Lesson 12: Did Uthman Keep All of the Seven Ahruf?

Question 1

What did Imam Al Jazari write that was called the Sahih al Bukharī of Qira’āh (of the Qurraa) and what is the poem on it known as?

Answer 1

Imam Al Jazari wrote:

> تَقْرِيبُالنَّشْرِفِيالْقِرَاءَاتِالْعَشْرِ

And this was referred to by the scholars of Quran as Sahih al Bukharī of Qira’āh (of the Qurraa)

The poem for this book is called:

> طَيِّبَةُالنَّشْرِ

If you memorize this, you have memorized Qiratal Ashr al Kubra

Question 2

What books have the Qira’at as Sughra and which one has the Qira’at al Kubra

Answer 2

As Sughra is Ash Shatibiyya (7) (Hirzul amani wa Wajuhtani) as well as the 3 additional in

الدُرَّةُالمَضِيَّةُفِيالْقِرَاءَاتِالثَّلَاثِالمُتَتَمَّةِلِلْعَشْرِ which is known as (مَتْنُالدُّرَّةِ) by Ibn Jazari

Al Kubra is طَيِّبَةُالنَّشْرِ- which is a Nadhm on تَقْرِيبُالنَّشْرِفِيالْقِرَاءَاتِالْعَشْرِ

Question 3

Why do people conflate the Qira’at and Ahruf?

Answer 3

Many people conflate the 7 Ahruf and the Qira’at. This is because if they hear “Qirat as saba’” and Ahruf as Saba’ and think they are the same.

The reason for this mistake is because Abu Bakr Ibn Mujahid, who was a student of Imam at-Tabari, who wrote the book called كِتَابُالسَّبْعَةِ so since he selected 7 Qira’at, people assumed these were the 7 Ahruf.

We can prove this as the 7 Qira’at were selected by Abu Bakr ibn Mujahid. You can’t impose selection by a person who came after the prophet on to that which the prophet was referring to when he said the 7 Ahruf

Question 4

First view of the scholars on if Uthman kept all of the 7 seven Ahruf

Answer 4

1. ‘Uthman only allowed 1 Harf from the 7 to remain

• Scholars argue that the variations in Qira’at do not relate to the Ahruf; they are due to factors like Ziyadah, Nuqsan, Idgham, etc. (as discussed last lesson).
• This leaves two possibilities regarding the Ahruf:
  
  1. The differences we see in the Qira’at are present in every single Harf. Each of them has these different variations (variations that we showed last lesson like يُومِنُونَ and يُؤْمِنُونَ) As the companions left the other 6 Ahruf, the difference in recitations and Ahruf are separate issues.
     
     • But we wouldn’t know that, as according to this view the other 6 were all dismissed.
     • A question arises: Why were the 7 Ahruf originally revealed? They aimed to ease the burden, showing mercy and kindness from Allah. If 6 Ahruf were dismissed, does that imply this relief was temporary?
  2. That these differences in Qira’at are based on one Harf. If all the other 6 Ahruf remained, we’d have more variations, but they disappeared with the departure of the 6 Ahruf.
     
     • Notably, we still find traces of the dismissed Qirat Shadha in Hadith and Tafsir, used to explain verses (not as a Quran but as a Hadith). It meets the criteria of Hadith, How could they disappear entirely without any remaining indication?

Question 5

Second view of the scholars on if Uthman kept all of the 7 seven Ahruf

Answer 5

2. Uthman did nothing but distribute what was in Abu Bakr’s mushaf among the manuscripts written by the committee he chose, making it clear

• he took Abu Bakrs Quran, and with it he chose what was the last recitation of the prophet ﷺ, removed that which was abrogated and kept everything that was not. So all he did was chose the prophets last recitation and kept the remaining Ahruf.
  
  • Otherwise, it would opose the statement of Allah
  <aside>
  
  > **إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا ٱلذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ**
  >
  
  **Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’ân) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)**
  
  -Hijr 9
  
  </aside><aside>
  
  Detailed Summary of this view:
  
  Uthman did nothing but distribute what was in Abu Bakr's mushaf among the manuscripts written by the committee he chose, making it clear what was accurately recited in the last review that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) reviewed with Gabriel in his last Ramadan (peace be upon him). Therefore, it is necessary to conclude that the seven ahruf remain scattered in this difference found in the recitations, contrary to those who claimed that six ahruf were abandoned and only one was retained.
  
  </aside>

This is the strongest opinion

ص91 - كتاب المحرر في علوم القرآن - نزول القرآن على سبعة أحرف - المكتبة الشاملة

ص92 - كتاب المحرر في علوم القرآن - نزول القرآن على سبعة أحرف - المكتبة الشاملة

Question 6

Based on the correct view, what was the difference between the collection of the Quran by Abu Bakr (13 AH), and the collection of the Quran by ‘Uthman (35 AH)?

Answer 6

Difference between what Abu Bakr and ‘uthman did

• Abu Bakr (13 AH) meanly compiled the Quran (every single thing)
• ‘Uthman (35 AH) took a different approach to Abu Bakr, he took Abu Bakr’s Quran, and with it he chose what was the last recitation of the prophet ﷺ, removed that which was abrogated and kept everything that was not.