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Draft:Warsh's Recitation from Nāfi

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Warsh
A page of the Qur'an in Muhaqqaq script, dating back to the 9th/15th century (Timurid era), displaying the Seven Recitations.
A page of the Qur'an in Muhaqqaq script, dating back to the 9th/15th century (Timurid era), displaying the Seven Recitations.
Full Name'Uthman b. Sa'id al-Misri
Well-known AsWarsh
Religious Affiliation 
Birth110/728-29
Place of BirthEgypt
Place of ResidenceEgypt and Medina
Death197/812-13
Burial PlaceEgypt
Known forNarrator of the recitation of Nafi' b. 'Abd al-Rahman
ProfessorsNafi' b. 'Abd al-Rahman
StudentsAbu Ya'qub al-Azraq, Yunus b. 'Abd al-A'la, Sulayman b. Dawud


Warsh's Recitation from Nāfiʿ (Arabic: قِراءَة وَرْش عَن نافِع) is one of the two canonical transmissions of the recitation of Nafi', a prominent member of The Seven Reciters. 'Uthman b. Sa'id al-Misri, commonly known as Warsh (b. 110/728-29 – d. 197/812-13), was a disciple of Nafi' b. 'Abd al-Rahman al-Madani and subsequently assumed leadership of Qur'anic instruction in Egypt. While Warsh's recitation closely mirrors the recitation of 'Asim regarding vocabulary and meaning, it is distinguished by its strict adherence to the rules of tajwid.

Status of Warsh's Recitation

Of the numerous transmitters of Nafi's recitation, the narrations of Qalun and Warsh are the most renowned,[1] both having received instruction directly from their master.[2] Qur'an reciters (Qaris) consider Warsh's recitation to be authoritative.[3] This specific style is widely practiced across the western Islamic world,[4] encompassing regions such as Egypt, northern Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania. A Mushaf based on Warsh's recitation from Nafi' has been published in Egypt.[5]

Sayyid 'Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, generally discourages the practice of multiple variant recitations, regarding it as non-essential to the Qur'an's core message of remembrance and guidance. However, he has acknowledged the merit and suitability of reciting the Qur'an according to Warsh's method, given its significant standing in the western Islamic world.[6]

Features of the Recitation

Among the three levels of Tajwid—Tartil, Hadr, and Tadwir—Warsh's recitation adopts the Tartil style.[7] Ibn al-Jazari, a distinguished scholar of Qur'anic recitation, identifies him as a leading exponent of the Tartil method.[8] Warsh demonstrated unique preferences and selections in his recitation.[9] After attaining mastery in Arabic syntax (Nahw), he developed a distinct style,[10] diverging from Nafi's recitation in specific instances.[11]

Key characteristics of his recitation include precise articulation (tahqiq), an emphasis on Imala (the inclination of the vowel 'a' towards 'i' and Alif towards Ya),[12] prolonged elongation (Madd) in both connected and disconnected contexts, the lightening (takhfif) of the Hamza,[13] and general meticulousness regarding specific Tajwid rules.[14]

When joining two Surahs in recitation, Warsh employs three distinct methods:

  1. Reciting the Basmala (Bism Allah al-Rahman al-Rahim).
  2. Omitting the Basmala while observing the rule of Sakt (a brief pause without breathing).
  3. Connecting the subsequent Surah directly to the preceding one without reciting the Basmala.[15]

Some researchers note that Warsh's recitation differs from the recitation of 'Asim primarily in matters of Tajwid and performance style, with minimal divergence in meaning or the pronunciation of Qur'anic vocabulary.[16]

Biography of Warsh

'Uthman b. Sa'id al-Misri was a prominent narrator of the recitation of Nafi', one of the Seven Reciters. Born in Egypt in 110/728-29,[17] he was reportedly nicknamed "Warsh" by his teacher Nafi', either due to his exceptionally fair complexion or his gait, which resembled that of a bird known as the Warshan.[18]

In 155/771-72, 'Uthman traveled to Medina to present his recitation of the Holy Qur'an to Nafi'.[19] Upon his return to Egypt, he assumed leadership of Qur'anic recitation instruction.[20] Numerous students studied under him, including Abu Ya'qub al-Azraq, Yunus b. 'Abd al-A'la, and Sulayman b. Dawud.[21] Among the transmission paths derived from his students, those of Azraq and Isfahani have garnered particular attention from reciters.[22]

Scholars of Qur'anic studies note that Warsh possessed a melodious voice and recited with such skill that listeners were often deeply moved, sometimes to the point of losing consciousness.[23] He passed away in Egypt in 197/812-13.[24]

See Also

Notes

  1. ↑ Bayli, al-Ikhtilaf bayn al-qira'at, p. 82; Guruhi az Nevisandagan, Qira'at-i Nafi, vol. 1, p. 3733.
  2. ↑ Guruhi az Nevisandagan, Qira'at-i Nafi, vol. 1, p. 3733.
  3. ↑ Yaqut al-Hamawi, Mu'jam al-udaba, 1414 AH, vol. 4, p. 1601; Ibn al-Jazari, Ghayat al-nihaya, 1351 AH, vol. 1, p. 503.
  4. ↑ Farshchian & Rostamizadeh, Maktab-i Warsh dar qira'at-i Qur'an-i karim, p. 25.
  5. ↑ Bayli, al-Ikhtilaf bayn al-qira'at, p. 82.
  6. ↑ Khamenei, Bayanat dar mahfil-i uns ba Qur'an-i karim, Website of the Office for the Preservation and Publication of the Works of Grand Ayatollah Khamenei.
  7. ↑ Halabi, Ashnayi ba 'ulum-i Qur'ani, 1374 Sh, pp. 157-158.
  8. ↑ Ibn al-Jazari, Ghayat al-nihaya, 1351 AH, vol. 1, p. 502.
  9. ↑ Farshchian & Rostamizadeh, Maktab-i Warsh dar qira'at-i Qur'an-i karim, p. 26.
  10. ↑ Ibn al-Jazari, Ghayat al-nihaya, 1351 AH, vol. 1, p. 503.
  11. ↑ Guruhi az Nevisandagan, Qira'at-i Nafi, vol. 1, p. 3733; Farshchian & Rostamizadeh, Maktab-i Warsh dar qira'at-i Qur'an-i karim, p. 42.
  12. ↑ Farshchian & Rostamizadeh, Maktab-i Warsh dar qira'at-i Qur'an-i karim, p. 25.
  13. ↑ Farshchian & Rostamizadeh, Maktab-i Warsh dar qira'at-i Qur'an-i karim, p. 25; Muhaysin, Mu'jam huffaz al-Qur'an 'abr al-tarikh, vol. 1, p. 608.
  14. ↑ Farshchian & Rostamizadeh, Maktab-i Warsh dar qira'at-i Qur'an-i karim, p. 25.
  15. ↑ Guruhi az Nevisandagan, Qira'at-i Nafi, vol. 1, p. 3733.
  16. ↑ Farshchian & Rostamizadeh, Maktab-i Warsh dar qira'at-i Qur'an-i karim, p. 42.
  17. ↑ Yaqut al-Hamawi, Mu'jam al-udaba, 1414 AH, vol. 4, pp. 1601-1602; Ibn al-Jazari, Ghayat al-nihaya, 1351 AH, vol. 1, p. 502; Dhahabi, Ma'rifat al-qurra al-kibar, 1417 AH, p. 91.
  18. ↑ Yaqut al-Hamawi, Mu'jam al-udaba, 1414 AH, vol. 4, pp. 1601-1602; Ibn al-Jazari, Ghayat al-nihaya, 1351 AH, vol. 1, p. 502; Dhahabi, Ma'rifat al-qurra al-kibar, 1417 AH, p. 91.
  19. ↑ Yaqut al-Hamawi, Mu'jam al-udaba, 1414 AH, vol. 4, pp. 1601-1602; Ibn al-Jazari, Ghayat al-nihaya, 1351 AH, vol. 1, p. 502; Dhahabi, Ma'rifat al-qurra al-kibar, 1417 AH, p. 91.
  20. ↑ Ibn al-Jazari, Ghayat al-nihaya, 1351 AH, vol. 1, p. 502.
  21. ↑ Dhahabi, Ma'rifat al-qurra al-kibar, 1417 AH, p. 91; Muhaysin, Mu'jam huffaz al-Qur'an 'abr al-tarikh, vol. 1, p. 608; Farshchian & Rostamizadeh, Maktab-i Warsh dar qira'at-i Qur'an-i karim, p. 29.
  22. ↑ Dumyati, Ithaf fudala al-bashar, p. 11; Farshchian & Rostamizadeh, Maktab-i Warsh dar qira'at-i Qur'an-i karim, p. 29.
  23. ↑ 'Umar & Mukarram, Mu'jam al-qira'at al-Qur'aniyya, 1412 AH, vol. 1, p. 88.
  24. ↑ Yaqut al-Hamawi, Mu'jam al-udaba, 1414 AH, vol. 4, p. 1601; Ibn al-Jazari, Ghayat al-nihaya, 1351 AH, vol. 1, p. 503.

References

  • Bayli, Ahmad, al-Ikhtilaf bayn al-qira'at, Beirut, Dar al-Jil, n.d.
  • Dhahabi, Muhammad b. Ahmad, Ma'rifat al-qurra al-kibar 'ala al-tabaqat wa al-a'sar, Beirut, Dar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyya, 1417 AH.
  • Dumyati, Ahmad b. Muhammad, Ithaf fudala al-bashar fi al-qira'at al-arba'at 'ashar, Beirut, Dar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyya, 1422 AH.
  • Farshchian, Rida & Rostamizadeh, Rida, "Maktab-i Warsh dar qira'at-i Qur'an-i karim", in Majalla-yi tahqiqat-i 'ulum-i Qur'an wa hadith, no. 2, 1386 Sh.
  • Guruhi az Nevisandagan, "Qira'at-i Nafi", in Farhang-nama-yi 'ulum-i Qur'an, Qom, Pazhuhishgah-i 'ulum wa farhang-i Islami, 1394 Sh.
  • Halabi, 'Ali Asghar, Ashnayi ba 'ulum-i Qur'ani, Tehran, Asatir, 1374 Sh.
  • Ibn al-Jazari, Muhammad b. Muhammad, Ghayat al-nihaya fi tabaqat al-qurra, n.p., Maktabat Ibn Taymiyya, 1351 AH.
  • Khamenei, Sayyid 'Ali, Bayanat dar mahfil-i uns ba Qur'an-i karim, Website of the Office for the Preservation and Publication of the Works of Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, Date of insertion: 14 Farvardin 1401 Sh, Date of visit: 16 Farvardin 1401 Sh.
  • Muhaysin, Muhammad Salim, Mu'jam huffaz al-Qur'an 'abr al-tarikh, Beirut, Dar al-Jil, 1412 AH.
  • 'Umar, Ahmad Mukhtar & Mukarram, 'Abd al-'Al Salim, Mu'jam al-qira'at al-Qur'aniyya, Qom, Uswah, 1412 AH.
  • Yaqut al-Hamawi, Yaqut b. 'Abd Allah, Mu'jam al-udaba irshad al-arib ila ma'rifat al-adib, Beirut, Dar al-Gharb al-Islami, 1414 AH.
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