The art of tarannum Al-Quran is not easy. The word tarannum itself is derived from the Arabic root “rannama”, meaning “to sing” or “to chant”, but from Al-Quran studies perspective, it refers to the act of reciting Al-Quran verses in a beautiful and melodious manner through pitch, rhythm and cadence.
Whether accomplished or aspiring, the tarannum is an art that any qari and qariah (Al-Quran reader) must master, but to achieve success in this field, one’s tarannum must be trained and nurtured.
For Dayangku Fauziah Nadhirah binti Pengiran Haji Jofri, the qariah champion of the recent National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults for 1444 Hijrah/2023, her victory played second fiddle.
What mattered the most was the opportunity; to further master the art of tarannum Al-Quran and, ultimately, join the ranks of her family members who are international and national level Al-Quran readers.
Born into a legacy of Al-Quran readers, Dayangku Fauziah is among four family members who have dedicated their lives to perfecting their respective tarannum. As such, they have become a major source of inspiration for the qariah champion throughout her Al-Quran journey.
In fact, during this year’s national competition, both Dayangku Fauziah and her younger brother were announced as finalists, and with their family history, the siblings went through intensive training together under the tutelage of their parents.
Her mother, Hajah Aminah binti Haji Abdul Manaf was a national and international qariah champion who brought glory to the Sultanate when she was placed first at the International Al-Quran Reading Competition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2002.
For Dayangku Fauziah, her mother is one of the most significant figures in her life, both as a source of inspiration and as her biggest supporter and a dedicated coach.
She began her Al-Quran journey at the young age of eight. Driven by the support of her parents, who are both religious teachers, she joined her first national Al-Quran reading competition representing Katimahar Religious School, where she studied.
Admittedly shy as a child, Dayangku Fauziah recalled her nervousness during her first national competition, noting how intimidating it was to perform in front of a large audience. She had difficulty projecting her voice, but fortunately, her elder brother was also competing.
“I could hear his voice, it was very clear and confident (and that) amazed me and made me feel excited,” she recounted. “It was both our first time (competing), but he was more confident than me. This made me want to perform better, to deliver better recitations, to be more confident, and ultimately to be more courageous.”
Dayangku Fauziah expressed her gratitude for having a strong support system within her family, those who understand and can relate to the struggles that only international and national level Al-Quran readers are privy to.
“Maintaining the health and stamina of one’s voice is the most challenging aspect. However, I am grateful to have parents with a vast experience and knowledge in this field of Al-Quran recitation.
“They always ensure that I take care of my health, eat and drink properly, get enough rest, and encourage me to exercise to stay fit and comfortable while delivering recitations in every competition,” she explained.
She has participated in several Al-Quran reading competitions since then, including the National Al- Quran Reading Competition for Youth, the Southeast Asian Youth Al-Quran Reading Competition, the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults and her highest participation to date, the International Al-Quran Reading Competition in 2019.
Looking back at the numerous competitions she has participated in, Dayangku Fauziah reflected on the hurdles she had to overcome, noting the number of instances where she felt her Al-Quran recitation was below par.
“I am grateful for the experiences at all levels of competitions that I took part in, as it has shaped who I am today, someone who constantly seeks to improve every weakness from one competition to the next,” she said. On plans for the future, Dayangku Fauziah said that there is still much for her to improve on, from refining the quality of her recitation, focusing on tajweed (rules of Al-Quran recitation) to maintaining clear and clean vocal conditions without deviating from the tempo.
She urged the younger generation to discover their Al-Quran journey, encouraging them to pursue it with pure intentions and nurturing it through relentless practice.
The qariah champion highlighted how failures should be endured with patience and a resilient spirit.
“Every success comes with sacrifices and challenges,” she said. – Rokiah Mahmud
