A qāriʾ (Arabic: قَارِئ, lit. 'reader', plural قُرَّاء qurrāʾ) is a person who recites the Quran with the proper rules of recitation (tajwid). While in modern times the term refers primarily to professional reciters, historically the qurrāʾ represented an elite class of scholars and early Muslim settlers who played a pivotal role in the administration and political history of the early Rashidun Caliphate.[1]
Although it is encouraged, a qāriʾ does not necessarily have to memorize the Quran, just to recite it according to the rules of tajwid with melodious sound.
Notable qurrāʾ
Early Islamic period (7th century)
In the early Caliphate, the qurrāʾ were an elite class of scholars and settlers who played a decisive role in provincial administration and the Uprisings against Uthman (654–656).
- Malik al-Ashtar – Leader of the Kufan qurrāʾ and a key figure in the uprising against Uthman.
- Kumayl ibn Ziyad – A prominent Kufan and associate of Ali, noted for his piety and political role.
- Hurqus ibn Zuhayr as-Sa'di – A veteran leader of the qurrāʾ and a founding figure of the Muhakkima.
- Abd al-Rahman ibn Udays – Leader of the Egyptian qurrāʾ and a prominent figure in the siege of Medina.
- Zayd ibn Suhan – A prominent Kufan qāriʾ and orator who was a staunch supporter of Ali until his death at the Battle of the Camel.
- Hujr ibn Adi – A leading Kufan qāriʾ known for his piety and resistance against later Umayyad rule.
- Abd Allah ibn Hanzala – Leader of the Medinese qurrāʾ during the Battle of al-Harra.
Contemporary and modern reciters
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
- Muhammad Ibrahim Ujani (1863–1943)
- Abdur Rahman Kashgari (1912–1971)
- Syed Muhammad Ishaq (1915–1977)
- Muhammadullah Hafezzi (1895–1987)
- Abdul Latif Chowdhury Fultali (1913–2008)
- Saleh Ahmad Takrim (2008–present)
Egypt
Reader is referred to as Shaykh al-Maqâriʾ [6] (Arabic: شيخ المقارئ, lit. 'Scholar of the Recitation Schools').
- Muhammad Rifat (1882–1950)
- Mohamed Salamah (1899–1982)
- Mustafa Ismail (1905–1978)
- Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary (1917–1980), Shaykh al-Maqâriʾ
- Muhammad Siddiq Al-Minshawi (1920–1969), Shaykh al-Maqâriʾ
- Kamil Yusuf Al-Bahtimi (1922–1969)
- Abdul Basit 'Abd us-Samad (1927–1988), Shaykh al-Maqâri
India
Indonesia
Iran
Kuwait
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
- Abdul-Rahman Al-Sudais
- Abu Abd al-Rahman Ibn Aqil al-Zahiri
- Abu Bakr Ash Shatry
- Ahmad bin Ali Al-Ajmi
- Ali Abdullah Jaber (1954–2005)
- Ali ibn Abdur-Rahman al Hudhaify
- Saad al Ghamdi
- Saud Al-Shuraim
- Maher Al-Mu'aiqly
- Muhammad Ayyub (1952–2016)
- Yasser Al-Dosari
- Bandar Baleela
Somalia
References
- ^ Madelung, Wilferd (1997). The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate. Cambridge University Press. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-521-64696-3.
External links
- Qur'an recitation Archived 2012-02-05 at the Wayback Machine
- Free and open source Qur'an resource