Verse: "Maliki yawm al-din" — Al-Fatiha: 4
The two readings:
- Malik (without alif — adjectival): Hafs from Asim, Shu'ba, Ibn Kathir (Qunbul)
- Maalik (with alif — active participle): Nafi', Abu Amr, Ibn Amir, Hamza, Al-Kisa'i
Rhetorical difference:
- Malik: Absolute king and full authority — an eternal intrinsic attribute, includes this world and the Hereafter
- Maalik: Complete ownership and exclusivity — He alone owns and manages on the Day of Judgment
Complementary value: Al-Farra': "Malik is more general and comprehensive; Maalik is more specific to the Day of Judgment." Both readings together give a fuller picture.
Question: Which readers recite "Malik" (without alif)? What does it mean?
Answer: Hafs from Asim, Shu'ba, and Ibn Kathir. Meaning: absolute intrinsic kingship encompassing this world and the Hereafter.