A Comparative Study of Qur’anic Readings According to the Authors of Ma‘ani al-Qur’an: Qatrab, Al-Farrā’, Al-Akhfash, Al-Zajjāj, and Al-Nahhas

Abstract

This study examined the preference among Qur’anic readings according to the authors of the works on the meanings of the Qur’an (Ma‘ani al-Qur’an), by tracing the Qur’anic readings in their works, presenting, studying, discussing, and analyzing them. It was found that the preference involved selecting and giving precedence to certain readings based on criteria followed by each author.

      The researcher concluded that one form of preference among all of them, except for al-Nahhas and al-Zajjāj, was giving precedence to a rare (shadhdh) reading over a widely transmitted (mutawatir) reading. Some authors, such as Qutrub, al-Farrā’, and al-Nahhas, considered the mutawatir and shadhdh readings to be on equal footing.