something recommended, not something obligatory.

As for the second kind—improving one’s voice itself—someone may object: “A beautiful voice is beyond a person’s control; Allah alone grants whomever He wills among His servants a strong throat and a pleasant tone.” The answer is: That is true, yet a person can still refine his voice through training, for vocal beauty is both innate and acquired. If he keeps reciting with care, he will learn and eventually deliver the Quran with an attractive voice.

The author (may Allah have mercy on him) then cited the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): the Prophet ﷺ said, “Allah has not listened to anything as He listens to a prophet with a graceful voice who melodiously recites the Quran aloud.”

The scholars explained that “listens” here means “pays heed”: of all the sounds Allah hears—exalted is He—none receives attention like the recitation of a prophet whose voice is beautiful, who chants the Quran and raises his voice with it. A prophet—and prophets are the highest rank of creation—who recites with a fine voice and projects it clearly is the one to whom Allah lends this attentive listening, because He loves a beautiful voice and excellent rendition of the Quran.

Next, the author mentioned the hadith of Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him)—‘Abd Allah ibn Qays, one of the Prophet’s eloquent spokesmen. The Prophet ﷺ once listened to his recitation during the night and was delighted, so he said to Abu Musa, “You have been given a flute from among the flutes of the family of David.”