What is the ruling on reciting the Holy Qur’an without exact application of the rules of Tajweed and while I am not fully concentrated?

Answer

Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.

A Muslim is rewarded once they recite the holy Qur’an whether they consider it carefully or not. This is because Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “whoever recites a letter form Allah’s Book (the Qur’an) will get a reward, and then this reward will be tenfold. I do not say Alif, Lam, Mim are one letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter, and Mim is a letter.”

Undoubtedly, reciting the Holy Qur’an with much consideration and full attention will get a Muslim greater rewards. Allah says: “Do they not then consider the Qur’ān carefully? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein many a contradiction.” An-Nisa’: 82. Reciting the verses with full concentration leads to understanding them. Allah says: “(This is) a Book (the Qur’ān) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember.” Sad: 29

Thus, if one cannot concentrate while reciting, they must try harder; however, the lack of concentration should not act as an obstacle to prevent them from reciting. They have to keep on reciting.

Concerning recitation without applying the rules of Tajweed, it is allowed to recite without the application of the rules of Tajweed, but it is necessary to pay attention to pronouncing words correctly so as not to change the meanings of certain vocabulary.

Prophet Muhammad said, “The one who is proficient in the recitation of the Qur'an will be with the honorable and obedient scribes (angels) and he who recites the Qur'an and finds it difficult to recite, doing his best to recite it in the best way possible, will have two rewards."