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Surah: Al-Fatiha (6)
Special Words in Hafs — "Al-Dhaf", "Bastah", and "Siraat"
ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ
— الفاتحة الآية 6
The Issue of "Al-Dhaf" / "Al-Dhuf":
In Surah Al-Rum (verses 54) the word appears three times. Hafs has two readings: "Al-Dhaf" with fatha on the dhad, and "Al-Dhuf" with dhamma. The well-known Shatibiyya route uses fatha: "Al-Dhaf."
The Issue of "Bastah" (Al-Araf: 69):
"Wa zaadakum fi al-khalqi bastatan" — written with saa in Uthmani script even though its root is "bastah" with seen. Hafs reads it with saa following the script. In Al-Baqarah (247) the word "bastah" is written with seen and Hafs reads it with seen accordingly.
The Issue of "Siraat" / "Al-Siraat":
Hafs reads "Siraat" and "Al-Siraat" with a pure saa everywhere — not seen. This differs from Qunbul and Khallad who blend it with zayn.
Benefit:
Knowing these special words protects the reader from mixing narrations — reading each riwaya purely as transmitted.
In Surah Al-Rum (verses 54) the word appears three times. Hafs has two readings: "Al-Dhaf" with fatha on the dhad, and "Al-Dhuf" with dhamma. The well-known Shatibiyya route uses fatha: "Al-Dhaf."
The Issue of "Bastah" (Al-Araf: 69):
"Wa zaadakum fi al-khalqi bastatan" — written with saa in Uthmani script even though its root is "bastah" with seen. Hafs reads it with saa following the script. In Al-Baqarah (247) the word "bastah" is written with seen and Hafs reads it with seen accordingly.
The Issue of "Siraat" / "Al-Siraat":
Hafs reads "Siraat" and "Al-Siraat" with a pure saa everywhere — not seen. This differs from Qunbul and Khallad who blend it with zayn.
Benefit:
Knowing these special words protects the reader from mixing narrations — reading each riwaya purely as transmitted.
Source: Al-Nashr by Ibn Al-Jazari (2/230); Al-Tayseer by Al-Dani; Hidayat Al-Qari by Al-Mursifi
Test Yourself
How does Hafs read "bastah" in Al-Araf 69 and "bastah" in Al-Baqarah 247? Why?
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