The Reflection of Dialectal Differences in Readings (Qira’at) Attributed to the Ahl al-Bayt (AS)

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Associate Professor, Bozorgmehr University, Qaenat, Iran. kohantorabi@buqaen.ac.ir.

Abstract

One of the causes of variation in Quranic recitation (qir’at)  is dialectal differences. A typological examination of the recitations attributed to the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) reveals that only a few of them differ in dialect from the Hafs recitation. These recitations (qira’at), numbering seventeen, constitute approximately four percent of the nearly four hundred readings attributed to the infallible figures (AS). In addition to the Quraish dialect, these recitations (qira’at) are linked to tribes such as Banu Tamim, Qays, Hudhayl, Hawazin, Ali Mudar, Asad, and Tayy, which are reported in linguistic and literary sources to be among the most eloquent tribes of the time of the Quran’s revelation. One perspective holds that the Quraish dialect is the only valid dialect for Quranic recitation and dismisses other dialects. However, historical reports and narrations do not support this exclusivity. Numerous reports indicate the presence of other dialects in the revelation of the Quran and the recitation of the Prophet (PBUH) as well as in the recitations of the infallibles, refuting this claim. An analysis of these recitations (qira’at) shows that nearly all of them differ from the Hafs recitation (qir’at) in terms of word structure and variations in vowel markings. These differences, however, occur in letters other than the final letter of a word and do not affect the syntactical function of the word within a sentence; therefore, they do not result in a change of meaning. This study, utilizing a variety of sources from both Sunni and Shia traditions, including linguistic, literary, Quranic recitation (qir’at), and exegesis, identifies these instances and analyzes them using a descriptive-analytical method with a comparative approach.

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References

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  • Receive Date: 20 February 2024
  • Revise Date: 26 July 2024
  • Accept Date: 15 September 2024

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