Introduction To Qiraat Shazah And The Status Of Inference Of Rules (A Research Study)

Abstract

Shaz-Qiraat refers to those recitations which have been transmitted as Qur'anic, but neither are they proven to be frequent nor are they generally accepted by the imams of recitations. The knowledge of reciting is not actually Ijtihadi, but it is proved by listening and copying, and its source is divine revelation. All the other recitations are Shazah except the 10 recitations. Those recitations whose Isnad (chains of narrators) are weak, or they have no Isnad at all, will not be accepted. All the scholars of the Ummah agree that the Qur'an cannot be applied to the recitations of Shazah. These Recitations are not the Holy Qur'an, so reciting them in prayer is also forbidden. The majority of scholars consider such recitations as evidence for deriving rulings, If they are authentic, and there is no hadith or stronger evidence against them and they should not be canceled. There is a difference of opinion among the scholars of the Ummah in the matter of declaring Qiraat Shazah as proof in the interpretation of rulings. Most scholars are convinced of the authenticity of Qiraat Shazah and some scholars, among whom Imam Ibn Hazm is at the top, are convinced of the absolute non-authenticity of Qiraat Shazah.