Hamza Al-Kufi and Al-Kisa'i — Two Imams Who Shaped Grammar and Reading
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وَرَتِّلِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ تَرۡتِيلٗا
— المزمل 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.
Source: Al-Nashr (1/131); Ibn Mujahid; Al-Dani
Question: What else was Al-Kisa'i famous for besides Quranic reading?
Answer: Mastery of Arabic grammar — one of the leading Kufan grammarians, and personal tutor of Harun Al-Rashid and his sons.