Darul Minhaj edition, Talkhisul Habir, 2118 & Mustadrak Hakim, vol.1 pg.575.
Both explanations are held by reputable Scholars, and are therefore acceptable and harmonious.
However, Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has preferred the literal meaning in light of other narrations.
(Talkhisul Habir, Hadith: 2118 & Mustadrak Hakim, vol.1 pg.575)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar