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Warsh
Surah: Al-Hijr (9)
The Warsh Rule for Ra — Thinning Ra in "Al-Quran" and Similar Words
إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَٰفِظُونَ
— الحجر الآية 9
Who is Warsh?
Uthman ibn Said Al-Masri (d. 197 AH) — a narrator from Nafi Al-Madani — his reading is widespread in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and West Africa).
Most notable features of the Warsh narration:
"Al-Quran" — ra is damma + sukun = the majority read it emphatic. But Warsh thins it because the sukun ra after light damma with a following kasra-quality hamza influences his choice.
Ibn Al-Jazari: "Warsh has choices in ra sounds — emphatic and thin — all narrated from him through authentic chains and not subject to analogy."
Uthman ibn Said Al-Masri (d. 197 AH) — a narrator from Nafi Al-Madani — his reading is widespread in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and West Africa).
Most notable features of the Warsh narration:
- Madd al-badal: Extending the hamzat al-wasl that replaced a hamza — "amanu" is extended at its beginning
- Thinning ra in specific positions: Kasra ra is generally thinned, but Warsh thins the sukun and fatha ra in specific positions
- Thinning ra before sukun after kasra: Like "al-qirtas" — ra is sukun after kasra
"Al-Quran" — ra is damma + sukun = the majority read it emphatic. But Warsh thins it because the sukun ra after light damma with a following kasra-quality hamza influences his choice.
Ibn Al-Jazari: "Warsh has choices in ra sounds — emphatic and thin — all narrated from him through authentic chains and not subject to analogy."
Source: Al-Nashr (1/228); Al-Dani (p.37); Al-Dimyati (1/88)
Test Yourself
Who is Warsh? What are the most notable features of his reading regarding ra sounds?
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