Qiraat Quran: the recognised recitations explained
The qira'at are the recognised ways of reciting the Quran, each passed down from the Prophet ﷺ through generations of teachers. Ten readers are recognised, each with two main narrators, giving twenty riwayat. Most of the world recites Hafs ‘an ‘Asim; North and West Africa often recite Warsh. Here is how they fit together.
Last updated: 1 October 2026
What qira'at are
A qira'ah is a reading of the Quran named after a leading reciter of the early generations, such as ‘Asim of Kufa or Nafi‘ of Madinah. Each reader had students who passed the reading on; a student's version is called a riwayah (narration). So "Hafs ‘an ‘Asim" means "the narration of Hafs from ‘Asim". The differences are mostly in pronunciation (such as the length of madd or how some vowels are pronounced) and a small number of words.
A well-known example is in Al-Fatihah: مَٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ. In the narration of Hafs it is read Maliki with a long first vowel ("Master of the Day of Judgement"); in the reading of Nafi‘ it is Maliki with a short one ("King of the Day of Judgement"). Both are accepted, and both meanings are true.
The recognised readers and their narrators
| Reader | City | Two main narrators |
|---|---|---|
| Nafi‘ | Madinah | Qalun, Warsh |
| Ibn Kathir | Makkah | Al-Bazzi, Qunbul |
| Abu ‘Amr | Basra | Ad-Duri, As-Susi |
| Ibn ‘Amir | Damascus | Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan |
| ‘Asim | Kufa | Shu‘bah, Hafs |
| Hamzah | Kufa | Khalaf, Khallad |
| Al-Kisa’i | Kufa | Abu al-Harith, Ad-Duri |
| Abu Ja‘far | Madinah | Ibn Wardan, Ibn Jammaz |
| Ya‘qub | Basra | Ruways, Rawh |
| Khalaf | Kufa (Baghdad) | Ishaq, Idris |
Hafs and Warsh
Hafs ‘an ‘Asim is the recitation of most Muslims today, including in South Asia, the Middle East and the UK; it is the riwayah in the Madinah mushaf and in our lessons. Warsh ‘an Nafi‘ is widely recited in North and West Africa, and Qalun ‘an Nafi‘ in parts of Libya and Tunisia. Mushafs for each riwayah are printed with their own spelling and marks.
Learning qira'at
Qira'at are an advanced study. Students first master tajweed and fluent recitation in Hafs (see our tajweed course and tajweed rules guide), often memorise the Quran, and then study other riwayat with a teacher who holds an ijazah with sanad in them. For terms like riwayah and sanad, see the Quran glossary.
Frequently asked questions
What does qira'at mean?
Qira'at (singular qira'ah) means "readings". In Quranic studies it refers to the recognised ways of reciting the Quran, each transmitted from the Prophet ﷺ through an unbroken chain of teachers.
Are there 7 or 10 qira'at?
Both numbers are used. In the 10th century, the scholar Ibn Mujahid gathered seven well-known readings; later scholars, notably Ibn al-Jazari, confirmed three more, giving the ten readings recognised today.
Are the qira'at the same as the "seven ahruf"?
No. The seven ahruf (modes) are mentioned in a hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari; scholars discuss how they relate to the qira'at, but they are not simply the same thing.
Which qira'ah should I learn first?
Hafs ‘an ‘Asim, the recitation used in most of the world and in our lessons. Students usually learn other riwayat only after mastering Hafs, under a teacher with ijazah.
Master Hafs ‘an ‘Asim first
Three free one-to-one lessons in UK time, with tajweed corrected from the first verse.