Quranic Recitations in the Book (Al-Jalis al-Salih) by Al-Mu’afa bin Zakariya al-Nahrawani (d. 390 AH) from Surah Hud to the End of the Quran

Collection, Study and Linguistic Analysis

Abstract

This study examines the Qur’anic readings (Qirāʾāt) presented by al-ʿAllāmah al-Muʿāfā ibn Zakariyyā al-Nahrawānī in his book “Al-Jalīs al-Ṣāliḥ al-Kāfī wa al-Anīs al-Nāṣiḥ al-Shāfī”, covering the period from the beginning of Sūrat Hūd to the end of the Holy Qur’an. It analyzes these readings in terms of their mention, interpretation (justification), evidential use, evaluation, and preference.

The research also addresses the concept of Qur’anic readings, their types, and their reciters, as well as al-Nahrawānī’s methodology in dealing with Qirāʾāt. In addition, it includes a brief biographical account of al-Muʿāfā ibn Zakariyyā.

The significance of this study lies in the strong connection between the interpretation of Qur’anic readings and Qur’anic exegesis, particularly in expanding the range of meanings. The main objective is to highlight al-Nahrawānī’s contributions to the science of Qur’anic readings.

The reason for selecting this topic is the absence of a comprehensive study that collects and analyzes the Qur’anic readings mentioned in the aforementioned book. The study adopts both the inductive method—by surveying and cataloging the readings cited by al-Nahrawānī—and the descriptive method—by analyzing their interpretation and attributing each reading to its respective reciter.

The findings reveal that al-Nahrawānī relied on various sources in interpreting the readings, including Prophetic hadith, the exegesis of early scholars (Salaf), morphology (ṣarf), syntax (naḥw), Arabic poetry, and the languages of the Arabs.

The structure of the research is as follows: an introduction outlining the importance, objectives, scope, and previous studies; followed by two main sections. The first section introduces the concept of Qur’anic readings, al-Nahrawānī, and his methodology, and is divided into three subsections. The second section presents the Qur’anic readings found in “Al-Jalīs al-Ṣāliḥ” from Sūrat Hūd to the end of the Qur’an, along with their analysis and interpretation. The study concludes with a summary of the main findings.