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The question

What is the ruling on swaying right and left or forwards while memorizing the Qur’an, and is this swaying considered a type of movement that aids memorization, with the exclusion of any intention of Sufi swaying or worshipping through it?

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Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

Some scholars permit spontaneous swaying during Quran recitation without intending to imitate others, citing the verse: "{those who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides}". However, others believe this movement is reprehensible (makrooh) and may even reach the level of prohibition () because it was not reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) or the righteous predecessors (Salaf Sālih). Furthermore, its origin is from the actions of the Jews, and we have been forbidden from imitating them. Ibn Hayyan, Ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani, and al-Ra'i al-Andalusi reported from the scholars of Andalusia that they considered this movement a Jewish innovation (bid'ah) that infiltrated the Muslims. It is said that the reason Jews were named "Yahūd" (from hādah, meaning to sway) is due to their movement when reading the Torah.

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Ftawy
Original fatwa ID
153353
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Source text, unreviewed
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