For students of the Quran, especially those studying Tajweed and Qiraat, it is beneficial to understand the different stages of this beautiful science, the major texts, the Ten Imams, their narrators and the correct way to progress from one level to the next.
The journey should begin with establishing a strong foundation in Tajweed and correct Quranic recitation. Before moving on to multiple Qiraat, a student should work on the fundamentals of recitation and aim to remove their mistakes.
Particular attention should be given to the Makharij al Huroof, ensuring that every letter is pronounced from its correct point of articulation, and the Sifat al Huroof, understanding the characteristics and qualities of the letters and how they affect their pronunciation. Students should also develop a strong understanding of the practical rules of Tajweed, including Madd, Ghunnah, Qalqalah, Tafkhim, Tarqiq, Idgham, Ikhfa, Iqlab and the other relevant rules.
Another extremely important area is Waqf and Ibtida, knowing where to stop, where to continue and where it is appropriate to begin again. A good recitation is not only about pronouncing individual letters correctly, but also about understanding how the words and verses are connected and stopping in a manner that does not spoil the meaning.
One of the best ways to improve your recitation and develop good Adaa is to listen to the Quran regularly. However, listening should not simply be something playing in the background. Listen attentively and try to notice how the reciter pronounces each letter, how the Sifat are displayed, how the Madd is performed, how the Ghunnah is produced, where the reciter stops and starts, and the overall flow and Adaa of the recitation.
Students can benefit greatly from listening to established reciters. For example, Shaykh Ayman Rushdi Suwayd is particularly beneficial for students who want to pay close attention to Tajweed, Makharij and correct pronunciation. Shaykh Mahmoud Khalil Al Hussary is also an excellent reciter to listen to, particularly because of the clarity, precision and measured nature of his recitation. Listen carefully, repeat what you hear and try to imitate the correct Adaa.
However, listening alone is not enough. A recording cannot listen to your recitation and tell you exactly what you are doing incorrectly. This is why students should recite regularly to a qualified Quran teacher, preferably someone who has an Ijazah and is qualified to teach the Quran and the Riwayah being studied. A teacher can identify mistakes which you may not even realise you are making and can correct them repeatedly until the correct pronunciation becomes established.
Qiraat is a transmitted science. It is not simply something that can be learnt by reading books independently. Books are extremely important, but they should be studied alongside listening, recitation, Talqin and direct correction from qualified teachers.
Once a student has developed a strong foundation in Tajweed and their basic recitation is accurate, it is beneficial to begin with Hafs from Asim, as this is the Riwayah most commonly encountered in many parts of the world. The student should become comfortable with the rules, principles and specific points of Hafs and continue practising until the recitation is well established.
After Hafs, a student who wishes to progress further can study Shubah from Asim. From there, they can move on to other Riwayat’s, such as Warsh and Qalun from Nafi, and then continue with other Riwayat’s according to their teacher and curriculum.
A very important principle is to study Riwayah by Riwayah. Do not try to mix everything together at the beginning. Learn one Riwayah properly, memorise it,understand its rules and principles, listen to it, practise it and recite it to your teacher by memory before moving on.
This is the way to do a Khatam.
When studying a new Riwayah, the student should learn what makes it different from the Riwayah they already know. This includes its specific principles, word variations, Madd rules, Hamzah rules, Idgham, Imalah, Naql and other matters depending on the Riwayah being studied.
Alongside practical recitation, students should also study the recognised books and texts of Tajweed and Qiraat. One of the most important texts that students will encounter is Ash Shatibiyyah.
Ash Shatibiyyah is the famous name given to Hirz Al Amani wa Wajh Al Tahani, written by Imam Ash Shatibi. It is a major poetic text covering the Seven Qiraat.
The Seven Imams and their two famous narrators are:
Nafi Al Madani: Qalun and Warsh
Ibn Kathir Al Makki: Al Buzzi and Qunbul
Abu Amr Al Basri: Al Duri and Al Susi
Ibn Amir Al Shami: Hisham and Ibn Dhakwan
Asim Al Kufi: Hafs and Shubah
Hamzah Al Kufi: Khalaf and Khallad
Al Kisai Al Kufi: Abu Al Harith and Al Duri
Ash Shatibiyyah is therefore a very important text for students progressing into the study of the Seven Qiraat.
Students should remember that Ash Shatibiyyah is not merely a book to read from cover to cover. It is a text that should be studied, understood, memorised and applied.
Some students simply read Ash Shatibiyyah without attempting to memorise it, while others may try to memorise it without understanding what they are saying. The stronger approach is to combine both Hifz and Fahm: memorisation and understanding.
When studying a section, understand what the Imam Ash Shatibi is discussing, learn the explanation from your teacher, identify which Imam or Riwayah the verses relate to, memorise the relevant verses and then apply what you have learnt in practical recitation.
Memorising the text makes it much easier to recall the principles and rules during study and revision, whilst understanding prevents the memorisation from becoming merely words without meaning. Therefore, do not think that you only need to memorise the poem, and do not think that simply reading it is enough. Understand it, memorise it, revise it and apply it.
After Ash Shatibiyyah comes Ad Durrah, written by Imam Ibn Al Jazari. This adds the three Qiraat which complete the Seven to the Ten Qiraat.
The additional three Imams and their two famous narrators are:
Abu Jafar: Ibn Wardan and Ibn Jammaz
Yaqoub: Ruways and Rawh
Khalaf: Ishaq and Idris
Therefore, Ash Shatibiyyah and Ad Durrah together cover the Ten Qiraat through the well known Shatibiyyah and Durrah route.
Imam Ibn Al Jazari also authored Tayyibat Al Nashr fi Al Qiraat Al Ashr, commonly known as At Tayyibah. This is a text which covers the Ten Qiraat through a much wider range of transmission routes.
As students progress, they will encounter the terms Qiraah, Riwayah, Tariq and Wajh.
A Qiraah refers to the reading attributed to one of the recognised Imams, such as the Qiraah of Asim. A Riwayah refers to a narration from that Imam, such as Hafs from Asim or Shubah from Asim. A Tariq refers to a further transmission route within a Riwayah, while Wujuh refers to the transmitted aspects or variations within the relevant routes.
Understanding these terms becomes increasingly important as the student progresses into more advanced study.
Students will also come across the terms As Sughra and Al Kubra.
As Sughra generally refers to studying the Ten Qiraat through the routes of Ash Shatibiyyah and Ad Durrah, whilst Al Kubra refers to studying the Ten Qiraat through At Tayyibah, which contains a much wider range of transmission routes.
It is therefore important to understand that studying the Ten Qiraat through the Shatibiyyah and Durrah is not exactly the same as studying the Ten through At Tayyibah. The Qiraat are the same, but the routes and the level of detail are different.
Beyond the Ten Qiraat are the Shazhah Qiraat, which are not included among the canonical Ten. Among the well known readings attributed to the Shazhah category are those of Ibn Muhaysin, Al Hasan Al Basri, Yahya Al Yazidi and Al Amash.
A student should not feel that they need to learn all of this immediately. Qiraat is a vast and specialised science which should be studied gradually and systematically.
The journey can be understood in stages:
Correct your Quran recitation → strengthen Tajweed → work on Makharij and Sifat → study Waqf and Ibtida → listen carefully to excellent reciters → practise your Adaa → recite regularly to a qualified teacher’s → establish Hafs → study other Riwayat one by one → learn the Seven Qiraat → progress to the Ten Qiraat → study the major texts such as Ash Shatibiyyah, Ad Durrah and At Tayyibah according to your level.
Do not rush from one stage to another. A student should aim to become strong and accurate at each level before progressing further.
For those who wish to specialise in Qiraat, the path requires patience, consistency, regular revision and close supervision from qualified teachers. Continue listening to the Quran, continue reciting, continue correcting your mistakes and continue studying the classical texts.
The aim is not simply to collect different Riwayat, memorise names or complete books. The aim is to recite the Book of Allah correctly, understand the science through which it has been transmitted, preserve its recitation and pass it on correctly to others.
May Allah grant us sincerity, correct our recitation, allow us to learn the Quran from qualified teachers, benefit from the great scholars and reciters of this Ummah, and grant us the ability to preserve and transmit the Book of Allah correctly.
Ameen.
