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The Ten Readers
Surah: Al-Muzzammil (4)
Hamza Al-Kufi and Al-Kisa'i — Two Imams Who Shaped Grammar and Reading
وَرَتِّلِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ تَرۡتِيلٗا
— المزمل الآية 4
Hamza ibn Habib Al-Zayyat (d. 156H) — Imam of Kufa:
Learned from Abu Muhammad Al-Sulami. Among the most ascetic and scrupulous. Narrators: Khalaf and Khallad.
Features: Distinctive tahqiq of hamza; imala kabra extensively; idgham kabir in certain positions.
Ali ibn Hamza Al-Kisa'i (d. 189H):
Imam of Arabic grammar and reading in Kufa — learned from Hamza then established his own method. Taught the Abbasid caliph Harun Al-Rashid and his sons. Narrators: Al-Duri and Abu Al-Harith.
Features: Imala in many unique words; idgham in special positions.
Learned from Abu Muhammad Al-Sulami. Among the most ascetic and scrupulous. Narrators: Khalaf and Khallad.
Features: Distinctive tahqiq of hamza; imala kabra extensively; idgham kabir in certain positions.
Ali ibn Hamza Al-Kisa'i (d. 189H):
Imam of Arabic grammar and reading in Kufa — learned from Hamza then established his own method. Taught the Abbasid caliph Harun Al-Rashid and his sons. Narrators: Al-Duri and Abu Al-Harith.
Features: Imala in many unique words; idgham in special positions.
Source: Al-Nashr (1/131); Ibn Mujahid; Al-Dani
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What else was Al-Kisa'i famous for besides Quranic reading?
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