The Historical Development of the Science of Qiraat – II (VI–X)
The accurate recitation, preservation, and authentic transmission of the text of the Holy
Quran from the very moment of its revelation (nuzul / tanzil) have constituted one of the
foundational concerns of the Islamic scholarly tradition. The science of Quranic recitations
(ilm al-qira’at), which coalesced during this historical process, has evolved into a crucial
scholarly discipline. It plays a pivotal role in identifying the specific textual variants
and modes of recitation (wujuh al-qira’at) transmitted from the Prophet Muhammad,
safeguarding their respective narrations (riwayat) and chains of transmission (asānīd /
isnad), passing down the practical methods of oral performance (ada), and generating
a sophisticated corpus of literature. Comprehending the historical trajectory of qira’at
necessitates a periodic and contextual examination of the scholars, authors, and primary
texts that contributed to the evolution of this science. Serving as a sequel to the previously
published volume titled Historical Course of the Science of Qira’at I, this second
volume, Historical Course of the Science of Qira’at II, systematically examines the scholars
who flourished and the literature that was produced in the field of qira’at from the 6th
century AH through to the end of the 10th century AH. Prepared through the collective
contributions of faculty members who conduct advanced academic research in the fields
of qira’at and Quranic exegesis (tafsir), this work is a multi-authored, peer-reviewed
collaborative volume. The book comprehensively analyzes the biographies, scholarly personae,
mentors, disciples, intellectual lineages (silsilah), and the geographical centers of
learning where these scholars were nurtured, as well as their specific contributions to
the science of recitation. Concurrently, the study attempts to meticulously identify the
works authored by these scholars, the surviving manuscript witnesses (nuskha) of these
texts, their contemporary critical editions (tahqiq), and modern academic treatises written
about them. One of the defining methodological characteristics of this study is that
it does not treat the history of qira’at merely through the lens of biographical compilation
(tarajim). Instead, it evaluates the field within the broader frameworks of prophetic
narration (riwayah), chains of authority, codification and compilation (tadwin), textual
classification (tasnif), and the broader mechanisms of intellectual transmission. Through
this approach, the work illuminates the generational transfer of the collective qira’at heritage
and the structural formation of its literature by mapping them out across specific
historical figures and texts. Ultimately, Historical Course of the Science of Qira’at II serves
as an indispensable biographical, bibliographical, and historical reference work for Quranic
researchers, while aiming to enrich scholarly studies in Quranic sciences (ulum
al-Quran), broader Islamic studies, and traditional qira’at pedagogy. With forthcoming
volumes planned as part of this ongoing series, the overarching goal remains to trace the
historical evolution of qira’at up until the contemporary era, thereby producing an exhaustive
encyclopedia of the history of Quranic recitations.
Keywords: Science of Qira’at; History of Qira’at; Qira’at Scholars; Qira’at Literature; Intellectual
Lineage; Qira’at Works