The Qur’anic Ijaza

Ijazah (Certification): One of the methods of transmitting Islamic and Arabic sciences.

Linguistic Meaning of Ijazah: It refers to granting permission to narrate transmitted texts and heard reports.

It is said: “The student sought Ijazah from his teacher,” meaning he requested permission from him.

Terminological Meaning of Ijazah: It is the permission granted by a certified Quranic reciter (shaykh al-muqri’) to a student who has recited before him, allowing the student to narrate or teach the Quranic recitations and transmissions he has learned from the shaykh, with a connected chain (sanad) of reciters leading back to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Pillars of Ijazah in the Quran:

⿡ Al-Mujiz (the certifier): The Quranic scholar who listens to and evaluates the student’s recitation.
⿢ Al-Mujaz (the certified): The student who recites proficiently before the certifier.
⿣ Mujaz bihi (the certified content): The Quran (either in full or in part) transmitted through one or more recitations.
⿤ Al-Isnad (the chain of transmission): The chain of transmission through which the Quranic recitation has been passed down from one reciter to another, connecting back to the Prophet ﷺ.

Conditions for a Valid Ijazah According to Scholars:

Sincerity for the sake of Allah Almighty.
Uninterrupted chain of transmission—the sanad must not stop at the certified student.
The certified student must recite exactly as he learned from his teacher, without alteration or modification.

Definition of Qira’ah (Quranic Recitation):

It is the reading method attributed to one of the ten Quranic imams based on how they received it through oral transmission, with a connected chain back to the Prophet ﷺ.

For example: The recitation of Nafi’, the recitation of ‘Asim.

Why is a Quranic Reciter Called “Qari’”?

A reciter (Qari’) is named as such because he chooses a specific reading from what he has heard of the Quran, following a particular, authenticated transmission that has a connected chain back to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. This reading is then attributed to the reciter, and he becomes known by it.

For example: The recitation of ‘Asim, the recitation of Hamzah, etc.

The Correct Quranic Recitation Must Meet Three Criteria:

Linguistic validity—The recitation must conform to an accepted aspect of Arabic language, whether in its standard or most eloquent form.
Conformity with the Uthmanic script—even if only by implication, as in the case of reciting {Maaliki yawmi ad-deen} with or without an alif.
Authenticity and uninterrupted transmission—The recitation must be taken from a proficient teacher with an established chain back to the Prophet ﷺ.

The third condition is essential for validating the first two. A reciter must have learned directly from a competent and reliable teacher whose chain of transmission connects back to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Definition of Riwayah (Narration):

It is the transmission attributed to a direct student of the recitation imam (Qari’), either directly or through an intermediary, provided that distinct transmission methods (Turuq) are derived from him.

Example: Hafs ‘an ‘Asim (Hafs narrating from ‘Asim directly).
Example: Ad-Duri ‘an Abi ‘Amr (Ad-Duri narrating from Abu ‘Amr through an intermediary—Yahya Al-Yazidi).

Clarification Example:
The two narrators (Khalaf + Khallad) transmitted the recitation of Imam Hamzah through an intermediary (Sulaim), meaning that Sulaim was a transmitting link who did not meet the conditions of a direct narrator. Instead, he conveyed Hamzah’s recitation method without generating an independent transmission.

Thus:
Riwayah of Khalaf + Riwayah of Khallad = Qira’ah of Hamzah.
Sulaim = An intermediary transmitter of the recitation.

Definition of Tareeq (Method/Path):

It refers to the transmission attributed to a direct student of the narrator (Rawi), either directly or through a chain.

Example: Tareeq Al-Azraq ‘an Warsh (the path of Al-Azraq from Warsh).
Example: Tareeq Ubayd ibn As-Sabbah ‘an Hafs (the path of Ubayd ibn As-Sabbah from Hafs).

Clarification Example:
‘Asim (Reciter) → [Shu‘bah + Hafs (Narrators of ‘Asim)] → [Ubayd ibn As-Sabbah = Path of Hafs in Ash-Shatibiyyah].

Thus, we say:
Riwayah of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim through Tareeq Ubayd ibn As-Sabbah (or through Ash-Shatibiyyah).

Definition of Wajh (Aspect of Recitation):

It refers to one of the permissible variations between Quranic recitations, where the reciter has the choice to adopt any of the accepted methods.

Definition of Ash-Shatibiyyah:

It is a didactic poem titled Hirz Al-Amani wa Wajh At-Tahani, composed by Imam Abu Al-Qasim Ibn Firrah Al-Andalusi Ash-Shatibi. The poem contains 1,173 verses and is based on the book At-Taysir by Abu ‘Amr Ad-Dani. It details the agreements and differences among the seven Quranic reciters, presenting each with two narrators and a single transmission path.

Definition of Ad-Durrah Al-Mudiyyah:

A poem by Muhammad Ibn Al-Jazari covering the three additional Quranic recitations that complete the Ten. It follows the methodology of Ash-Shatibi, listing two narrators per reciter and one path per narrator.

Definition of Tayyibat An-Nashr:

A poem in Rajaz meter by Muhammad Ibn Al-Jazari, summarizing his book An-Nashr fi Al-Qira’at Al-‘Ashr in 1,014 verses, covering all ten authenticated recitations.

The Ten Minor and Major Recitations:

The Ten Minor Recitations:
These include the transmission paths from Ash-Shatibiyyah (seven recitations) and Ad-Durrah Al-Mudiyyah (three recitations).

The Ten Major Recitations:
These include all paths collected in Tayyibat An-Nashr, amounting to 980 transmission paths.

Principles of Quranic Recitation:

Usul (Fundamental Rules): Differences among reciters that follow a consistent rule.
Farsh (Specific Variants): Differences among reciters that do not follow a general rule, such as variations in specific Quranic words.

The Ten Reciters and Their Narrators:

Methods of Learning Quranic Recitations:

First method: The teacher recites while students listen and repeat (suitable for beginners).
Second method: The student recites while the teacher listens and corrects (suitable for advanced learners and those seeking Ijazah).

Al-Muqri’ (Certified Reciter): One who has mastered all ten recitations, received certification, and teaches others.