Based on how many qira’ahs is it permissible to recite the Quran?

- In other words, in how many qira’ahs is it valid to recite the Quran in Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah?

Dear Brother / Sister,

The Prophet (pbuh) said:

“The Quran was sent down in seven letters (ahruf/styles); so, recite whichever of them is easy for you.” (see Bukhari, Fadailul-Quran, 27, Tawhid, 53, Bad’ul-Khalq, 6, Murataddin, 9, Khusumat, 4; Muslim, Musafirin, 270; Abu Dawud, Witr, 22; Tirmidhi, Quran, 9; Nasai, Iftitah, 37; Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, V, 16, 41, 114, 124, 124, 127, 128, 132).

Jibril said to the Prophet,

“Allah commands your ummah to recite the ‘Quran in one letter (style).”

The Messenger of Allah said that the ummah could not bear it and asked for Allah’s forgiveness. Then, two letters were permitted, then three. When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) asked for more, he was finally given permission for seven letters. (see Bukhari, Fadailul-Quran, 5; Muslim, Musafirin, 272; Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad, I, 264, 299, 313)

According to another narration, the Messenger of Allah said to Jibril:

“I have been sent to an ummah, and among them there are old men and women, boys and girls, and those who cannot read at all.” Thereupon, Jibril said,

“O Muhammad, this Quran was sent down in seven letters.” (Tabari, Jami’ul Bayan, I, 35; Zarkashi, al Burhan, I, 227)

The wisdom behind seven letters (dialects) is to facilitate the reading of the Quran, as it is understood from the hadith narrated by Tirmidhi. Since the first addressees of the Quran were scattered in tribes, there were differences in pronunciation among them. Due to this excuse, they were given a permission.

Rukhsah: A change in the decree to a simpler one due to an excuse, even though the reason for the original decree remains the same. 

Although the permission to recite (qira’ah) in seven different styles was given, the writing was only in the Quraysh dialect. It minimized disagreement because the writing of the original letter became the basis for reading the Quran after the excuse that required facilitation disappeared.

With the disappearance of the excuse, the temporary permission given to the seven letters also ended. The difference among the dialects and the widespread ignorance were eliminated by the gathering of the Quran and the decrease in ignorance.

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