Question

Assalaam alaikum wa rahmatu Allah wa barakatuh.

Thank you very much for your website. I need Information about (qira' aat ). How many are they? What is the difference between them? And why? 

WasSalaamu alaykum wa rahmatu Allah wa barakatuh,

Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuh. 

You are very welcome.

The Qur’an was revealed in seven dialects or “ahruf” to the Messenger, .  Every way was part of the revelation, and every way was valid and authentic.  These “ahruf” or different ways or recitation do not necessarily mean only seven ways of recitation.  Through time and the negligence of the Muslims, many of the authentic ways have been lost.  What we have left today are ten authentic ways of recitation, or qira’aat, all with complete and documented transmission chains back to the Messenger of Allah, , and all a portion of the original revealed seven “ahruf”. 

The different ways of recitation all revealed to the Prophet, , are a mercy to the Muslims.  Every way of recitation includes dialects of different groups of Arabs, and nothing in the recitation is outside of the Arabic used by the Arabs at the time of the Prophet,  .   

Please read the previously comprehensively answered questions regarding the qira’aat:

http://www.abouttajweed.com/03190101.htm

http://www.abouttajweed.com/q150301.htm

 http://www.abouttajweed.com/09100102.htm

http://www.abouttajweed.com/09100101.htm

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuh.