Recite or Read:-
Yiqraa, meaning to Read is similar to the Hebrew Miqraa and does not mean to Recite but to actually read from a written document.
The correct translation of the word Recite to the Arabic is Yatlu/Yalqi which appears in the following:
5: 27 Recite [Utloo] to them the truth of the story of the two sons of Adam. Behold! they each presented a sacrifice (to Allah): it was accepted from one but not from the other. Said the latter: "Be sure I will slay thee." "Surely" said the former "Allah doth accept of the sacrifice of those who are righteous. this (Book came) nor art thou (able) to transcribe it with thy right hand: in that case indeed would the talkers of vanities have doubted.
*** In the context of the above verse, the word recite is correct in both the Arabic and English since Muhammad is required to inform his listeners***
17: 14 (It will be said to him:) "Read [Iqraa] thine (own) record: sufficient is thy soul this day to make out an account against thee." 45 When thou dost read [Qaraata] the Qur'an We put between thee and those who believe not in the Hereafter a veil invisible:----- 71 One day We shall call together all human beings with their (respective) Imams: those who are given their record in their right hand will read [yaqraoun] it (with pleasure) and they will not be dealt with unjustly in the least---- 93 "Or thou have a house adorned with gold or thou mount a ladder right into the skies. No we shall not even believe in thy mounting until thou send down to us a book that we could read (naqraahoo) " Say: "Glory to my Lord! am I aught but a man an apostle?"---106 (It is) a Qur'an which We have divided (into parts from time to time) in order that thou mightest read [taqraahoo] it to men at intervals: We have revealed it by stages.
18: 27 And recite [atloo] what has been revealed to thee of the Book of thy Lord: none can change His Words and none wilt thou find as a refuge other than Him.
29: 45 Recite [Utloo] what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee and establish Regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do…..48 And thou wast not (able) to recite [tatloo] a Book before
33: 34 And recite [Utli] what is rehearsed to you in your homes of the Signs of Allah and His wisdom: for Allah understands the finest mysteries and is well-acquainted (with them).
73: 4 Or a little more; and recite [ratili] the Qur'an in slow measured rhythmic tones.
96: 1 Proclaim [iqraa]! in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher Who created
2 Created man out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood:
Read = Yiqraa are found in: 7:204; 16:98; 17:14, 71, 103; 69:19; 73:20; 84:21; 96:1
*** In every case of the verses above, the word Yiqraa is translated correctly since it is actually associated with reading a book or a document***
Recite = Yatloo are found in: 5:27; 18:27; 29:45, 48; 33:34; 73:4.
*** In the cases above, Recite is the correct translation since it is meant to represent Teach/Preach/Lecture/Recite rhythmically, without them being associated with any document or book***
Recite = Yiqraa is found in: 17:45, 106
*** These are the only verses that do not follow the correct translation for the simple reason that the followers of Muhammad cannot allow any possibility that he was in any way a literate person since this would allegedly negate the dogma of the 'divine origin' of the Quran.
While it was all right for Moses to be given the divine Torah although he was fully literate, the Muhammadans cannot allow that it is possible for an illiterate person to be able to create the verses of the Quran in spite of the fact that this was accomplished repeatedly by the pagan Arab poets in their Muallaqat long before Muhammad and his Quran.
Moreover, the historical records of Arabia, written by the followers of Muhammad attest to the fact that some of the very important verses of the Quran were plagiarized from pagan Arabian poems.
This dogma also contradicts the original version of events that describe the very first 'confrontation' between Gabriel and Muhammad in the Hira cave as described by
Ibn Ishaq in Sirat Rassoul Allah***
NOTE: See Read & Write in Definitions for more details.