When the Quran was first revealed, Arabs were not united, yet they shared the Arabic language with differences in some words. So the prophet peace be upon him commanded his Ummah to read the Quran in one Harf (letter), and he kept increasing saying
“my Ummah would not bear that” until he ended up with 7 Qirat of Quran.
That was mercy so every tribe began to read with the Harf that corresponds to its dialect or is closer to it. So, what are those 7 Ahruf, and what relates them to the 7 Qirat of Quran? we will know in this article.
What are the Qirat of Quran?
The Arabic word “Qirat” means readings, and it is the plural of the word “Qira’a”. According to scholars, Qirat means the field of knowledge that studies how to read or pronounce the Quranic words and how to recite them correctly.
The 7 Qirat of Quran Represent Seven Authenticated Recitation Traditions
The 7 Qirat of Quran refer to seven schools of Quranic recitation, each named after a master reciter from the early generations of Islam. These are not different versions of the Quran—they are variation-sets in pronunciation, elongation, and certain phonetic features, all Divinely sanctioned.
Each Qira’ah was transmitted through a precise chain of scholarship. The seven renowned Imams are: Nafi’ al-Madani, Ibn Kathir al-Makki, Abu ‘Amr al-Basri, Ibn ‘Amir al-Shami, ‘Asim al-Kufi, Hamzah al-Kufi, and Al-Kisa’i al-Kufi.
Working with Ijazah-certified instructors ensures you’re learning an authentic recitation tradition. Shaykhi Academy’s Qiraat Course, taught by Al-Azhar-certified tutors, guides students through proper Tajweed application within their chosen Qira’ah systematically.
Start Your Learning Path in Qiraat with a FREE Trial
What Are the Types of the Qirat of the Quran?
The Qirat of Quran are divided into 4 categories in terms of their methods and credits.
1. Al Mutawatir (المتواترة)
Mutawatir is an Arabic word that is derived from the word tawaatur, which means one after the other.
And this Qirat of Quran is a transmission on which there is agreement and which has independent chains of authorities that are sufficiently long to avoid the risk of any mistake.
2. Al Msh-hur (المشهور)
These are slightly less wide in their transmission, but they are still quite uncommon to have an error. It also requires to stick to the Arabic language, And follow the drawing of the Ottoman Quran.
3. Al Ahaad Al Sahiha (الاحآد الصحيحة)
It is correct. However, it went against Mashur’s rules by not following the Arabic language or the Ottoman design.
4. Al Shadha (الشاذة)
Uncommon readings that are typically ignored.
The Difference between Al Mutawatira And Al Shadha
There are 3 differences between Al-Qiraa Al Mutawatira and Al-Qiraa Al Shadha:
Credibility
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is credited to Al-Mutawatir, however it’s not correct to credit Al Shadha to him.
The Reward
You get rewarded if you read with Al Mutawatir in prayers, on the other hand, you don’t get rewarded for reading with Al Shadha and it’s not accepted in prayers.
Tafsir
Al Mufasir (An author of a tafsir) uses al Mutawatir to understand the meanings of the Quran, unlike al Shadha
What Are The 7 Qirat (Quraa/Readers)?
The word Quraa is the plural of Qari, which means a reader in Arabic. Here are the 7 Quraa:-
Qirat Naafi’ Al-Madani (Madinah)
His famous narrators:-
- Qaloon
- Warsh
Qirat Ibn Katheer Al-Makki (Makkah)
His famous narrators:-
- Ahmed Ibn Muhammed Al Bazzi
- Qunbul Muhammed Ibn Abdulrahman
Qirat Abu Amr al-Basri (Basra)
- Hafs Ibn Omar Al-Duri
- Saleh Ibn Ziad As-Soussi
Qirat Ibn Aamir ash-Shami (Syria)
His famous narrators:-
- Hisham Ibn Ammar
- Ibn Thaqouan Abdullah Ibn Ahmed
Qirat Asim Al-Kufi (Kufa)
His famous narrators:-
- Shu’bah Ibn Ai’ash
- Hafs Ibn Suliman
Qirat Hamzah al-Kufi (Kufa)
His famous narrators:-
- Khalaf Ibn Hisham Al Baghdadi
- Khallad Ibn Khalid Al Kufi
Qirat Al-Kisaa’i (Kufa)
His famous narrators:-
- Al-Layth Ibn Khalid
- Al-Duri ‘an Al-Kissa’i
Working with Ijazah-certified instructors ensures you’re learning an authentic recitation tradition. Shaykhi Academy’s Al-Azhar-certified tutors guide students through proper Tajweed application within their chosen Qira’ah systematically.
Book Your Free Session with One of Shaykhi’s Certified Teachers
Practical Differences Between the Qirat Appear in Specific Tajweed Features
Students sometimes wonder what actually differs between the 7 Qirat. The variations are precise and governed by scholarly documentation—never arbitrary.
They include differences in Madd (elongation) lengths, Hamzah (glottal stop) pronunciation, Idgham (assimilation) rules, and specific word-form selections that are all Quranically valid.
1. Differences in Madd Rules Across Qirat
In Hafs ‘an ‘Asim, the Madd al-Muttasil is typically recited at 4-5 counts. In Warsh ‘an Nafi’, the same Madd is extended to 6 counts as the standard rule. This single difference significantly changes the sound and rhythm of recitation.
2. Differences in Hamzah Pronunciation
Hamzah al-Kufi’s Qira’ah is known for its prominent, emphatic pronunciation of the Hamzah sound. In contrast, Abu ‘Amr al-Basri’s school employs extensive Tashil (softening) of Hamzah in specific positions, producing a noticeably smoother acoustic quality.
Shaykhi Academy’s Quran Tajweed Course covers these distinctions systematically, with Ijazah-certified instructors helping students master their chosen Qira’ah with accuracy and confidence.
Book Your FREE Trial Tajweed Session
What’s The Point of Having 7 Qirat?
“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“.
— Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him
There are many reasons behind having 7 different Qirat, and the following are some of them:
1. It Is A Mercy from Allah
To make it easy to read by all Muslims, considering Arabs different dialects.
2. Highlighting The Miracle of Quran
To highlight the miracle of the Holy Quran; No one has been able to identify any flaws or defects in it despite the many readings.
3. For More Clarity
To increase the meanings deduced from the Book of Allah, and that’s why the scholars leaned on outweighing the sayings in many Fiqh issues based on the reading that has more clarification.
4. Enriching The Arabic Language
To enrich the language by deriving the meanings of particular linguistic questions from the Qur’anic text and then explaining their many aspects.
5. Increasing The Nation’s Reward
To increase the nation’s reward in view of its responsibility to read, teach, and transmit the holy Quran with absolute control and precision.
Shaykhi Academy, founded by Al-Azhar scholars Mr. Luqman ElKasabany and Dr. Mahmoud Alasaal, offers structured Tajweed instruction for students at every level. Through our Online Ijazah Course, students build authentic foundations under Ijazah-certified instructors trained to the highest Al-Azhar standards.
Start Your Path to Ijazah with a FREE Trial
What Do The 7 Ahruf Mean?
The scholars disagreed on this, causing several sayings, but the most famous of these is acknowledged from the story of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab and Hakim Ibn Hizam, where the scholars disagreed more over how to read the 7 Ahruf than over their meanings.
Despite the fact that all Arabs spoke the same language, several tribes developed their own dialects with their own words and letters that were difficult for others to pronounce.
The Difference between The 7 Qirat of Quran And The 7 Ahruf
“As it has been revealed. Verily, the Quran has been revealed in seven dialects. Recite whichever of them you find easy“.
— Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him
The scholars agreed that the 7 Ahruf are not the known 7 Qirat of Quran, some of them believe that the only differences between the 7 Qirat of Quran are differences in the letters. And the 7 Ahruf are shared all through the 7 Qirat of Quran.
And the others believe that The Mushaf of Uthman, may God be pleased with him, was written in one letter; removing the six letters and keeping only one letter. and it is the saying of (Ibn Jarir al-Tabari|Ibn Jarir) al-Tabari.
What Relates The 7 Ahruf to The Qirat?
The Quran’s revelation in 7 Ahruf marked the start of Qirat and their diversity. And strong evidence of it is the Prophet’s acknowledgment of both Umar and Hakim bin Hizam for reciting it. It turns out that what relates the seven letters to the readings is what relates the cause to what caused it.
Now you may wonder, are the 7 Ahruf still there till now? Are they in all the readings or only the 10 readings?
The answer is yes, they’re still there, and that’s because the reason why they existed is still there as well, which is to make reading the Quran easy for all Muslims.
Secondly, it doesn’t have a single reading or narrative, therefore whoever reads one from the well-known readings just read some of the seven letters, not all of them.
Thirdly, the 7 Ahruf are found throughout the 10 readings except for what has been copied from them and the readings in the final Aardah (The last time the prophet peace be upon him was taught the Quran by Gabriel). The 7 Ahruf are all still present.
Last but not least, the Quran was revealed to our prophet peace be upon him throughout the period of revelation. According to a hadith, Gabriel used to teach him the Quran every year during Ramadan, which was every night, and in the year that he died, he taught him twice.
Samples from Shaykhi Classes
Take a look at real excerpts from our live sessions to see how we teach in an engaging and practical way. These clips show the interactive, student-focused approach we use in every class.
How to Learn The 7 Qirat of Quran with Us?
Shaykhi Academy is the most well-known resource for learning the 7 Qirat of Quran. We connect you with skilled teachers to save your time and effort. Here are the steps to join us:-
Fill Out The Registration Form
Filling out the registration form will allow us to know your name, age, gender, and other more details. If you’re ready, click here.
Attend Our Trial Class
We at Shaykhi Academy offer you a free trial class so you can experience our actual classes before deciding whether or not to subscribe.
Choose Your Plan
Once you’ve decided to subscribe, it’s time to choose the plan that best suits your needs and fits into your schedule.
Subscribe
And finally, subscribe and become a member of our family!
Shots from Shaykhi Courses
Take a closer look at real moments from our classes in action, These snapshots show the engaging and supportive environment our students enjoy.
Reviews & Testimonials
Our students consistently praise the quality of our courses and the dedication of our instructors. They highlight the effectiveness of our flexible online learning, personalized support, and the noticeable progress they make in their studies. See their full experiences on Trustpilot.
Begin Your Quranic Education with Al-Azhar Certified Instruction at Shaykhi Academy
The 7 Qirat represent fourteen centuries of Quranic scholarship—and accessing that tradition requires qualified, certified guidance.
Shaykhi Academy offers:
- Al-Azhar-certified and Ijazah-holding instructors
- Personalized 1-on-1 sessions in Quran Tajweed Course and Online Quran Classes
- Flexible scheduling for students across all time zones
- Founded by Al-Azhar scholars Mr. Luqman ElKasabany and Dr. Mahmoud Alasaal
- Rated 4.9/5 by students worldwide
- Free trial lesson available—begin today with no commitment
Choose the best Quran learning course for you from the list below:
- Quran Tajweed Course
- Hifz Course
- Noorani Qaida With Tajweed
- Islamic Studies for Beginners
- Tafseer Classes
- Quran Course for Kids
- Online Quran Classes For Ladies
- Quraninc Arabic
- Ijazah Course
- General Arabic
- Arabic Grammar
Book your free trial at Shaykhi Academy today
Conclusion
The 7 Qirat of Quran are seven complete, authenticated recitation traditions transmitted through unbroken scholarly chains, each meeting the rigorous conditions established by Ibn al-Jazari. They are distinct from the original Ahruf while rooted in them, and every valid Qira’ah carries equal authority and divine sanction.
Understanding the Rawi system—where each of the seven Imams transmitted their recitation through two primary narrators—reveals the precision behind the 14 recognized narrations. Hafs ‘an ‘Asim remains most widespread globally, while Warsh ‘an Nafi’ thrives across North and West Africa.
The 7 Qirat are among the strongest proofs of Quranic preservation in history. Every Muslim who recites with proper Tajweed is participating in a living chain of transmission—one of the most remarkable scholarly achievements in all of human civilization, Alhamdulillah.
