‘THE CANTILLATION OF THE QUR'AN by Lois Ibsen al Farugh ‘Asia and Sinlang (China) to Tanganyika and Indla. Af the world are known to have Muslim populations of 5 ‘The “Ieratures” of these peopl reveal many common characteristics development in the region. Given the long-standing pred ing, tt should Airletly prose nor strictly poetry, whi the seventh century as well as the Fertile Crescent Semites with whom the y arts and to oral rary recitation, nelther1, CHARACTERISTICS OP THE TEXT A. Structure ‘The Qur'an comprises 114 chapters or suwar (ro sorah, The chapters are of different lengths, from 286 ayat signs” s. ayah, the ‘rah is named from an important or a ‘ fnumbered according t0 its postion Islamic. invocation or basmalah Cin the name of God Beneficent. ‘The ayat or verses ate also. of ‘includes 7 manai! segments of fe 8 period of approximately equal length for ordered and other symbols or words accompanying the text nds the various partitions, Ayah endings, for example, are marked wit Tn some hand written manuscripts the places ‘decorated roundels and stop forbidden; at the ‘an optional stop 1% (wagh at murakhkbas) permissible stop tf breath is subsequent repetition Vowel marks and di correct recitation ted Prose tee. pages st coe) apyrouriats fare onthe Senile waton in shyed ever, nt regret as Totaly poi Qur'an. see ‘The Madan soar revesed doing the are tong than the Makan sur Tey no ven i these passages & consterable wo io be found poroxtinate pr of poetic imagery: and ed to find an underying unt o ter ID, such overall ‘nly Io ore her works of at produced “There 6 a. Sene of arts oF muse. : B. Content and Themes a nehktaa and Madinan sowar can also be di ‘and themes which they emphasize. takkan bailtes they emphasa kan pas Mubarams fs announcer and warner to mankind. these themes, the Madinan suwar are more concerned, Inheritance, punishment and reward. Stories of of marriage, divorce, tne pon I rewand. Stok her speci of cert wid also include discussions of prohibited practices 1967344348), D. Musical Characteristics (Mahmod nd: 34-96, a ‘The musical characteristics of Quranic recitation could be divided into five categories 1. Segmentation: ‘The cantilation serles of textual-melodie phrases (wagftt,s. wagfa. Musica IML, CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CANTILLATION 1A. Etiquette of Cantilation ‘and are unchanged and unchangeable. ides rules complete the ons , countered some opposition by those who saw then as