Al-Qasidah al-Tahirah fi al-Qira’āt al-Ăshr

By

Dr Salim ibn Ghurmullah al-Zahrani*

The science of Qira’at is among the accurate sciences of ShariĂah which requires memorization for mastering it.  Scholars were, therefore, keen on presenting it in versified form for easy memorization. Among the most famous of such versified compositions is Tayyibat al-Nashr fi al-Qira’at al- ĂAshr by ibn al-Jazari (d 833 AH). It deals with the ten Qur’anic Readings known as al-ĂAshr al-Kubra. Despite the popularity and acceptance enjoyed by this composition, it is  considered difficult. Therefore, Tahir ibn ĂArab al-Asbahani (d 857 AH), one of his outstanding students, wrote another composition to facilitate its understanding, and called it al-Qasidah al-Tahirah fi al-Qira’at al-‘Ashr.

I have undertaken in this paper a study of this qasidah, its author and its methodology.

The paper consists of a preface, an introduction, two chapters and an epilogue. In the preface, I have explained the significance of the study, reason for its selection, and my research methodology. The introduction deals with versified compositions in the field of  the Qira’at al-ĂAshr up to the time of Tahir ibn ĂArab.

In the first chapter, I have dealt with the author’s biography and his status among the scholars. In the second chapter I have  made a thorough  study of the author’s versified composition from different angles. The epilogue contains  results of the study,  and recommendations.

* Associate Professor, Department of  Qira’at Umm al-Qura University.

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