For Muslims, the Qur'ān is not only a much-recited sacred text; it is 'the reciting' (al-Qur'ān). Specifically, it is God's 'reciting', his verbatim speech, his eternal, uncreated word. As such, it has been the medium par excellence of divine-human encounter for Muslims of all times, places and persuasions. It mediates the presence of God, just as it does his will and blessing. The revelations to Muhammad were from the outset intended to be rehearsed and recited - first by the Prophet who received them, then by his followers. They were given as an audible text, not as 'a writing on parchment' (Q 6:7). The Qur'ān has always been primarily recited, oral scripture and secondarily inscribed, written scripture, and thus its spiritual and aesthetic reception as the most beautiful of all texts has been linked with its orality. Tradition ascribes to the Prophet the dictum: 'You can return to God nothing better than that which came from him, namely the recitation (al-Qur'ān).' Accordingly, every generation of Muslims has scrupulously memorised, recited and transmitted the Qur'ān as scripture, psalter, prayerbook and liturgical text all in one. How Qur'ān recitation has been cultivated and used and what its corresponding aesthetic impact on and among Muslims has been are the central themes of what follows.