An Analysis of the Evolution of Quranic Reciting (Qira’at) Criteria

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph. D. student in Quran and Hadith Studies, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor of Quran and Hadith Studies, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Variations in Quranic recitations (Qira’at) are among the prominent and highly significant subjects in the Quranic sciences and interpretation fields. Until the time of Ibn Mujahid (324 AH), Quranic Reciting (Qira’at) scholars had the liberty to adopt their specific recitations (Qira’at) based on their interpretations and follow separate paths. Every interpretation was consistently based on certain criteria and measures. Today, the three criteria introduced by Ibn Al-Jazari (833 AH) are recognized as the three valid criteria for the accuracy of Quranic reciting (Qira’at), replacing all previous criteria. The question here is how these criteria have evolved throughout history and undergone what changes and developments. This research is based on library data and is carried out in a descriptive-analytical method. Different Quranic reciting (Qira’at) criteria and measures are derived from four distinct periods as follows: 1- The criterion of oral transmission based on the trustworthiness of narrators: from the passing of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) to the compilation of the first manuscripts. 2- Four criteria: consensus (ijma), analogy (qiyas), general conformity with Imam’s manuscript, and conformity with the manuscripts of some well-known companions: after the compilation of the first manuscripts until Ibn Mujahid. 3- Two criteria: consensus and general conformity with Imam’s manuscript: during the time of Ibn Mujahid. 4- Three criteria: the authenticity of the chain of narrators (or according to some scholars massive-reporting or tawatur), agreement with one of the Arabic language’s aspects, conformity with the details of the canonical manuscript, or according to Ibn Al-Jazari’s opinion, conformity with one of the Uthmani manuscripts, even if it’s a probable match: after Ibn Mujahid until Ibn Al-Jazari

Keywords

References

  1. Quran Karim (The Holy Quran)
  2. A Group of Authors (Mustafa, Ibrahim; Al-Ziyat, Ahmed; Abdul Qadir, Hamed; Al-Najjar, Mohammad), Al-Mu’jam al-Wasit (The Intermediate Dictionary), Cairo: Dar al-Da’wah, n.d.
  3. Abu ‘Amsha, Nabil, Al-Mawsu’ah al-’Arabiyah (The Arabic Encyclopedia),p., n.p., n.d.
  4. Abu al-Khayl, Ali Naser Mohammad, “Ma Dha’afahu al-Farra’ min Qira’at al-Quran (The Scholars Have Been Criticized by Farra in the Recitations of the Quran)”, Al-Hikmah, Issue 18, pp. 121-140, 1420 AH (1999 CE).
  5. Abu Hayyan Andalusi, Mohammad bin Yusuf, Al-Bahr al-Muhit fi al-Tafsir (The Vast Ocean in Quranic Exegesis), Edited by Sadqi Mohammad Jamil, Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, 1420 AH (1999 CE).
  6. Abu Sahlub, Mal Abdallah, Risalah Majistiyr Minhaj al-Qurtubi fi al-Qira’at wa Atharuha fi Tafsirihi (Master’s Thesis: Al-Qurtubi’s Approach in the Recitations and Its Impact on His Exegesis), Supervised by Dr. Abd al-Rahman al-Jamal, Internal Examiner 1: Dr. Walid al-’Amudi, Internal Examiner 2: Dr. Zuhdi Abu Ni’mah, Islamic University, College of Islamic Principles, Department of Exegesis, n.d.
  7. Abu Shammah, Abd al-Rahman bin Isma’il, Al-Murshid al-Wajiz ila ‘Ulum Tat’allaqu bi-l-Kitab al-’Aziz (The Concise Guide to Sciences Related to the Noble Book), Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1424 AH (2003 CE).
  8. Al-Dani, Uthman bin Saeed, At-Taysir fi al-Qira’at as-Sab’ah (Simplification in the Seven Recitations), Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1426 AH (2005 CE).
  9. Al-Dani, Uthman bin Saeed, Jami’ al-Bayan fi al-Qira’at as-Sab’ah (The Comprehensive Collection on the Seven Recitations), United Arab Emirates: University of Sharjah, 1428 AH (2007 CE).
  10. Al-Fadhli, Abdul Hadi, Al-Qira’at al-Quraniyyah Tarikh wa Ta’rif (Quranic Recitations: History and Definition), Lebanon: Markaz al-Ghadir, 4th Edition, 2009 CE.
  11. Al-Fatli, Abdul Hossein, Abu Ja’afar al-Tabari wa Manhajuhu fi al-Qira’at (Abu Ja’far al-Tabari and His Approach to Quranic Recitations) The Iraqi Scientific Society, Volume 34, Part 2, 1403 AH (1983 CE).
  12. Al-Zajjaj, Abu Ishaq, Ma’ani al-Quran wa I’rabuhu (The Meanings of the Quran and Its Grammar), Researched by Shalabi, Abdul Jalil, Beirut: Alam al-Kutub, 1408 AH (1987 CE).
  13. Al-Zamakhshari, Mahmud bin ‘Umar, Al-Kashshaf ‘an Haqaiq Ghawamid at-Tanzil wa ‘Uyun al-Aqawil fi Wajh at-Ta’wil (The Unveiler of the Truths in the Allegorical Verses of Revelation and the Wellsprings of Statements Concerning the Method of Interpretation), Edited by Hossein Ahmad Mustafa, Dar al-Kitab al-Arabi, n.d.
  14. Al-Zurqani, Mohammad Abdul-Azim, Manahil al-Irfan fi Ulum al-Quran (The Springs of Knowledge in the Sciences of the Quran), Published by Isa al-Babi al-Halabi and Partners, 3rd Edition, n.d.
  15. Ashkar Tizabi, Faruq Mohammad, Wujuh wa Ma’i’arahat Tarjih Qira’at dar Tafsir al-Tabari (Aspects and Criteria of Preference in Recitations in the Exegesis of Tabari), Studies in Comparative Islamic Sects, Volume 10, n.d.
  16. Fakhr al-Razi, Mohammad bin ‘Umar, Tafsir al-Kabir: Mafatih al-Ghayb (The Great Exegesis: They Keys of Unseen World), Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, 3rd Edition, 1420 AH (1999 CE).
  17. Farra, Yahya bin Ziyad, Ma’ani al-Quran (The Meanings of the Quran), Researched by Najati, Ahmad Yusuf, Cairo: The Egyptian General Authority for Books, 2nd Edition, 1980 CE.
  18. Firuzabadi, Mohammad bin Ya’qub, Al-Qamus al-Muhit (The Comprehensive Dictionary), Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1415 AH (1995 CE).
  19. Ghalib, Ali Nasser, “Mawqif al-Farra min al-Qira’at al-Quraniyyah (The Stance of Farra on Quranic Recitations)”, Al-Mawrid, Volume 17, Number 4, 1988 CE.
  20. Hekmat Naser, Shadi, The Transmission of Quranic Recitations, Translated by Shahpasand, Elaheh; Abdi, Vali, Tehran: Kargadan, 1398 SH (2019 CE).
  21. Hilli, Hassan bin Yusuf bin Mutahhar Asadi, Muntaha al-Matalib fi Tahqiq al-Madhhab (The Ultimate Goals in Jurisprudence), Researched by the Jurisprudence Department at the Islamic Research Foundation, Mashhad: Majma al-Buhuth al-Islamiyyah, 1412 AH (1991 CE).
  22. Hosseini Jalali, Mohammad Hossein, Dirasah Hawl al-Quran al-Karim (A Study on the Quran), Beirut: Al-A’lami Institute for Publications, 1422 AH (2001 CE).
  23. Ibn ‘Atiyyah, Abd al-Haqq bin Ghaleb, Muqaddamatan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran (Two Introductions on the Sciences of the Quran), Edited by Jeffrey, Arthur; Sawi, Abd Allah Isma’il, Cairo: Maktabahal-Khanji, 1392 AH (1972 CE).
  24. Ibn al-Jazari, Mohammad bin Mohammad, Al-Nashr fi al-Qira’at al-Ashr (A Work on the Ten Recitations), Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, n.d.
  25. Ibn Ghulbun, Abi al-Hassan Tahir bin Abd al-Mannan, Risalah al-Tadhkirah fi al-Qira’at al-Thiman (A Treatise on the Eight Recitations), Edited by Suwayd, al-Ayman, Supervised by Dr. Mahmoud Mohammad al-Tanahi and Dr. Abdul Fattah Shalabi, Saudi Arabia: Umm al-Qura University, 1410 AH (1990 CE).
  26. Ibn Khalawayh, Husayn bin Ahmad, Al-Hujjah fi al-Qira’at al-Sab’ (The Evidence on the Seven Recitations), Edited by Mukarram, Abd al-Aal Salim, Beirut: Mo’assasah al-Risalah, 1421 AH (2000 CE).
  27. Ibn Khalawayh, Husayn bin Ahmad, I’rab Thalathin Surah min al-Quran al-Karim (Analysis of Thirty Verses from the Noble Quran), Egypt: Matba’at Dar al-Kutub al-Misriyyah, 1360 AH (1941 CE).
  28. Ibn Khalawayh, Husayn bin Ahmad, Mukhtasar fi Shawa’iz al-Quran (Summary of the Anomalies in the Quran), Edited by Jeffrey, Arthur, Cairo: Maktabahal-Mutanabbi, n.d.
  29. Ibn Khallakan, Abu al-Abbas Shams al-Din Ahmad bin Mohammad bin Abi Bakr, Wafiyyat al-A’yan wa Anba’ Abna’ al-Zaman (Obituaries of Eminent Men and Information about the Sons of the Epoch), Edited by Abbas, Ihsan, Beirut: Dar Sa’r, 1900 CE.
  30. Ibn Manzur, Mohammad bin Mukram, Lisan al-’Arab (The Tongue of the Arabs), Dar Sa’r, Beirut: 1414 AH (1993 CE).
  31. Ibn Mujahid, Abu Bakr Ahmad bin Musa, Al-Sab’ah fi al-Qira’at (The Seven in the Recitations), Cairo: Dar al-Ma’arif in Egypt, Cornish al-Nayl, 1919 CE.
  32. Ibn Seyyedaa, Ali bin Isma’il, Al-Muhkam wa al-Muhit al-A’zam (The Strongest and Most Comprehensive), Edited by Hindawi, Abd al-Hamid, Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1421 AH (2000 CE).
  33. Jadadi, Maryam, “Sanjish-i Qira’at va Ma’i’arahayi Ikhtiyar-i An az Nigah-i Ibn-i-Shanbuz (Evaluation of Recitations and Their Selection Criteria from the Perspective of Ibn Shanbuz)”, Studies in Quranic Recitations, Issue 7, 1398 SH (2019 CE).
  34. Jawhari, Isma’il bin Hammad, Taj al-Lughah wa Sihah al-Arabiyah (The Crown of Language and the Purity of the Arabic Language), Edited by Attar, Ahmad Abd al-Ghaffur, Beirut: Dar al-’Ilmi li’l-Malayin, 1376 SH (1997 CE).
  35. Khatib Baghdadi, Abu Bakr, Tarikh Baghdad (The History of Baghdad), Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1417 AH (1997 CE).
  36. Khoe’i, Sayyid Abul-Qasim, Al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Quran (An Exposition in Quranic Exegesis), Qom: Institute for the Revival of the Works of Imam Khoe’i, n.d.
  37. Kulayni, Mohammad bin Ya’qub, Al-Kafi, Researched by Ghaffari, Ali Akbar; Akhundi, Mohammad, Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah, 1407 AH (1986 CE).
  38. Ma’rufat, Mohammad Hadi, Al-Tamhid (An Introduction), Qom: Mo’assasah al-Nashr al-Islamiyyah, n.d.
  39. Makki bin Hamush, Al-Ibanah ‘an Ma’ani al-Qira’at (The Clarification of the Meanings of Quranic Recitations), Researched by Arbawi, Farghali Sayyid, Beirut: Nashirun, 1432 AH (2011 CE).
  40. Malik bin Anas, Al-Muwatta (Well-trodden Path), Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, 1406 AH (1986 CE).
  41. Mohaddesi Anuq, Mujtaba, Sayr Tatawwur Maqais Qarai wa Naqsh Anha dar Pazirish wa Tathbith Qira’at Quran Karim (The Evolution of Quranic Metrics and Their Role in Accepting and Establishing Quranic Recitations (Ph.D. Dissertation), Tehran: University of Tehran, 1398 SH (2019 CE).
  42. Muhsin, Mohammad Salim, Mu’jam Hifz al-Quran ‘Abr al-Tarikh (A Dictionary of Quranic Preservation throughout History), Beirut: Dar al-Jayl, 1412 AH (1991 CE).
  43. Najafi, Ruhollah, Tabari wa Ithilaf Qira’at Dar Ayat al-Ahkam Ibadi (Tabari and the Variations in Recitations in the Verses of Ritual Laws), Research in Quran and Hadith Sciences, Volume 48, Number 97, 1395 SH (2016 CE).
  44. Parcheh-Bafi Daulati, Karim, “Arzyabi Qira’at-i Sab’ Nazd-i Ibn-i-Mujahid (Evaluation of the Seven Recitations According to Ibn Mujahid)”, Studies in Quranic Recitations, Issue 7, 1395 SH (2016 CE).
  45. Qaduri al-Hamd, Ghanam, Rasm al-Mushaf (The Manuscript’s Layout), Jordan: Dar ‘Ammar, 1425 AH (2004 CE).
  46. Qasemnejad, Zahra, “Nashr Siyaq dar Ithiyar Wujuh Qira’at (The Role of Context in the Selection of Quranic Recitations)”, Journal of Quranic and Hadith Studies, Year 10, Number 2, 1392 SH (2013 CE).
  47. Qasemnejad, Zahra, “Ta’thir Siyaq dar Tarjih Qira’at dar Tafsir Tabari (The Influence of Context on the Preference of Quranic Recitations in Tabari’s Exegesis)”, Maqalat va Barresihha, Year 6, Issue 12, Tehran: 1392 SH (2013 CE).
  48. Qazi, Abdul Fattah, Al-Budur al-Zahirah fi al-Qira’at al-’Ashr al-Mutawatirah min Turuq al-Shatibiyyah wa al-Durrah (The Radiant Moons in the Ten Massive Reported Recitations from the Method of Shatibi and al-Darrah), Cairo: Dar al-Salam, 1426 AH (2005 CE).
  49. Qurtubi, Mohammad bin Ahmad, Al-Jami’ li Ahkam al-Quran (The Comprehensive Collection of Quranic Rulings), Tehran: Naser Khosrow Publications, 1364 AH (1985 CE).
  50. Ramyar, Mahmoud, Tarikh Quran (History of the Quran), Tehran: Amir Kabir Publications, 6th Edition, 1384 SH (2005 CE).
  51. Sakhawi, Ali bin Mohammad, Jamal al-Qurra’ wa Kamal al-Iqra’ (The Beauty of Reciters and the Perfection of Recitation), Researched by Saif al-Qadi, Abdul Haq Abdul Dayim, Beirut: Mu’assasah al-Kutub ath-Thaqafiyyah, 1419 AH (1998 CE).
  52. Samin Halabi, Ahmad bin Yusuf, Al-Durr al-Musun fi ‘Ulum al-Kitab al-Maknun (The Protected Pearls in the Sciences of the Hidden Book), Researched by Sayrah, Ahmad Mohammad, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut: Manshurat Mohammad ‘Ali Baidun, 1414 AH (1994 CE).
  53. Shahid Awwal, Mohammad bin Maki, Dhikra al-Shi’a fi Ahkam al-Shari’ah (The Shiite Theories in the Rulings of Islamic Law), Researched by a Group of Researchers at the Institute of Alul Bayt (A.S.), Qom: Institute of Alul Bayt (A.S.), 1419 AH (1999 CE).
  54. Shahpasand, Elaheh, Rukard Abadi, “Ma’nai be Qira’at Khilaf Rasm Mushaf dar Mutun Qarn Suwwum (A Literary-Semantic Approach to Non-Conformity of Quranic Recitations in 3rd Century Texts)”, The Academy of Persian Language and Literature, Year 2, Issue 3, 1397 SH (2018 CE).
  55. Shakeri, Simindokht, “Mabani Tafsir Nigari Tabari (Foundations of Tabari’s Exegesis Compiling)”, Maqalat va Barresihha, Issue 76, 1383 SH (2004 CE).
  56. Shalabi, Abdul Fattah Isma’il, Rasm al-Mushaf al-’Uthmani wa Aw’ham al-Mustashriqin fi Qira’at al-Quran al-Karim (The Writing of the ‘Uthmani Mus’haf and the Delusions of Orientalists Regarding the Recitations of the Noble Quran), Cairo: Maktabah Wahbah, 1419 AH (1998 CE).
  57. Sibawayh, Amr bin ‘Uthman bin Qunbar, Al-Kitab (The Book), Cairo: Maktabah al-Khanji, 1408 AH (1987 CE).
  58. Suyuti, Jalal al-Din Abd al-Rahman, Al-Itqan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran (The Perfect Guide to the Sciences of the Quran), Translated by Ha’iri Qazvini, Sayyid Mehdi, Tehran: Amir Kabir, 1382 SH (2003 CE).
  59. Tabari, Mohammad bin Jarir, Jami’ al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Quran (The Comprehensive Exposition of the Interpretation of the Quran), Beirut: Dar al-Ma’arifah, 1412 AH (1992 CE).
  60. Turaihi, Fakhr al-Din bin Mohammad, Majma’ al-Bahrain (The Confluence of the Two Seas), Edited by Hosseini Ishkawari, Ahmad, Tehran: Mortazavi, 3rd Edition, 1375 SH (1996 CE).
  61. Zarkali Damasci, Khair al-Din bin Mahmoud bin Mohammad, Al-A’lam: Qamus Tarajim li-Ashhor al-Rijal wal-Nisa’ min al-Arab wa al-Mustar’abin wa al-Mustashriqin (The Notables: An Encyclopedia of Biographies of Prominent Men and Women from the Arabs, East and West), Beirut: n.p., 5th Edition, 1980 CE.
  62. Zarkashi, Mohammad bin Bahadur, Al-Burhan fi Ulum al-Quran (The Demonstration in the Sciences of the Quran), Researched by Dhahabi, Jamal Hamdi, Beirut: Dar al-Ma’arifah, 1410 AH (1989 CE).
  63. Zubaidi, Murtadha, Taj al-’Arus min Jawahir al-Qamus (The Bride’s Crown of Lexical Gems), Researched by Shiri, Ali, Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, 1414 AH (1994 CE).
Studies of Quran Reading
Volume 11, Issue 20 - Serial Number 20
September 2023
Pages 12-45

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 16 July 2022
  • Revise Date: 08 March 2023
  • Accept Date: 17 June 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics