Allah the Almighty is the one who has guided us towards this Holy Book and He is the one who will open paths to discover how to learn Qirat of Quran, as He exclaims various times in one of its readings:
“And We have certainly made the Quran easy to remember. So is there anyone who will be mindful?” (Al-Qamar: 17)
All learning is driven by impressions, experiences, and understanding, which is why we will explore what the exact words mean in our question on “how to learn Qirat of Quran” with discussions on the verbal sense of Qirat and Quran, thus enhancing our learning process and ensuring zeal to learn the reciting modes with increased vigor and enthusiasm.
The word “Quran” calls in from the word “قرين” which means companion, the true confidante as to not leave it or the rules attached with it, at any given speck of time. Accordingly, the Quran teaches us how to preserve its prestige, honor the holy knowledge, and recite it every day until our last breath.
“And recite the Quran ˹properly˺ in a measured way” (Al-Muzzammil: 4)
Before learning how to master Qirat, it is important to know the meaning of Qirat in detail first:
Well, the first revelation occurred when the Angel Gabriel appeared to Allah’s Apostle Muhammad PBUH in the cave of Hira and commanded him to recite. It was the first initiative to lead millions of Muslims to come for approximately fourteen hundred years hence, to recite the Quran, giving its rights.
The meaning of Qirat is to know different linguistic, phonetic, and syntactical forms permitted within reciting. It symbolizes recitation, conjoining the words to its Sifah, in stops, vowels, consonants, and pronunciation of words.
Moving forward, let us learn the different forms of Qirat and how they were implemented so that you can concentrate on how to learn Qirat of Quran the proper way.
If the reader has an eye to look at the universe, the number of the heavens to seven, the number of the seas to seven, the number of the continents to seven, a week is seven days long, and the Earth was formed in seven days – Similarly, for those asking how many Qirat of Quran, the Quran was revealed in seven modes of recitation – seven dialects based on the same words and writings – which contemplates the scripts like a miracle. As it has been correctly quoted:
“Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying: “Gabriel taught me to recite in one mode, and when I replied to him and kept asking him to give me more he did so till he reached seven modes.” Ibn Shihāb said he had heard that those seven modes are essentially one, not differing about what is permitted and what is prohibited.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
This is the unique aspect of the Quran – the various forms of recitation known as “Ahruf,” (dialect) which multiplies the eloquence and artistic beauty of the Quran, specifically when all the versions return to the one source, the instructions of the Apostle of Allah PBUH Himself, weaving all the schools into essentially one.
The initial seven modes of Qirat got conveyed generations after generations by scholars, taken from the companions of the Prophet PBUH, the prominent leaders of recitation tracing their transmissions back to the Prophet PBUH, are named Mutawatir.
The frequent forms of recitation to have existed by Riwayah (reading transmission) for specific Qirat began when the Holy Book was inscribed in the era of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and was compiled by his order in the reign of the First Caliph, which was later united and broadcasted across the entire Islamic world during the reign of the Third Caliph. The scriptures in that Quran were not dotted, as seen in the illustration:
Thus coherently, leaving the door open for various interpretations of a single “Rasm” (drawing of writing), such as in the example: وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ is read in other Qirat as يُرجِعون with a Kasra (i sound with a dash on the lower side) or تَرجِعون with a Ta’.
After five centuries, Ibn Al-Jazari, a popular scholar (833h), presented three new variants of Qirat in his book, raising the bar from seven to ten, elucidating that the Quranic scripture is like a fresh river of water, with new emerging tones each day but the source remaining the same—the Almighty God.
The three new recitation modes added to the list are known as “Mashhur,” which is regarded as popular, with true attributions and applied rules of Arabic Language, when Ibn Al Jazari accounted it from the brushes in the other letters of Scripture books, which laid the foundation for the new ones.
Do we want to know the “Mutawatir” and “Mashhur” and how to learn Qirat of Quran? Let’s discuss it in our next topic.
There are 7 different types of Qirat and differences in the readings amount to two thousand words, however, with received acceptance, most Muslim countries have adopted the Quran with Hafs’s account of Asim. The ten Qirat are:
After learning about the origins of the Quran and how all the different formats of recitation came to be, it is imperative that everyone looking for information on how to become a Qari of Quran and how to learn Qirat of Quran is told about a deep practice that was initiated by the founder of Islam and the widest spreader of the Holy Book, Prophet Mohammad PBUH, as he famously quoted: “The best amongst you is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it.”
His instruction led to a large number of Muslims memorizing the Quran, and these well-versed reciters were then taught to teach others. Prophet Mohammed also sent Quran reciters to different tribes, establishing a tradition of teaching and practicing the Quranic text that has been passed down for centuries and is still practiced today.
Are you ready to embark on a life-changing adventure? Have you taken the initiative to become one of the world’s most accomplished reciters? If you answered yes, the next segment will be on how to do it.
The five definite rule list is provided for your convenience; follow what suits you and everything will go as planned.
Don’t trust anyone to teach you the leveled Qirat; those who master the recitation modes are granted Ijazah (permission to teach), which allows you to enter an unbroken chain of transmission of the mode all the way back to the Prophet PBUH.
Follow the 70-30 rule which is to spend 70% of your time revising the memorized material and 30% of your time working on the new lines. If this seems to interest you, book Online Quran Memorization Classes.
The journey does not have a speed limit; it is a step-by-step ladder. A small move should be regarded as a significant accomplishment. Start with Qirat basic lessons and spark up your dreams.
The Holy Script is revered as a source of spiritual healing, eternal happiness, and heavenly tones. It is important when reciting it to apply the Tajweed rules and give every single letter its rights. In addition to that, you can search for voice training for Quran recitation to learn how to beautify voice for Quran.
You can also learn the Arabic language to instill the Quranic teachings in your life, which in turn will make your learning for the recitations more effective, and keep your heart closer to the creator. Always remember the reward from Allah and keep on walking on the path to enlightenment.
May you be blessed and honored. Amen!