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Asim b. Abi l-Najud: Difference between revisions
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'''ʿĀṣim b. Bahdala Abi l-Najūd al-Asadī al-Kūfī''' (Arabic:{{ia|عاصم بن بهدلة أبي النَّجُود الاسدي الکوفي}}; b. ? - d. [[127]]/744-5 or [[128]]/745-6) was one of the [[Tabi'un]] and one of the [[Seven Reciters]] of the [[Quran]]. He learned the recital ([[qira'a]]) of the Quran from [[Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami]] who had learned the recital of the Quran from [[Imam 'Ali (a)]]. 'Asim presented his recital to [[Zarr b. Hubaysh]] who had learned the recital of the Quran from [['Abd Allah b. Mas'ud]]. Thus, 'Asim transmits the recital of Imam 'Ali (a) from al-Sulami. This is why it is said that his recital of the Quran is the most eloquent one, because it is the authentic reading of the Quran. | '''ʿĀṣim b. Bahdala Abi l-Najūd al-Asadī al-Kūfī''' (Arabic:{{ia|عاصم بن بهدلة أبي النَّجُود الاسدي الکوفي}}; b. ? - d. [[127]]/744-5 or [[128]]/745-6) was one of the [[Tabi'un]] and one of the [[Seven Reciters]] of the [[Quran]]. He learned the recital ([[qira'a]]) of the Quran from [[Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami]] who had learned the recital of the Quran from [[Imam 'Ali (a)]]. 'Asim presented his recital to [[Zarr b. Hubaysh]] who had learned the recital of the Quran from [['Abd Allah b. Mas'ud]]. Thus, 'Asim transmits the recital of Imam 'Ali (a) from al-Sulami. This is why it is said that his recital of the Quran is the most eloquent one, because it is the authentic reading of the Quran. | ||
After the death of his teacher, Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami, 'Asim became the head of the reciters of the Quran and was in charge of teaching the Quran in [[Kufa]]. [[Abu Bakr b. 'Ayyash]] and [[Hafs b. Sulayman]] transmitted his recital of the Quran. Hafs believed that ' | After the death of his teacher, Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami, 'Asim became the head of the reciters of the Quran and was in charge of teaching the Quran in [[Kufa]]. [[Abu Bakr b. 'Ayyash]] and [[Hafs b. Sulayman]] transmitted his recital of the Quran. Hafs believed that 'Asim's recital was more accurate. 'Asim's recital is transmitted to us today by Hafs. Hafs's transmission of 'Asim's recital of the Quran is popular and prevalent in most [[Islam]]ic countries. As almost all biographers and scholars maintain, 'Asim was a [[Shi'a]]. | ||
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
According to some scholars, the name of ' | According to some scholars, the name of 'Asim's father was Bahdala. Others believe that his father's name was 'Ubayd and his mother's name was Bahdala. He was born in the period of [[Mu'awiya b. Abi Sufyan]]'s [[caliphate]]. Thus, he was probably born between [[41]]/661-2 and [[60]]/679-80. 'Asim died in [[Kufa]] in [[127]]/744-5 or [[128]]/745-6. | ||
[[Abu Bakr b. 'Ayyash]], one of the people who transmitted ' | [[Abu Bakr b. 'Ayyash]], one of the people who transmitted 'Asim's recital, told a story about the last moments of 'Asim's life: | ||
: | :"I went to 'Asim while he was in the last hours of his life. I heard that he was reciting a Quranic verse as though he was reciting it in the [[prayer]], and the verse was: ‘they will be brought back to Allah their rightful Lord, and their invented falsehoods will leave them in the lurch'{{enote|وَ رُدُّواْ إِلىَ اللَّهِ مَوْلَئهُمُ الْحَقِّ وَ ضَلَّ عَنهُْم مَّا كاَنُواْ يَفْترَُونَ ([[Quran 10]]:30)}}." | ||
'Asim was blind, like his teacher, and he usually had a guide accompanying him. | 'Asim was blind, like his teacher, and he usually had a guide accompanying him. | ||
==' | =='Asim's Shiism== | ||
According to almost all biographers, 4 out of the [[Seven Reciters]] were [[Shi'as]] (followers of [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]]): | According to almost all biographers, 4 out of the [[Seven Reciters]] were [[Shi'as]] (followers of [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]]): | ||
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In his book, ''[[Al-Bayan fi tafsir al-Quran (book)|al-Bayan]]'', [[Ayatollah al-Khoei]] said about 'Asim: | In his book, ''[[Al-Bayan fi tafsir al-Quran (book)|al-Bayan]]'', [[Ayatollah al-Khoei]] said about 'Asim: | ||
: | :"Abu Bakr 'Asim b. Abi l-Najud al-Asadi was an [[mawla|emancipated slave]] of the Asad family and was from Kufa. He was one of the Seven Reciters of the Quran and was a Shi'a. He recited the Quran for 'Abd Allah b. al-Rahman b. Habib al-Aslami, who was also a Shi'a and a follower of 'Ali (a), and also for Zarr b. Hubaysh and Abu 'Amr al-Shibani". | ||
Qays Al Qays says: | Qays Al Qays says: | ||
: | :"'Asim was one of the [[Tabi'un]] and a proponent of the Prophet's (s) household. He learned his recital from Shaykhayn, and from Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami who had learned it from 'Ali (a)". | ||
[[Qadi Nur Allah al-Shushtari]], [['Abd al-Jalil al-Qazwini al-Razi]], and Sayyid Hasan al-Sadr also believed that 'Asim was a Shi'a. | [[Qadi Nur Allah al-Shushtari]], [['Abd al-Jalil al-Qazwini al-Razi]], and Sayyid Hasan al-Sadr also believed that 'Asim was a Shi'a. | ||
==Scholarly and Religious Character== | ==Scholarly and Religious Character== | ||
Shi'a and [[Sunni]] scholars view 'Asim as a prominent figure, a pious person, and a reliable scholar of the recitation of the Quran. They consider him to be a master of eloquence, accurate reading or recital of the Quran, and [[tajwid]]. He reportedly recited the Quran in a euphonious way. | |||
In his book, ''[[Rawdat al-jannat fi l-ahwal al-'ulama' wa l-sadat|Rawdat al-jannat]]'', [[Muhammad Baqir al-Khwansari]] said about 'Asim that | In his book, ''[[Rawdat al-jannat fi l-ahwal al-'ulama' wa l-sadat|Rawdat al-jannat]]'', [[Muhammad Baqir al-Khwansari]] said about 'Asim that "he was one of the most pious reciters of the Quran; his view about the recitation of the Quran was the most accurate, and he was more studious and hardworking than other reciters with respect to the recitation of the Quran". | ||
And according to Qadi Nur Allah al-Shushtari in his book, ''[[Majalis al-mu'minin]]'': | And according to Qadi [[Nur Allah al-Shushtari]] in his book, ''[[Majalis al-mu'minin]]'': "he was a master of Arabic grammar and recitation of the Quran and was unique in his time … he recited the Quran euphoniously and was eloquent in the recital of the Quran". | ||
==Features of ' | ==Features of 'Asim's Recital of the Quran== | ||
'Asim had distinctive features that distinguish him from the rest of the Seven Reciters of the Quran. He was very accurate, careful and cautious about transmissions of the Quran. Thus, he did not accept recitals of the Quran from people other than [[Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami]] who had learned it from 'Ali (a). He presented his recital to Zarr b. Hubaysh who had learned it from [['Abd Allah b. Mas'ud]]. | 'Asim had distinctive features that distinguish him from the rest of the Seven Reciters of the Quran. He was very accurate, careful and cautious about transmissions of the Quran. Thus, he did not accept recitals of the Quran from people other than [[Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami]] who had learned it from 'Ali (a). He presented his recital to Zarr b. Hubaysh who had learned it from [['Abd Allah b. Mas'ud]]. | ||
Abu Bakr b. 'Ayyash, ' | Abu Bakr b. 'Ayyash, 'Asim's student, said: "'Asim told me that 'no one other than 'Abd al-Rahman recited a word of the Quran to me and whenever I came back from him, I presented what I had heard from the Quran to Zarr b. Hubaysh. Abu 'Abd al-Rahman had learned his recital from 'Ali (a) and Zarr b. Hubaysh had learned it from 'Abd Allah b. Mas'ud'." | ||
'Asim recited the Quran with a slow and continuous [[tartil]] (hymnody); it was harmonious and resonant, without being lethargic. 'Asim was careful about | 'Asim recited the Quran with a slow and continuous [[tartil]] (hymnody); it was harmonious and resonant, without being lethargic. 'Asim was careful about hamza (ʾ) and [[madd]], he recited the Quran in a firm way, and had combined eloquence, accuracy, [[tahrir]], and [[tajwid]]. | ||
All | All Shi'a scholars take 'Asim's recital of the Quran to be the most eloquent one. In his ranking of the Seven Reciters, al-Jazari took 'Asim to be the most eloquent. | ||
==Transmitters of ' | ==Transmitters of 'Asim's Recital of the Quran== | ||
A great number of people have transmitted ' | A great number of people have transmitted 'Asim's recital of the Quran directly or indirectly, including: [[Aban b. Taghlib]], Aban b. Yazid al-'Attar, [[Hafs b. Sulayman]], Hammad b. Salama, [[Hammad b. Yazid]], [[Sulayman b. Mihran al-A'mash]], [[Abu Bakr b. 'Ayyash]], Dahhak b. Maymun, [[Abu 'Amr b. 'Ala']], [[Khalil b. Ahmad]], and [[Hamza b. Habib]]. There are other people who have transmitted part or all of 'Asim's recital. | ||
The most prominent transmitters of ' | The most prominent transmitters of 'Asim's recital are Hafs and Abu Bakr b. 'Ayyash who have transmitted his recital directly. | ||
* [[Hafs b. Sulayman]] | * [[Hafs b. Sulayman]] | ||
Abu 'Umar Hafs b. Sulayman b. Mughira al-Bazzaz al-Asadi al-Kufi (b. [[90]]/709 d. [[180]]/796-7), known as Hafs, was ' | Abu 'Umar Hafs b. Sulayman b. Mughira al-Bazzaz al-Asadi al-Kufi (b. [[90]]/709 d. [[180]]/796-7), known as Hafs, was 'Asim's stepson. It is said that Hafs learned 5 Quranic verses from 'Asim in every meeting. "According to Abu Bakr al-Khatib, "early scholars take Hafs to be superior to Abu Bakr b. 'Ayyash with respect to his memory, since he remembered all aspects of 'Asim's recital of the Quran … the most accurate transmission from 'Asim is that of Hafs". | ||
Hafs taught the recital of the Quran to people of Mecca, [[Baghdad]], and Kufa. Following his teacher, 'Asim, he was also a Shi'a. And like his teacher, Hafs is of a high ranking among the Seven Reciters. His recital of the Quran is popular among Muslims. The recital that 'Asim taught Hafs was the one he had learned from Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami who had learned it, in turn, from [[Imam 'Ali (a)]]. | Hafs taught the recital of the Quran to people of Mecca, [[Baghdad]], and Kufa. Following his teacher, 'Asim, he was also a Shi'a. And like his teacher, Hafs is of a high ranking among the Seven Reciters. His recital of the Quran is popular among Muslims. The recital that 'Asim taught Hafs was the one he had learned from Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami who had learned it, in turn, from [[Imam 'Ali (a)]]. | ||
Hafs was the best student of 'Asim and very knowledgeable about his recital. He is more reliable than Abu Bakr, the other transmitter of ' | Hafs was the best student of 'Asim and very knowledgeable about his recital. He is more reliable than Abu Bakr, the other transmitter of 'Asim's recital, and this is why, Hafs's recital of the Quran became popular among Muslims. According to al-Dhahabi: "Hafs did not have a good memory with respect to [[hadiths]], but with respect to the recital of the Quran, he is very reliable. He said that he never opposed 'Asim's recital of the Quran except in one letter of a verse in [[Sura al-Rum]]: "It is Allah who created you from [a state of] weakness" {{enote|اللَّهُ الَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن ضَعْف ([[Quran 30]]:54)}}. Hafs read the word "{{ia|ضعف}}" as "du'f" ({{ia|ضُعف}}) that means frailty, but 'Asim read it as "da'f" ({{ia|ضَعف}}) that means weakness". | ||
In fact, | In fact, Hafs's recital of the Quran is the one widely received by Muslims, because he and his teacher, 'Asim, were strongly committed to the accurate and [[Tawatur|mutawatir]] (numerously reported) transmission of the Quranic recital among Muslims at their time. It was this recital that 'Asim had taught Hafs. | ||
* [[Abu Bakr b. 'Ayyash]] | * [[Abu Bakr b. 'Ayyash]] | ||
Abu Bakr Shu'ba b. 'Ayyash al-Asadi al-Kufi (b.[[95]]/713-4 d.[[193]]/808-9) recited the Quran in the presence of 'Asim three times, and presented it to 'Ata' b. Sa'ib, Aslam al-Minqari, and 'Umar. Abu Bakr was a Sunni leader. He quit teaching the recital of the Quran and examination of other | Abu Bakr Shu'ba b. 'Ayyash al-Asadi al-Kufi (b.[[95]]/713-4 d.[[193]]/808-9) recited the Quran in the presence of 'Asim three times, and presented it to 'Ata' b. Sa'ib, Aslam al-Minqari, and 'Umar. Abu Bakr was a Sunni leader. He quit teaching the recital of the Quran and examination of other people's recitals 7 years before his death. However, he was a great scholar. | ||
==' | =='Asim's Recital in the View of Muslim Scholars== | ||
'Asim had distinctive features that distinguish him from other reciters of the Quran. | 'Asim had distinctive features that distinguish him from other reciters of the Quran. | ||
Ibrahim b. Muhammad Naftawayh (d. [[323]]/935), who taught the recital of the Quran for 50 years, always began his courses with the recitation of ' | Ibrahim b. Muhammad Naftawayh (d. [[323]]/935), who taught the recital of the Quran for 50 years, always began his courses with the recitation of 'Asim's reading of the Quran, and then examined other recitals. | ||
[[Ahmad b. Hanbal]] preferred ' | [[Ahmad b. Hanbal]] preferred 'Asim's recital to other recitals of the Quran, since people of Kufa who were very knowledgeable had accepted 'Asim's recital. According to al-Dhahabi, "Ahmad b. Hanbal said that 'Asim was trusted, thus I preferred his recital". | ||
He also said: | He also said: "the best thing that happened to us was the discovery of the recital of the Quran through 'Asim". He then cites his chain of transmitters up to Hafs who had transmitted 'Asim's recital who had, in turn, transmitted Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami's recital from Imam 'Ali (a). He also cited 'Asim's transmission of Zarr b. Hubaysh's recital from [[Ibn Mas'ud]]. Abd Allah b. Mas'ud and 'Ali (a) both had learned the recital of the Quran from the [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] who had learned it from God through [[Jabra'il]]. | ||
Prominent [[Imami]] scholars of [[fiqh]] (jurisprudence) have preferred ' | Prominent [[Imami]] scholars of [[fiqh]] (jurisprudence) have preferred 'Asim's recital as transmitted by Hafs, because they took it to be the best recital of the Quran in the eloquent dialect of [[Quraysh]] with which the Quran was revealed and on which all Arabs and Muslims agree. | ||
In his book, ''[[al-Manaqib]]'', [[ | In his book, ''[[al-Manaqib]]'', [[Ibn Shahrashub]] says: "'Asim learned the recital of the Quran from Abu 'Abd al-Rahman who had learned it from 'Ali [[Amir al-Mu'minin (a)]]". He adds: "the most eloquent recital of the Quran is that of 'Asim, because he had learned it from the source, and whenever other reciters went astray, he went on the right path". | ||
And [[al-'Allama al-Hilli]] says in his book, ''al-Muntaha'': | And [[al-'Allama al-Hilli]] says in his book, ''al-Muntaha'': "the best recital of the Quran for me is that of 'Asim". | ||
==Related Topics== | ==Related Topics== | ||