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History of Qiraat
The history of Qiraat (recitations or narrations) is deeply rooted in the early Islamic period and the transmission of the Quran. Following the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Caliph Uthman ibn Affan standardized the Quranic text to prevent the disagreement among Muslims about narrations they might not have heard about.
He decided to standardized the Quranic text to meet and fit all possible narrations which were recited by the Prophet (PBUH). Even during the Prophet's time, there were differences in the way certain verses were recited, reflecting linguistic, phonetic, and regional variations among the companions. All these were confirmed and recited by the Prophet (PBUH).
To preserve these diverse recitations , scholars like Abu Bakr and Uthman compiled and recorded different Qiraat. Seven renowned scholars, played a crucial role in the preservation and dissemination of various recitations. These scholars include Ibn Kathir, Abu 'Amr, Ya'qub, Ibn Wardan, Hamzah, Khalaf, and Al-Kisai.
Over time, ten authentic Qiraat gained prominence, with each named after its primary transmitter. These Qiraat include Warsh, Qalun, Al-Duri, Khalaf, Hafs, Shu'bah, Ibn Kathir, Ya'qub, Hamzah, and Abu Ja'far.
The Qiraat have not only contributed to the preservation of the Quran but have also enriched its linguistic and phonetic dimensions. Scholars have meticulously studied and transmitted these recitations, emphasizing the importance of understanding the variations within the broader framework of the Quran's divine message.
Our Journey
God revealed the Noble Qur'an to the heart of the prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace, through the trustee of the revelation, Gabriel, peace be upon him. Then the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, read it to his companions who transmitted to the followers, and so on until it reached us just as it was revealed, preserved from addition, subtraction, and distortion. It was and is transmitted by the best reciters, memorized by heart, generation after generation. "Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian." [Al-Hijr:9]
The Age of Prophecy: The Beginning of Revelation
The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, was leaving his house in Mecca and heading to the Cave of Hira in some of the mountains of Mecca to perform his ritual vows and worship, and while he was doing so, when Gabriel descended upon him with the first verses of the Qur’an: “Read, ˹O Prophet,˺ in the Name of your Lord Who created— (1) created humans from a clinging clot (2) Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous (3) Who taught by the pen— (4) taught humanity what they knew not. (5).”
The Age of Prophethood: The mercy of the Prophet
The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, knew from his knowledge of the different dialects and tongs of the Arabs and the spread of illiteracy in them that he would not be able to read the Qur’an in the dialect (tong) of Quraysh, so he asked his Lord to increase the letters in it so that it would be easier for people to read it. Muslim narrated in his Sahih on the authority of Ubayy bin Ka’b, may Allah be pleased with him: “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, Gabriel, peace be upon him, came to him and said: Allah commands you to recite the Qur’an to your followers in one harf , so he said: I ask Allah for His pardon and forgiveness, and my followers cannot tolerate that. Then he came to him a second time and said: Allah commands you to recite your followers the Qur’an in two harves, so he said: Ask. May Allah grant him pardon and forgiveness, but my followers cannot bear that. Then he came to him the third time and said: Allah commands you to recite the Qur’an to your followers in three harfs. So he said: I ask Allah for pardon and forgiveness, but my followers cannot bear that. Then he came to him the fourth time and said: Allah commands you to recite to your followers the Qur’an in seven harfs, and whatever harf they recite to, they are correct.”
The Age of Prophecy: The Appearance of Narrations
Al-Bukhari narrated in his Sahih on the authority of Omar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: “I heard Hisham bin Hakim bin Hizam reciting Surat Al-Furqan during the life of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, so I listened to his recitation, and lo and behold, he was reciting it in many letters(narrations), which the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had not recited. And he greeted, so I almost stopped him in prayer, so I waited for him until he finished, so I looked at him and said: Who recited to you this surah that I heard you reciting? He said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, recited it to me. So I said to him: You lied, for by Allah, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, recited to me this surah, which I heard you read. So I went with him to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, leading him, and I said: O Messenger of Allah, I heard this man reciting Surat Al-Furqan in letters(narration) that you did not read, and you recited Surat Al-Furqan to me. So he said: O Hisham, read it, so he recited it in the reading that I heard him, so the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: This is how it was revealed. Then he said: Read, O Omar. So I recited it as he had read it to me. Then the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: This is how it was revealed. Then the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: The Qur’an was revealed in seven harfs, so recite whatever of it is possible.
Collection of the Seven Readings: After the Age of Prophethood
The first person to collect the readings and record them in a book was Abu Ubaid al-Qasim bin Salam, who died in the year 242 AH, and he collected twenty-five readings. Then came Ahmed bin Jubayr al-Kufi in the year 285 AH, and collected five readings from all of Egypt, and then came Judge Ismail bin Ishaq. Al-Maliki wrote a book on recitations and collected twenty recitations, then Al-Hafiz Abu Amr Al-Dani, the imam of reciters who died in the year 444 AH, wrote his book Al-Taysir and Jami’ Al-Bayan. Then Imam Al-Qasim bin Fayrah Al-Shatibi, who died in the year 590 AH, collected the first seven recitations into a magnificent poem, then Imam Muhammad bin Muhammad al-Jazari, who died in the year 833 AH, completed the composition of the remaining three recitations with a poem as well, thus completing the ten recitations with their twenty narrations.
2023 Quranuna Inc. The beginning of a new story
In the vast landscape of individuals within this field, numerous footprints have been left behind, serving as guiding beacons for those who follow. Yet, it's essential to acknowledge that our recognition may not encompass every luminary. Even amidst the dawn of a new technological age, a glaring gap remains: the absence of a comprehensive solution that effectively captures and facilitates interactive comparisons of narratives electronically. It is within this void that Quranuna Inc. emerges with a clear mission: to address this pressing need. Our objective is to pioneer a platform that not only depicts narratives but also enables dynamic interaction and comparison electronically. Through our endeavors, we aim to revolutionize the accessibility and comprehension of narratives, empowering individuals to engage with them in innovative and meaningful ways.
2024 Design
After careful consideration, the team has chosen to name our solution "Qiraat" (Narrations) in English, reflecting its core purpose and function. With unwavering dedication, we've meticulously crafted the full app and landing page design, leaving no stone unturned in ensuring a seamless user experience.
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