Mustafa Ismail

Mustafa Ismail (; 17 June 1905 – 26 December 1978) was an Egyptian Quran reciter. The quadrumvirate of Al-Minshawy, Abdul Basit, Al-Hussary and Mustafa Ismail are generally considered the most important and famous reciters of modern times to have had an outsized impact on the Islamic world.

Early life Mustafa Muhammad Mursi Ismail was born in a village called Mit Gazal, near Tanta in Egypt on 17 June 1905. He was raised by his grandfather. Ismail focused on the Quran from an early age, when he reached the age of 10 he completed his hifdh (memorization of the entire Quran). He went to an institution in Tanta and was instructed in the science of tafsir (exegesis), qira'at (methods of recitation) and fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). After completing his formal studies, Ismail devoted his life to the service of the Quran.

Notable moments His son Wahid Mustafa said:

The composer Abdel-Wahab was of much the same opinion: "He was big in his art, he was big in his management of his voice, and was the only reciter who surprised listeners with unexpected maqam routes," he once declared.

In his Dream TV program two years ago, El-Shereii tried to analyze the sheikh's musical approach by replaying a few short recitations. "His recitation was miraculous, and he was a musical miracle as well. He was unique."

Analyzing a different verse, the composer says:

Chronology

1905 Mustafa Muhammad Al-Mursi Ismail born on June 17 in Mit Ghazal, a Gharbeya governorate village. 1911 The young Mustafa started learning the Qur'an in the kuttab of Abdul Rahman Abu al-Aynayn 1913 Mustafa moved to the kuttab of Abdullah Shahata 1915 The 10-year-old became a celebrity reciter in his village, as his voice started to draw listeners. 1917 Ismail finished studying the art of tilawa and tajwid with Idris Fakhir. He later moved to Tanta to study at a religious institute, after an Azhar sheikh heard him recite in 'Utayf mosque. The young shaykh embarked on his career as a reciter. 1920 He received 70 pt for his first official three-night 'aza [mourning] event. 1925 He recited during the 'aza of one of Tanta's richest men, Hussayn Al-Qasabi, and soon became a celebrity all over rural Egypt. 1927 He recited at the 'aza of national leader Saad Zaghloul in Damietta. Meets his wife, the mother of his six children, and is also heard by all of Egypt's pashas. He has to open an office in Tanta to organize his schedule. 1943 He recited in Cairo for the first time. He became a radio star. 1944 He became King Farouk's favorite reciter. His famous recitations from the King's palace every Ramadan were heard by radio listeners all over the Arab world. Mustafa travels all over the Arab world. 1947 He became Al-Azhar's reciter, a prestigious post. 1965 Received the Distinction Medal from Gamal Abdel Nasser, who had also made him his official reciter. Umm Kulthum and Mohamed Abdel Wahab received their medals on the same night as Mustafa. 1977 Mustafa travelled to Jerusalem with President Anwar Sadat. He recited the Qur'an inside the Al-Aqsa mosque. 1978 On 22 December, he recited the Qur'an for the last time in Damietta, dying on the 26th.