Key Takeaways
- The Qira'at are the authentic, mass-transmitted ways of reciting the Quran, all traced back to the Prophet ﷺ.
- There are ten recognised Qira'at, each named after an Imam and passed on through two main narrators.
- They differ in pronunciation details and some word forms, but never contradict each other in meaning.
- Hafs 'an 'Asim is the most widely recited today; Warsh, Qalun and Ad-Duri are also common in parts of Africa.
- Students learn additional Qira'at only after mastering Tajweed in one narration.
If you've listened to reciters from different countries, you may have noticed that some recite certain words slightly differently. A reciter in Morocco may sound different from one in Pakistan, yet both are reciting the same Quran correctly. The reason is the Qira'at: authentic recitations of the Quran preserved since the time of the Prophet ﷺ. Here's a clear, simple explanation.
What Are the Qira'at?
The Qira'at are the authentic ways of reciting the Quran that were taught by the Prophet ﷺ and passed down through unbroken chains of teachers. They differ in details such as vowel length, certain pronunciations and a small number of word forms. All of them are the Quran.
Their roots go back to a well-known hadith, in which the Prophet ﷺ said the Quran was revealed in seven ahruf (modes), so recite whichever is easiest for you.
Sahih al-Bukhari 4992; Sahih Muslim 818
Why Are There Ten Qira'at?
Scholars accepted ten Qira'at because each one meets strict conditions of authenticity: a sound chain of transmission, agreement with the Uthmanic script, and agreement with Arabic grammar. In the 4th century AH, the scholar Ibn Mujahid documented seven of them. Later, Imam Ibn al-Jazari confirmed three more that met the same standards, giving the ten recognised today.
Who Are the Ten Imams and Their Narrators?
Each Qira'ah is named after an Imam of recitation and is passed on mainly through two narrators (Rawis).
| # | Imam (Qira'ah) | Two main narrators |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nafi' (Madinah) | Qalun, Warsh |
| 2 | Ibn Kathir (Makkah) | Al-Bazzi, Qunbul |
| 3 | Abu 'Amr (Basrah) | Ad-Duri, As-Susi |
| 4 | Ibn 'Amir (Damascus) | Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan |
| 5 | 'Asim (Kufah) | Shu'bah, Hafs |
| 6 | Hamzah (Kufah) | Khalaf, Khallad |
| 7 | Al-Kisa'i (Kufah) | Abul-Harith, Ad-Duri |
| 8 | Abu Ja'far (Madinah) | Ibn Wardan, Ibn Jammaz |
| 9 | Ya'qub (Basrah) | Ruways, Rawh |
| 10 | Khalaf al-'Ashir (Kufah) | Ishaq, Idris |
The first seven are known as the "Seven Qira'at". Together with the last three they make the "Ten Qira'at".
What Is the Difference Between a Qira'ah and a Riwayah?
A Qira'ah is the recitation of one of the ten Imams; a Riwayah is that recitation as passed on by one of his narrators. For example, when people say they recite "Hafs", they mean the Riwayah of Hafs from the Qira'ah of Imam 'Asim, written as Hafs 'an 'Asim.
How Do the Qira'at Differ?
The differences are mostly in pronunciation, such as how long a vowel is stretched or whether a letter is softened, and occasionally in a word's form. They never contradict each other; where a word differs, both readings carry meanings that complement one another. Common examples include:
- Length of Madd: some narrations stretch certain vowels longer than others
- Imalah: tilting the "a" sound towards "e" in some words
- Hamzah: some narrations soften or ease certain hamzahs
- Word forms: in Al-Fatiha, Hafs and others recite Māliki yawmid-dīn with a long "a" (Master of the Day of Judgement), while other Qira'at recite Maliki with a short "a" (King of the Day of Judgement). Both are true descriptions of Allah
Which Qira'at Are Recited Around the World Today?
Hafs 'an 'Asim is by far the most widely recited, used across most of the Muslim world, including South Asia, the Middle East, Turkey and most Muslim communities in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia.
| Riwayah | Where it is commonly recited |
|---|---|
| Hafs 'an 'Asim | Most of the Muslim world |
| Warsh 'an Nafi' | Morocco, Algeria and much of West and North Africa |
| Qalun 'an Nafi' | Libya, parts of Tunisia |
| Ad-Duri 'an Abi 'Amr | Parts of Sudan and East Africa |
The printed Mushaf in most homes and mosques follows Hafs. If you are learning to read the Quran today, you are almost certainly learning Hafs.
How Do Students Learn the Qira'at?
Students first master Tajweed in one narration, usually Hafs, then learn other Qira'at from a qualified teacher, often alongside classical texts such as Ash-Shatibiyyah. The usual path is:
- Fluent reading with correct makharij and Tajweed rules
- A full recitation of the Quran in Hafs, often leading to an Ijazah
- Study of the rules of another narration, then recitation in it to a teacher
- For advanced students, gradually combining several Qira'at
Final Thoughts
The Qira'at are one of the most remarkable signs of how carefully the Quran has been preserved, not only in writing but in sound, from teacher to student, for over fourteen centuries. For most learners, reciting Hafs correctly is the goal. For those who go further, the Qira'at open a deeper appreciation of the Quran's richness.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. There is one Quran. The Qira'at are different authentic ways of reciting it, all taught by the Prophet ﷺ and preserved through chains of teachers.
A Qira'ah is named after one of the ten Imams. A Riwayah is the version of that Qira'ah passed on by one of the Imam's narrators. For example, Hafs is a Riwayah of the Qira'ah of 'Asim.
Most Muslims around the world recite the Riwayah of Hafs 'an 'Asim. The Riwayah of Warsh 'an Nafi' is widespread in North and West Africa.
No. Reciting correctly in one authentic narration, usually Hafs, is enough. Learning more Qira'at is a specialised field for advanced students.
Yes. Qira'at are learned by listening and reciting to a qualified teacher, which works well in one-on-one online classes once your Tajweed is strong.
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