Analysis of the Common Recitation (Qira’at) in the 7th Century in Iran (Manuscripts of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor at University of Qurʾanic Sciences and Thoughts, Faculty of Quranic Sciences in Mashhad Mashhad, Iran

2 Faculty of Education, Modares University of Educational Sciences, Modares, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

There are scattered reports about common recitation (Qira’at) in various regions and eras of Islam. These reports cannot provide a clear picture of the diversity and dissemination of recitations (Qira’at) in different periods of Islamic regions. One of the pieces of evidence that can help complete such data is the examination of written manuscripts from that era. In this article, the researchers have selected five manuscripts from the 7th-century Hijri found in the library of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza. By extracting statistics on the similarity of script and manuscript drawings in these Qurans with the script and recitations (Qira’at) of native reciters from different regions, they have attempted to identify the common recitation (Qira’at) in Iran in the 7th century. According to the obtained statistics, only in Quran number 67, which dates back to the early 7th century, does the manuscript drawing resemble that of the Basrah Quran the most, while in Quran number 84, the manuscript drawing resembles both the Basrah and Kufic manuscript drawings to an equal extent. The script of the other three Qurans also has the highest similarity, with approximately four percent difference, to the Kufic script, and then Basrah. This is the first time such findings have been reported from the 4th to the 7th centuries. Concerning the strong recitation (Qira’at) in the manuscripts in Iran, from the 5th and 6th centuries, there was a gradual inclination towards Kufic recitations (Qira’at), especially the recitation (Qira’at) of Asim with both its narrations. However, in the 7th century, more clarity and intensity were found, particularly focusing on the recitation (Qira’at) of Asim.

Keywords

References

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Studies of Quran Reading
Volume 11, Issue 20 - Serial Number 20
September 2023
Pages 37-70

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History

  • Receive Date: 29 June 2022
  • Revise Date: 08 May 2023
  • Accept Date: 20 September 2023

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