حقيقة علـم القـراءات ومراحله التاريخية التي مر بها

The reality of the science of Qur'anic readings and the historical stages it has gone through DOI:10.5281/zenodo.10357869

Abstract

Qira'at is a science among the sciences of the Holy Quran that investigates the pronunciation of the words of Allah and their variations among the accredited reciters. It is derived from the legal basis indicated by the authentic hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Qira'at reflects the diversity of the Arabic language and the vast mercy of Allah in facilitating recitation for Muslims.

Qira'at encompasses language, assimilation, gathering, recitation, pronunciation, and understanding. These meanings are found in language dictionaries, grammar books, and morphology texts. The Quran is named as such because it gathers and compiles its chapters. The term is used in the Quran to mean recitation, pronunciation, and understanding, as seen in verses such as وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا "And recite the Quran with measured recitation" and وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنْصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ "And when the Quran is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy, and أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَى قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا Then do they not reflect upon the Quran, or are there locks upon [their] hearts.

Qira'at, as a term, refers to the method followed by an imam among the imams of recitation in pronouncing the Quran, with consensus in narrations and methods, whether the deviation is in the pronunciation of letters or in the pronunciation of their forms. It is a science that teaches how to perform the words of the Quran and their variations with a continuous chain of transmission and hearing.