A Qari is a person who recites the Quran with the proper rules of recitation. Hafiz literally meaning memorizer depending on the context is a term used to refer to someone who has memorized the Quran completely. Both terms are associated with the Quran. As similar as both Qari and Hafiz are, there are a lot of differences between the two. These differences might not be visible to everyone except those who are experts in Quran teachers and students of Islamic knowledge.

Who is a Qari?

A “Qari” (also spelled as “Qari'” or “Qurra”) is a term used in Islam to refer to a person who reads, but Qari in Islam specifically refers to a person who recites the Quran properly following its exact rules of Tajweed with proper pronunciation, intonation, and melodious tone. Qaris are highly esteemed in Muslim communities for their ability to recite the Quran with beautiful and captivating voices, which often evoke a deep sense of spirituality and reverence among listeners.

Who is a Hafiz?

A Hafiz (the keeper or guard against forgetting is a person who has memorized all chapters and verses of the Holy Quran and can recite it from memory. The title “Hafiz” is an honorific given to someone who has successfully committed all 114 chapters (surahs) and verses of the Quran to memory. Memorizing the Quran is a significant achievement in Islamic tradition, and Hafizes are highly respected in Muslim communities for their dedication and commitment to preserving the sacred text.

4 Differences between a Qari and Hafiz

In this article, we will reveal the differences between a Qari and Hafiz. At the end of this article, laymen who aren’t vast in Islamic knowledge will know how to identify a Qari and Hafiz.

1. A Qari Can Only Recite the Quran While a Hafiz Has Memorized It

The first notable difference between a Qari and a Hafiz is that a Qari can only recite the Quran while a Hafiz has memorized every chapter in the Quran. In the introductory part of the article, we defined what both terms refer to. Both Qari and Hafiz are used for people of the Quran. Also, because of the difficulties in memorizing the Quran, it is easier to find a Qari than a Hafiz.

Some of the notable Qari we have are Sheikh Saad Al Ghamdi, Sheikh Mishary Rashid Alafasy, Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary, Sheikh Ahmad Ibn Ali Al-Ajmi, Sheikh Maher Al-Mu’aiqly, Sheikh Saud Al-Shuraim, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Tayfour Sajawandi, Sheikh Yaser Al Doosri, Sheikh AbdulBaset AbdulSamad, Sheikh AbdulAzzez al-Ahmad, Sheikh Shawqy Hamed, Sheikh Muhammad Ayyub, Sheikh Muhammad Jibreel, Sheikh Muhammad Siddiq al-Minshawi, Sheikh Mustafa al-Azawi, and many others.

These Qari’s are blessed with a beautiful recitation of the Holy Quran. They have impacted a lot of people around the world with their recitation. Hafiz are not well known like Qari because they do not display themselves. As much as Qari are people that have not necessarily memorized the Quran, it is important to know that almost every Qari we mentioned is a Hafiz.

Getting Online Quran memorization classes for hafiz is the best decision to hifz Quran in perfect order.

2. Qari Is a Master of Tajweed While a Hafiz May Not Be

Another notable difference between a Qari and a Hafiz is that while a Qari must know the rules of tajweed very well, a Hafiz might necessarily not be a master of tajweed. A very good percentage of people who have memorized the Quran usually do so before getting exposed to the knowledge of tajweed. 

In some Arabic schools’ curricula, a child is first taught how to read the Quran. After knowing how to recite the Quran, he or she will be made to memorize the Quran before he or she is exposed to other Islamic knowledge.

Therefore, if such a child stops attending Madrassa after memorizing the Quran, he or she would have memorized the Quran but he or she wouldn’t know how to recite the Quran with the rules of tajweed.

In the case of a Qari, he has to master the rules of tajweed before he can be a Qari. His knowledge of tajweed can be measured when he leads obligatory solat, Solatu Taraweeh, and Qiyam Layl during the month of Ramadan.

3. Status of Qari Is Great While Hafiz Is a Greater

Both Qari and Hafiz have big status in Islam and the community. Both Qaris and Hafiz are majorly appointed as Imams in mosques. They lead people in prayer which has a great reward. But in appointing Imam, a Hafiz is considered more than a Qari because of one of the hadith that Abi Sa’eed Khudri narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Prophet Muhamad said, ‘’If there are three people, let one of them lead the others in prayers, and then the one who has the most right to lead them is the one who knows more Quraan’’.

Scholars in their analysis of this hadith made us know that ‘’the one who knows more Quran’’ in the context of this hadith means the one who has memorized more of the Quran. Therefore, since a Hafiz has memorized the Quran in its entirety, he takes precedence in the selection of an Imam over a Qari.

Also, the action of Prophet Muhammad when he was burying the Muslims after the battle of Uhud is another indication that the status of Hafiz is greater. When two people were brought to the Prophet for burial, he would ask the people about who had memorized the Quran between the two of them. When such a person is identified, the Prophet will place the person in Lahd’s grave while the other person will be buried normally.

4. The Difference in Reward Between a Qari and Hafiz

Being a Qari has its reward but it cannot be compared to being a Hafiz. The reward of a Qari will also be enjoyed by a Hafiz because they are both reading the Quran.

The reward of Qari is the normal reward that everybody that recites the Quran will get. In the hadith that was narrated by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), she said, Prophet Muhammad said whoever recites a letter from the book of Allah then he receives the reward for it, and the reward of ten the like of it. I do not say that Alif Lam Mim is a letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter.

Rewards of becoming a hafiz are generally for everybody that recites the Quran. But as for Hafiz, he has a lot of special rewards that Allah has promised him through the several hadiths that were reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘’ The Quran will come on the Day of Resurrection and will say, ‘O Lord, adorn him.’ So he will be given a crown of honour to wear. Then it will say, ‘O Lord. Give him more.’ Then it will say, ‘O Lord, be pleased with him.’ So Allah will be pleased with him. Then it will be said to him, ‘Recite and advance in status, and for each verse, you will gain one more Hasanah (reward for good deed).

There are a lot of other hadiths that talked about the reward for memorizing the Quran which aren’t available for reciters of the Quran only

Conclusion

With this article, we believe we have been able to educate our readers on the differences that exist between a Qari and a Hafiz.

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