Shahat Anwar’s Quran Recitation Attractive to All Tastes
The Quran recitations by Shahat Muhammad Anwar (1950-2008) conveyed a sense of peace and calm to the listener.
Shahat, who was the last qari from Egypt’s golden generation of Quran reciters, greatly influenced Quran recitation in the world. He was known as Amir al-Nigham (king of rhythms).
He could not recite the Quran in the last ten years of life due to an illness and died at the age of 57.
His success in recitation was more due to his great, dignified and serene character than his strong larynx and his mastery over rhythms. He and other qaris like Ghalwash, Mutawalli Abdulal, etc, used their Quran recitation skills not for worldly benefits but for conveying the message of God to society.
The importance of Shahat’s recitation can be studied from the points of view of Sawt (melodious voice) and Lahn (rhythm). It is also important to note the overall spirituality dominating his recitation.
His voice was special and his recitation was attractive to all listeners around the world.
His recitation is imitable and has created a mainstream style. In terms of serenity and avoiding noisy rhythmic style, it is impressive.
Every work of art originates from the artist’s spirit and if you reflect on Shahat’s recitations, you will see a special peace, serenity and spirituality that were rooted in his dignified character.
Another important thing about him is his well-ordered lifestyle. Between 1979 and 1984, he recited the Quran many times during Fajr (sunrise). A qari who wants to recite in Fajr should have a well-ordered lifestyle. For example he should eat dinner early, go to bed on time, etc. These are very important things for a professional qari.
His Fajr recitation of Surah Al-Ghafir in 1979 was the first broadcast live on Egypt’s Quran Radio and led to his popularity.
In that recitation, it is clear that Shahat in that period was under the influence of recitations by Sheikh Saeed al-Zinani. Of course he gradually developed his independent recitation style later.
As for Lahn, his Lahn has special features that distinguish him from other qaris of Egypt’s Sharqia school like Mahmoud Ismail Sharif, Saeed al-Zinani, Muhammad Ahmed Shabib and Mahmoud Hamdi al-Zamil. Shahat adapts Lahn on words in such a way that the listener hears a smooth recitation. He has mastery over both the music of words and the music of rhythms.
