Stages of Documenting Qur'anic Readings and Their Impact on the Science of Exegesis

Abstract

This research presents a historical and analytical study of the emergence of the science of Qur'anic readings and the stages of their documentation, while also explaining the semantic and exegetical impact of the multiplicity of these readings. The research begins with an introduction, a preface, and two main sections. The first section focuses on the linguistic and terminological definition of the readings, tracing their origins from the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and the Companions' oral transmission of the Qur'an, up to the stage of documentation and the compilation of the seven readings by Imam Ibn Mujahid in the fourth century AH, followed by the establishment of the ten canonical readings.

The second section reviews the distinction between authentic and anomalous readings. The study clarified the pillars of a valid and acceptable reading: (conformity to Arabic grammar, even if only partially; conformity to the Uthmanic script, even if only potentially; and a sound chain of transmission). Conversely, it defined variant readings (those that deviate from the Uthmanic script) and explained their scholarly benefits in citation and interpretation. The study then examined the impact of Quranic readings on the science of exegesis, highlighting the effect of variant readings on this field. It demonstrated that this multiplicity constitutes a "difference of diversity and variation" that enriches meaning, broadens implications, and guides legal rulings, rather than a difference of contradiction and conflict.