5.4 Variety Of Modes - Ulum Al Quran : An Introduction To The Sciences Of Quran | Quran Course

5.4 Variety Of Modes - Ulum Al Quran : An Introduction To The Sciences Of Quran | Quran Course

The hadith reports tell us that the Qur'an was actually revealed in seven modes (al-ahruf al-sab'a). This has been narrated by more than ten of the Prophet's Companions, among them Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, Ibn Mas'ud, Ibn 'Abbas and others. [Itqan, I, p. 41.] The following is the hadith in Bukhari:

'Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas: Allah's apostle said: Gabriel recited the Qur'an to me in one way. Then I requested him (to read it in another way), and continued asking him to recite it in other ways, and he recited it in several ways till he ultimately recited it in seven different ways'. [Bukhari, VI No. 513.] On another occasion, 'Umar complained to the Prophet that Hisham had recited Sura al-furqan in a way different from what 'Umar had heard from the Prophet, but the Prophet said: '... this Qur'an has been revealed to be recited in seven different ways, so recite of it whichever is easier for you'. [Bukhari, VI No. 514.] Salman is reported to have said that he read a passage from 5:82 in the presence of the Prophet in the following two versions, the first of which is now in the Qur'anic text, while the second constitutes a variant reading according to 'Ubay b. Ka'b: [Ibn Abi Dawud., p. 129.]  dhalika bi-anna minhum qissisina wa ruhbana.

 dhalika bi-anna minhum siddiqina wa ruhbana. [Ibn Abi Dawud., p. 103.] Muslim scholars have put forward a number of explanations and benefits for the Muslim umma deriving from the revelation of the Qur'anic message in several modes. Among these the following are most important:

 To make the reading, pronunciation and memorization more easy, as many people were illiterate in the Prophet's time.

 To unite the new Muslim community on the basis of one common language, the Arabic of the Quraish, with minor variations accepted, according to spoken language.

 To show something of the unique nature of the Qur'an, in the realm of language.

 To show something of the unique nature of the Qur'an, in the realm of meaning and legal rulings.

 To explain a legal ruling in more detail.

There is a difference of opinion among classical Muslim scholars on the subject of the 'seven modes', to the extent that one of them was able to say: 'the degree of difference of opinion (ikhtilaf) among the scholars is to the extent of 35

sayings'. [Itqan, I, p.45.] Some of these different opinions are that the 'seven modes' are:

 Different languages (dialects) current among the Arabs at the time of revelation, such as e.g. Quraish, Hudhail, Tamim, etc., who had different ways of pronunciations which could even affect the spelling, e.g.

 al-tabuh and al-tabut. (2: 248) [See Kamal, op. cit., p.46.]  or: hiyaka for iyaka (1:5).

 or: atta for hatta (12: 35).

 It may also be the usage of words from the different languages in the Qur'an (this is considered one of the most sound views).

 Usage of synonyms in the Qur'an, i.e. that a variety of expressions describe one and the same concept. A wellknown example is Sura 101: 5, which reads as 'Ka-l-'ihni-l-manfush', but in another version 'Ka-s-sufi-l-manfush' both meaning 'like carded wool'. The word arshidna was read in place of ihdina (Sura 1: 6), etc. [Both examples from Ibn Mas'ud. This view is also very close to the Idea of various dialects. and many scholars tend to accept such usage of synonyms, as meaning the seven modes'.]  Different aspects of the revelation, such as e.g. order, prohibitions, promise, narrations, etc.

 Seven differences, such as possible ways of reading words and structures in the Qur'an, e.g. the word 'trusts' in 23: 8 which can be read both 'trust' (sg.) or 'trusts' (pl.) according to the plain text without vowels: li-amanatihim or li-amanatihim .

 Slightly different wordings of a particular passage, such as e.g. in 9: 100: 'Gardens under which rivers flow' which some read as 'Gardens from under which rivers flow', adding the word 'from' (min) to the text.

 Different ways of pronunciation as they have been explained in great detail by the scholars of qira'a (recitation)

such as e.g. imala, idgham, etc. [This view has also been favoured by many, because it does not cause much controversy.] However, even non-Muslim orientalists concede that 'no major differences of doctrines can be constructed on the basis of the parallel readings based on the 'Uthmanic consonantal outline, yet ascribed to mushafs other than his. All the rival readings unquestionably represent one and the same text. They are substantially agreed in what they transmit ...

[Burton, J,: The Collection of the Qur’an, Cambridge. 1977, p. 171.]