Question
Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi wa Baraktuh,
Respected teachers, I have now become more or less familiar with the tariq of Shatibiyyah (Hafs an Asim)... but I am somewhat still confused about the turuq in general. I have still not managed to understand how this tariq is different from the other turuq. I have read on your site, that there are (if i remember correctly) around 52 turuq for Hafs ‘an ‘asim alone.... now how can one even imagine to start learning the differences between shu'ba and hafs when there are still the other 51 ways to learn for hafs ? I am probably thinking along the wrong lines, which is where the problem stems from..... but I would really appreciate it for you to give a lesson just on explaining about the turuq in general, and a bit about their history....
When discussing tajweed with people, I am able to explain to them that there are 10 different ways of recitation, and that each way has around two rawi's.. but I really feel incomplete when I tell them that each of these riwaya's have further "turuq"... and that I am learning hafs by the way of shatibiyyah !! Questions like the following often come to mind, "... are we aloud to mix the rules between the different turuq within the same riwayah ?", "....are the various turuq simply differences of opinion that the recitor may pick and choose from or are they established methods parallel to the the riwayas and that we must stick to one tariq only ?", "... recitor.org is often recommended, but if my doubts are correct then Shaykh Basfar is reciting other than the way of shatibiyyah therein. If yes then, which tariq is he using for recitor.org", also while listening to a reciter how do we know whether he has made a mistake or is simple just using another tariq, unless all 52 ways have been memorised !? ".. etc etc.... "... why do many of the qari's from the subcontinent insist that hafs an asim is without further divisions...?.
as you see.... there is a problem in the general understanding of the "turuq" methodology. I was also wondering whether it was possible for you to explain all the various turuq for hafs an asim on this site ?
Jazakallah Khair
Answer
Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
These are very valid questions, barak Allahu feekum.
For every qira’ah, there are two narrators –or rawee. These rawee different turuq which have been passed down from generation to generation in authentic chains. A tareeq is always from the rawee.
The turuq (plural of tareeq) outlined by Imam Ibn Al-Jazaree in his work “An-Nashr” are all authentic, and for each rawee there are numerous turuq, all regarded as part of the revelation. Hafs 'an 'Aasim has 52 ways, as stated in the question, some are itentical or almost itentical.
The differences between one tareeq and another are not great, and they are not very difficult to learn. In the various turuq of Hafs ‘an ‘Aasim, the differences are in the length of the mudood, the ghunnah or absence of it on when the
saakinah merges into the
and
, a
or absence of it when there is a saakin letter –excluding medd letters- before a hamzah, and differences in the special words for Hafs. For example, some ways read all four
of Hafs, some only one or two, some none. Some turuq read
and the other words which can be read with a
, or
with a
and others with a
, other ways allow either letter.
Some turuq read
with
, others read it with
or
. Some turuq establish the
’ in the word
in surah An-Naml, and so on. Most of the special words for Hafs can be read differently in the various turuq. Please see:
http://www.abouttajweed.com/words-hafs-an-aasim-min-tareeq-ash-shatibiyy/special-words-for-hafs-an-aasim-by-the-way-of-ash-shaatibiy-2.html to see the special words for Hafs.
The different turuq then are not difficult, as you can see, but one has to keep the rules for each tareeq straight, and keep the tareeq free of mixing with other tareeq.
It is not allowed to mix one tareeq with another, as each are transmitted by solid authentic chains and are part of the revelation, and therefore we cannot make up our own way and pick and choose.
We tried to go to reciter.org and listen to the recitation of Sheikh Basfar, but the program was not working for us.
We will try and put up a chart for the various turuq of Hafs in the future that explains the rules and special words for each tareeq, insha' Allah.
May Allah reward you also.
Wa assalaam alaikum.