Question

Assalamu Aleikum

1. I would like to know how many authentic ways of recitation, from the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to our Umma of today, have been transmitted? Are they 7 or 10?

In surat Al Hijr, verse 87 when Allah the Almighty says "And indeed We have bestowed upon you the seven of Al-Mathâni and the Grand Qur'ân" He is referring to the 7 ways of recitation or something else?

 2. I have seen sheikhs crying while reciting the Qur'ân, therefore, I would like to know whether the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to cry sometimes while reading the Qur'ân to his community.

Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuh.

1. There are ten ways of recitation, each having two riwaayaah and each riwaayah has many turuq, that are present today that are authentically transmitted from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah upon him.  This does not mean he only transmitted ten ways of recitation, but instead it means only ten remain in authentic chains in the present era.

The aayah in surah Al-Hijr, according to the majority of scholars, refers to the seven aayaat of surah Al-Faatihah, the “oft repeated” or mathaani. 

There is an authentic hadeeth about the Qur’an being revealed in seven “ahruf”.  The following questions and answers previously answered on the site help explain what this hadeeth means and what the seven ahruf are:

http://www.abouttajweed.com/03190101.htm

http://www.abouttajweed.com/110403.htm

2.  The translation of the meaning of a few aayaat from the Glorious Qur’an show that it is a praiseworthy characteristic to listen to the Qur’an and cry out of recognition of the truth and out of  fear and awe of Allah. 

"And when they listen to what that has been sent down to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflow with tears because of what they have recognized of the truth."  Surah Al-Maa’idah 83 (5:83)

"…When it is recited to them, they fall down on their faces in jumble prostration. * And they say “glory to be to our Lord, . Truly the promise of our Lord must be fulfilled. * And  they fall down on their faces weeping and it increases their humility. " Al-Israa’ 107-109 ( 17: 107-109).  

In a hadith related in AI-Bukhari, we see clearly that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah upon him listened to the Qur’an and cried.  Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud ( ) said, "The Messenger of Allah ( ) said, 'Recite (the Qur'an) to me.' Then I said, 'How can I recite to you when it was revealed to you?' The Prophet ( ) said, 'I like to hear it from someone else."' Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud said, "I recited the Qur'an from Surah Al-Nisa' until I reached the aayah that says, 'How will it be then, when We bring from every nation a witness and bring you to witness over all of them"' [Qur'an 4:41]. The Prophet ( ) said, 'That is enough.' I turned to the Prophet ( ) and found his eyes flooding with tears.”