Question

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullah wabarakaatuh

 1. Are there any books available in English which teach the Qira'at Al Asharah. There are books available in Arabic but I am not of those who can understand Arabiyyah.

 2. What Naseehah would you give to someone who wants to learn the Qur'an in another Riwaayah. I have been brought up to read in Hafs an Asim qiraa'ah but would like to learn more. Again I do not understand Arabic so books in Arabic would not be of use. Jazakallah for your time

 Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakaatuh.

First of all, we ask for forgiveness for the long delay in answering your question and pray that Allah reward you and all those waiting for answers to questions greatly for your patience.

1. To the best of our knowledge, there are no books in English teaching the qira’aat Al-‘Ashr.

2. First of all, we give you the same advice we have given to others in your same situation.  Make sure you have mastered Hafs ‘an ‘Aasim before moving on to another riwaayah or another qira’ah.  You have not stated in your question whether you have finished memorizing the Qur’an, which is the first and most important step.  If you have, then you should seek out a well qualified master of recitation and obtain an ijaazah in the recitation of Hafs ‘an ‘Aasim.  This should include memorization of the Jazariyyah poem and understanding and applying all that is within it. You would need someone to explain the meaning in English, since to the best of our knowledge there are no explanations written yet in English.  It is not a difficult poem to understand, even if your Arabic is limited.

Second of all, and please do not be discouraged by this advice, you need to learn the Arabic language, especially its grammar for you to master the qira’aat.  There are many questions that may be asked of you, or indeed you may ask yourself, and a proper knowledge of the Arabic language, its grammatical structure, and the ability to research the difference in meaning of the way one word is pronounced in one way of recitation compared to another pronunciation of the same word in another way is vital.  It is extremely important to know these well to be able to defend the Qur’an, its perfectness, and the way it was preserved.  There are many enemies of Islam who focus on the qira’aat in their attacks on Islam.  These attacks are rendered totally ineffective and without any merit by one who knows and understands the qira’aat, Arabic grammar, and the Arabic language. 
Having said this, and we do not wish to discourage you at all, we pray that you will move forward in your desire to learn the qira’aat.  This site, by Allah’s Will, plans on explaining the basic rules of each of the ten mutawaatir qira’aat and their two riwaayaat in the near future.   We ask Allah to make this a reality and to teach you the qira’aat and the Arabic language. 

Wa assalaam alaikum wa rahmatu Allah