Sources of Qira'at Science — Essential Books
readings
Level: intermediate
learning
rdg-018
وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ
— القمر 17
Major reference books:
1) Al-Nashr fi Al-Qira'at Al-Ashr — Ibn Al-Jazari (d. 833H): The comprehensive encyclopedia — contains the ten readings with their chains, paths, and modes in two volumes. The highest reference.
2) Al-Taysir fi Al-Qira'at Al-Sab' — Al-Dani (d. 444H): First systematic work on the seven — the pre-eminent reference before Al-Nashr. Concise and accessible.
3) Hirz Al-Amani (Al-Shatibiyya) — Al-Shatibi (d. 590H): A lam-iyyah ode of 1014 verses containing the seven readings — the memorized text for beginner and intermediate students.
4) Al-Durra Al-Mudiyya — Ibn Al-Jazari: Completing Al-Shatibiyya with the three additional readings.
5) Ittihaf Fudala' Al-Bashar — Al-Dymati (d. 1117H): Detail of the major ten readings' tahrirat.
Source: Al-Nashr (1/3); Al-Dani intro; Al-Shatibiyya intro
Question: What is the importance of Al-Shatibiyya for a beginning student of Qira'at?
Answer: The memorized versified text containing the seven readings in 1014 verses — memorizing it illuminates the student on the principles and variations of the seven readings.