Quranic Inimitability in Quranic Qiraat

Abstract

Quranic Qiraat (readings or modes of recitations) is a comprehensive branch of knowledge encompassing a wide range of disciplines including Arabic and Islamic studies. However, little knowledge is known about I’jaz (inimitability) of the Quran through the interpretation of Quranic Qiraat. To this effect, this paper seeks to analyze Quranic Qiraat to illustrate inimitability of Quranic Qiraat and show the relationship between the verses and the Qiraat associated to them. The researcher adopted an analytical framework by tracing the verses in which different Qiraat were mentioned and demonstrating the diversity of Qiraat in a single word in the Quran. The research suggests that Quranic Qiraat are in the same position as verses and each Qiraah has a similar position as a separate verse and so there should be no preference between the different Qira’at. The study also shows that diversity in Qiraat for one single word without contradiction is a sign of the miraculous nature of the Quran.