qiraa

Qira’a, also transliterated as qira'ah or qira'a, is the Arabic term meaning reading or recitation. In everyday Arabic it refers to reading text aloud, but in Islamic scholarship it denotes the traditionally recognized methods of reciting the Qur’an. The word derives from the root q-r-’a, which conveys the act of reading.

In Islamic studies, qira’at (the plural) refers to the science of Qur’anic recitation. This field studies the various permissible pronunciations, vowelizations, and wordings that appear in Qur’anic readings while preserving the text’s meaning. Historically, scholars such as Ibn Mujahid identified a core set of canonical qira’at (traditionally seven in his era), with later scholars expanding the list to ten and, in some traditions, up to fourteen. Each qira’a has an associated chain of transmission (riwaya) and is linked to a principal reader (naqil) and a transmitter (rawi). Differences among qira’at may involve subtle changes in vowels, consonants, or diacritic marks that do not alter the overall message of the verses.

Qira’a is distinct from tilāwa, the act of reciting the Qur’an with reflection and devotion. It is closely related to tajweed, the set of rules governing proper articulation, pronunciation, and melodic pacing to ensure accurate reception of the text.

In contemporary contexts, qira’at are taught in Qur’anic schools and mosques around the world. The term can also appear in general Arabic to mean “reading,” but within scholarship it specifically denotes the authorized methods of Qur’anic recitation.