Qira'at

What are the Qiraat?

The qiraat are the authenticated modes of reciting the Quran, each transmitted through an unbroken chain of teachers back to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. They differ from one another in fine details of pronunciation and, in a few places, in variant readings of certain letters or vowels — all of which the Prophet ﷺ himself taught. Ten of these are canonically accepted as mutawatir (transmitted by mass, unbroken chains), each with two principal transmitters (rawis).

The Hadith of the Seven Ahruf

The origin of the multiple readings lies in the Prophet's ﷺ own teaching. Umar reported hearing Hisham ibn Hakim reciting Surah al-Furqan differently from how the Prophet ﷺ had taught him; when Umar took him to the Prophet ﷺ, both recitations were confirmed, and the Prophet ﷺ said: "This Quran has been revealed in seven ahruf (modes); recite whichever is easy for you" (Bukhari 4992, Muslim 818). Scholars have discussed at length what the "seven ahruf" precisely mean; the ten canonical qiraat that eventually crystallised are considered a preservation of what remained authentically traceable from these modes.

The Ten Canonical Qiraat

1. Nafi al-Madani — narrators: Warsh, Qalun.
2. Ibn Kathir al-Makki — narrators: al-Bazzi, Qunbul.
3. Abu Amr al-Basri — narrators: al-Duri, al-Susi.
4. Ibn Amir ad-Dimashqi — narrators: Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan.
5. Asim al-Kufi — narrators: Hafs, Shu'bah.
6. Hamzah az-Zayyat — narrators: Khalaf, Khallad.
7. al-Kisai — narrators: Abu al-Harith, ad-Duri.
8. Abu Ja'far al-Madani — narrators: Ibn Wardan, Ibn Jammaz.
9. Ya'qub al-Hadrami — narrators: Ruways, Rawh.
10. Khalaf al-Bazzar — narrators: Ishaq, Idris.

Which Qiraat People Recite Today

• Hafs an Asim — by far the most widespread today, used in Turkey, the Levant, Egypt, and most of the Muslim East.
• Warsh an Nafi — dominant in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria) and West Africa.
• Qalun an Nafi — widespread in Libya and parts of Tunisia.
• Al-Duri an Abi Amr — used in parts of Sudan and West Africa.

All authentic qiraat are equally valid; a Muslim recites the qiraat learned in his tradition, and one qiraat should not be criticised in favour of another, as all trace back to the Prophet ﷺ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the qiraat mean there are different Qurans?

No. The differences are subtle and preserved by the same Ummah under the same divine safeguard (Quran 15:9). The message is one; the variations are permitted modes of pronouncing and rendering it, given by the Prophet ﷺ himself to accommodate the different dialects of the early Muslim community.

What is the difference between qiraat and tajwid?

Qiraat concerns which recitation (Hafs, Warsh, etc.) one is following. Tajwid is the science of correct pronunciation applied within that recitation. A person recites a specific qiraat, using tajwid to render it accurately.