The Position of Early Basran Linguists and Grammarians on Qur’anic Readings

Abstract

This study examines the position of the early Basran grammarians on Qur’anic readings through an applied grammatical approach intended to elucidate the grammatical foundations and rules associated with these readings. The Qur’an, as transmitted through its various readings, contributed to the development and enrichment of Arabic grammatical rules, enhancing their value and providing them with more firmly established principles and refined linguistic patterns.

The study also addresses differences among the dialects of the ancient Arab tribes, relating such variation to phonological phenomena characteristic of those dialects. These differences are connected to the linguistic features of the tribes as reflected in the Qur’anic readings that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) permitted in the recitation of the Qur’an according to seven aḥruf or ten, that is, readings incorporating the dialectal varieties of the tribes. In this way, the relationship between Qur’anic readings and Arabic dialects becomes evident, which explains the permissibility of such readings as attributed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The study aims to identify the position of the Basran grammarians on Qur’anic readings and to clarify the influence of these readings on Arabic grammatical rules.

The research methodology includes defining Qur’anic readings both linguistically and terminologically, together with an examination of the conditions governing valid readings, their origins, and the stages of their development. It also investigates the position of the Basran grammarians on Qur’anic readings and presents selected examples of such readings.