Ulum al Qur'an

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Some other Companions

According to the Itqan [I, p. 65; Ibn Abi Dawud, masahif, p. 210.] the mushaf of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (d. 44H/664) contained the same material as Ubay had.

There is only one variant reported from him in Sura al- baqara, namely that he read Ibraham in place of Ibrahim.

Hafsa (d. 45H/665) had three variants in the same sura, and Anas b. Malik (d. 91H/709) had five.

 

Examples:

To further illustrate, here are a number of examples. They have been taken, as far as possible, from well-known suras. While perhaps better examples exist to illustrate the points under discussion, they might not be understood as easily by readers less familiar with the Qur'anic text.

 

Difference in vowelling:

Ibn 'Abbas [I, p. 65; Ibn Abi Dawud, masahif, p. 208.] is reported to have read in sura 111:4

hamilatun al-hatab, in place of

hammalata-l-hatab

which could not be distinguished on the basis of the early written text, which omitted both haraka and alif. The actual text must have looked something like this: XXX XXXX

 

Difference in spelling:

Ibn 'Abbas [I, p. 65; Ibn Abi Dawud, masahif, p. 195.] reportedly wrote in sura 1:6 as well as all other places the word al-sirat as al-sirat.

Some variants attributed to Ibn Mas'ud: [I, p. 65; Ibn Abi Dawud, masahif, p. 25.]

 

1. in Sura al-fatiha:

1:6

he read

arshidna

in place of

Ihdina

he read

man

in place of

al ladhina

he read

ghaira

in place of

Ghairi

2. in sura al-baqara:

2:2

he read

tanzilu-l-kitabiin

in place of

Dhalika-l-kitabu

2:7

he read

ghishwatun

in place of

Ghishawatun

2:9

he read

yakhda'dna

in place of

Yukhadi'una

2:14

he read

bi shayatinihim

in place of

ila shayatinihim etc.