qiraat

Qira'at, singular qira'ah, denotes the canonical modes of reciting the Qur'an. Each qira'ah is defined by a distinct chain of transmission (riwayah) and a base reader (qari) who learned the recitation from predecessors back to the Prophet. The readings reflect variations in Arabic pronunciation, phonetics, and diacritics. They preserve the Qur'anic text and its meanings while allowing permissible linguistic differences across dialects.

In early Islam, recitation varied by tribe and region. To preserve the text while acknowledging legitimate readings, scholars compiled a set of authorized recitations. Ibn Mujahid, in the 9th century, selected seven readings as canonical; later scholars expanded the corpus to ten and then to fourteen readings, each with its own riwayah.

In modern practice, many printed Qur'ans follow a dominant reading, most commonly Hafs from 'Asim in much of the Muslim world; other editions use Warsh from Nafi' or other riwayat. The study of qira'at is an established field within Islamic sciences and is distinct from tajwid, which governs rules of pronunciation during recitation.

The qira'at tradition is widely acknowledged across Sunni and Shia scholarship, and it is often taught academically to illustrate the Qur'an's transmitted heritage and linguistic richness.