Intermediate
Differences
Surah: Al-Fatiha (6)
Sirat / Sirat with Sin / Zirat — Three Readings and Their Linguistic Basis
ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ
— الفاتحة الآية 6
Word: "Al-Sirat" — appears in Al-Fatiha and many surahs.
Three readings:
The root word is "sirat" from "sarat" (to swallow) — the road swallows those who travel it. Arabs substituted Sad for Sin due to proximity in articulation with emphatic letters. The Zay ishmam was a third dialect variant.
All are mutawatir and valid: Ibn Al-Jazari confirmed all three are Quran descended.
Three readings:
- Al-Sirat with Sad: Hafs from Asim, Ibn Amir (Hisham) — most widespread
- Al-Sirat with Sin: Warsh from Nafi', Qunbul from Ibn Kathir, Abu Amr in some paths
- Between Sad and Zay (ishmam): Khalaf from Hamza in some paths — pronouncing Sad with a hint of Zay
The root word is "sirat" from "sarat" (to swallow) — the road swallows those who travel it. Arabs substituted Sad for Sin due to proximity in articulation with emphatic letters. The Zay ishmam was a third dialect variant.
All are mutawatir and valid: Ibn Al-Jazari confirmed all three are Quran descended.
Source: Al-Nashr (2/199); Al-Dani (p.23); Al-Dymati
Test Yourself
List the three readings of "al-sirat" and who recites each.
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