Roots
Sheikh Fares Abbad comes from Yemen, a country with a long and rich tradition of Qur'anic scholarship. Even as a child he showed a deep love for the Qur'an, memorised it and was trained in the art of recitation by teachers. He grew up with the recordings of the great reciters and, over time, found his own unmistakable voice.
His work
Already as a young man, Fares Abbad led the tarawih prayers in Ramadan. Later he served as an imam at mosques in Saudi Arabia and was invited to recite in various countries. He became known above all through his complete murattal recording of the Qur'an, which spread quickly and can still be found in many apps and collections today. His recitation has also been heard on television.
His style
Fares Abbad's voice is warm, powerful and full of expression. He recites at a calm, sustained pace and uses melody with a great deal of feeling. Characteristic is a certain fullness and depth of sound that makes his recitation very compelling. At the same time his pronunciation stays distinct and his tajweed careful, so he is easy to follow.
Many listeners value the way he joins beauty and seriousness: his recitation is melodic but never playful, always carried by respect for the word of Allah.
What you can learn from him
Fares Abbad is a lovely companion for anyone who wants to listen to the Qur'an calmly and let it sink in. His measured pace leaves room for reflection, and his expressive voice helps you sense the mood of a passage – whether admonition, comfort or hope.
His recordings also work well for memorisation: the melody is memorable, and thanks to the calm pace you can hear every word clearly and repeat it.
His story also shows that love for the Qur'an knows no borders: coming from Yemen, his voice has reached people in many countries. May Allah preserve him and bless his recitation.