Shi'ite Reciters of the Holy Qur'an and
Writers on the Art of Recitation

Foremost among them is the Master of the Shi'ites and their Imam Amir-ul-Mu'minin Ali Bin Abi Talib. He had a well-known way of recitation of the Qur'an.
Second one among the companions was Ubayy bin Ka'b. Muhammad bin Sa'd has reported in Tabaqat, that the Prophet said, "The best recitor among my followers is Ubayy bin Ka'b". He also said, "God has ordered me that I should recite to you." Ubayy bin Ka'b died in 30 A.H.
Similarly Abdullah Bin Abbas who was a pupil of Amir-ul-Mu'minin had his own way of recitation which was quite well known. He died in 67 A.H.
Others who were from among the Tabi'ites or belonged to later period are as follows:
1.Hamran bin A'yun al-Kufi.
Abi Tufail has reported has reported about him that he was expert in the art of recitation.He was a companion of Imam Zainul Abidin and Imam Muhammad Baqir. Hamza learnt recitation of the Qur'an from as will be discussed later on.
2. Abu Ja'far Muhammad bin al-Hasan bin Abi Sarah al-Kufi Naily
commonly known as Ar-Rawasi, because his head was very big. He was the teacher of Al-Kisa'i and Al-Farra' and has been mentioned by Abu 'Amr Ad-Dani during his discussion of the recitors of the Qur'an. He has
said, "He reported about the recitation of words from Abi
Amr and heard the recitation of Al-A'mash and he had his
choice of recitation among its reported ways. Khalid bin
Khalid al-Manqari and Ali bin Muhammad al-Kindi
heard recitation from him." According to Al-Fahrist of Ibn
un-Nadim, he wrote a book on punctuation named as Kitab-
ul-Waqf Wal Ibtida' Al-Kabir, and another known as Kitab-
ul-Waqf Wal-Ibtida' as- Saghir. Similarly Ash-Shaikh has
mentioned him in his Rijal as a companion of Imam Ja'far
Sadiq, while An-Najashi has mentioned him as a
companion of Imam Al-Baqer as well as of Imam As-
Sadiq. He has also spoken about his Kitab-ul-Waqf Wal-
Ibteda' and given the names of his authorities. He died
shortly after the end of the first century.
3. Abu Abdur Rahman Salmi Abdullah bin Habib bin Rubai'ah al-Kufi.
He was a Tabi'ite Qari'. Ibn Sa'd has reported about him in At-Tabaqat that he said about himself to have learnt recitation from Imam Ali bin Abi Talib. Aasim bin Bahdalah has been counted in Tahdhib-ut-
Tahdhib as among those who reported from Abu Abdur Rahman. Bu Ishaq Sab'i has said about him that he recited the Qur'an in the mosque for forty years. Al-'Ajli and An-Nasa'i have depended upon him. Muhammad Bin Umar said apout him. "He was dependable and much talked about. Similarly Ibn Abdul Birr has said that he was depended upon by all.
Al-Barqi has counted him in Ar-Rijal as one of the closest friends of Imam Ali Bin Abi Talib from Madar. According to Ibn-un-Nadim, 'Aasim learnt recitation of the Qur'an from Abu Abdur-Rahman As-Salmi, and according to Majma'-ul-Bayan Abu Abdur-Rahman learnt recitation from Amir ul-Mu'minin Ali. Ibn Qutaibah has said in Al-Ma'arif about the stylists in recitation, "Abu Abdur-Rahman As-Salmi whose name was Abdullah Bin Habib, was a friend and companion of Ali Bin Abi Talib and a reciter from whom people have received the art." Al-Waqdi has said about him in Tahdhib-ut-Tahdhib that he took part in the Battle of Siffin on the side of Ali and later became an Uthmanite. This is thing reported only by Al-Waqdi but other evidence belies it. He was the person who taught one of the children of Husain, Surat Al-Hamd, and received one thousand Dinar and one thousand garments. This has been reported by Ibn Shahr Ashub in his Al-Manaqib. He died in 105 A.H. or earlier.
4. Zaid Shahid bin Ali bin al-Husain
Ash-Shaikh has said in his Al-Fahrist during the account of 'Umar Ibn Musa Al-Wajihi Az-Zaidi and he had with him a book of Recitation from Zaid bin Ali. He has attributed this information to Zaid bin Ali himself, who said, "This recitation I heard from Zaid Bin Ali who told us that it was recitation of Amir-ul-Mu,minin Ali Bin Abi Talib. He was murdered in 121 A.H.
5. Abu Bakr Aasim bin Bahdalah (Abun Nujud) is one of the seven accepted reciters of the Qur'an from among the Tabi'iun. Ibn-un-Nadim has put him among the seven reciters of the third group. He recited the Qur'an to Abu Abdur-Rahman who in his turn learnt it from Imam Ali. This is why the way of recitation of Aasim bin Bahdalah was most liked and favoured by our scholars. Shaikh Abdul Jalil Ar-Razi has admitted him to be a Shi'ite and their leader, in his book Najd-ul-Fada'ih. Similarly Al-Qadi Nurallah has said in Majalis-ul-Mu'minin that he was a Shi'ite. While writing about those reported from Aasim, Ibn-un-Nadim has said in Al-Fahrist as follows:
"Abu Bakr bin Ayyash and Hafs bin Sulaiman reported from him. The recitation which Hafs knew links him to Ali bin Abi Talib through Abu Abdur-Rahman Salmi." He died in 128 A.H.
6. Yahya bin 'Umar al-Adwani.
Ibn Khallakan says that he was one of the reciters of Basra.
Abdullah ibn Ishaq learnt recitation from him. He further
says that he knew the Qur'an very well and was one of the
Shi'ite who believe that Ahl al-Bait are superior to others,
but do not say that others were of inferior type. Then he tells
about his conversation with Hajjaj on the issue that Imam Hasan
and Imam Husain were the descendants of the prophet. According to Mu'jam-ul-Udaba', Yahya was inclined to Shi'ism.
He considered Akl-Al-Bait to be superior, but without attributing any inferiority to others. He died in 121 A.H.
7. Aban bin Taghlab.
He was a Tabi'ite, and according to Ibn-un-Nadim, had wrote a
book on recitation. An-Najashi has said that he was well-versed
in every branch of knowledge including that of the
Qur'an. He has also said that he had an individual way of recitation quite well known to the reciters. Then he has his authorities on his book of recitation... At another place, An-Najashi says, "Muhammad bin Abi Maryam, author of Al-Lu'lou told us that he had heard the recitation of Aban bin Taghlab and had not found anyone more adept in recitation than him. He used to say that 'providing the recitation with a vowel is an exercise and recitation of the Qur'an is worship. 'Ash-Shaikh has said in Al-Fahrist, "He was a reciter of the Qur'an with an individual way of reciting ."
Ash-Shaikh then talks of the authorities and reaches Muhammad ibn Musa bin Abi Maryam, the author of Al-Lu'lou who said, "I have heard Aban bin Taghlab reciting the Qur'an and I could not find a better reciter as compared to him. He used to recite the Qur'an from the beginning to the end." Then he talks about his recitation and quotes him saying, that providing vowel sounds in an exercise and a sport.
Aban was the first person to put the Qur'an Studies in a regular form. As-Suyuti has said in Al-Awa'il that the first person to collect various forms of recitation of the Qur'an and to put them into a systen was Hafs Bin 'Amr Ad-Dawri, and the first person who formulated various styles of recitation, put them into a form, discussed various disagreements which only rarely occur, dealt with their authorities and sources evolved a system of seven types of recitation which we know to-day was Harun al-Qari al-Awar.
But the correct position is that Aban was the pioneer in this field, as we have already said, because Ibn-ul-Faseh has said in "Sharh-ush-Shatibiyyah", that Hafs bin 'Amr learnt these from Yahya bin Mubarak al-Yazidi who learnt it from Abu 'Amr bin al-'Ula' who died in 154 or 155 A.H. But Aban died in 141 A.H. Hence he is senior to Amr bin al-'Ula' by about eleven years. He should therefore be senior to the one who is two generations junior to Abu Amr. As to Harun al-Qari al-A'war, his year of death has been mentioned by As-Suyuti as 207 A.H. Hence Aban is senior to him too as he died in 141 A.H.
8. Sulaiman bin Mahran al-A'mash.
Ibn Qutaibah has mentioned him in Al-Ma'arif as the one who knew various methods of recitation of the Qur'an. He has said, "We have mentioned his name among the Traditionalists because he was occupied in the reporting of Traditions more than Recitation of the Qur'an". He has given him the third position among the Shi'ites (of his age). Similarly, Ash-Shahrastani and Ash-Shahid Ath-Thani have testified his being a Shi'ite in Al-Milal Wan Nihal and in the Commentary on Al-Khullasah respectively. While mentioning the reciters of the Qur'an, Ibn-un-Nadim has said," Talhah bin Masraf al-Ayami was an inhabitant of Kufa. When he saw the people around him increasing in number, he went to Al-A'mash and recited out to him. This made the people inclined towards Al-A'mash, and leave Talhah followed Al-A'mash in reciting the Qur'an. He died in 146 A.H.
9. Wazarah bin A'yun was also a reciter who died in 150 A. H.
10. Hamza bin Habib Zayyat al-Kufi.
He was one of the seven reciter and had composed a book of
recitation. While writing about these seven reciters of the Qur'an, Ibn-un-Nadim has said, "Hamza is one of the seven. Among his books is one on recitation." When he talks about the books written by Mujahid, Ibn-un-Nadim says that he had a book of recitation from Hamzah. Ibn Sa'd has written in Tabaqat that Hamzah Zayyat bin 'Ammarah, whose nick-name was Abu 'Ammarah was an acknowledged reciter of the Qur'an.
Ash-Shaikh has mentioned him in Ar-Rijal as one of the comparions of Imam Ja'far Sadiq. Ibn-Faseh has written in "Sirajul Quri' Sharh-ush-Shatibiyyah" that Hamzah was a very pious man. He never demanded or accepted payment for reciting the Qur'an. When he used to recite, none else came forward to do it. He recited the Qur'an in the presence of Imam Ja'far Sadiq, who himself learnt it from his father Imam Muhammad Baqir who in his turn got it from his father Imam Zainul Aabidin, while the latter learnt it from his father Imam Husain who learnt it from his father Imam Ali bin Abi Talib. Hamzah also recited the Qur'an to Al-A'mash who recited in the presence of Yahya bin Waththab, while the latter recited it to 'Alqumah who received this art from Ibn Mas'ud. Uthmam, Ali bin Abi Talib, Ibn Mas'ud Ubayy recited the Qur'an to the Prophet himself. According to a writing of Ash-Shaikh Jamal-ud-Din Ahmad Ibn Muhammad bin al-Haddad al-Hilli, copied by Shahid Muhammad bin Makki, Al-Kisa'i learnt the recitation of the Qur'an from Hamzah who learnt it from Abu Abdullah As-Sadiq (Imam Ja'far Sadiq) who learnt it from his father while his father learnt from his father (Imam Zainul Abidin) who learnt it from his father who learnt it from his own father Ali Bin Abi Talib. He died in 156 A.H.
11. Muhammad bin Fudail bin Ghazwan Dabiyy
He was a friend and companion of Imam Ja'far Sadiq and one of the teachers of Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal. His being a Shi'ite has been testified by As-Sam'ani in Al-Ansab, by Adh-Dhahabi, by Ibn Quataibah in Al-Ma'arif and Ibn Hajar in Tahdhib-ul-Tahdhib. The latter has said that he recited the Quaran in the presence of Hamzah Az-Zayyat. He died in 195 A.H. 1
12. Ali bin Hamza al-Kisa'i Nahiw.
He is one of the well-known and acknowledged seven reciters Ibn-un-Nadim has said about him that he was one of the seven reciters and was an inhabitant of Kufa where he was brought up. He recited in the presence of Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Laila who used to recite in the way Ali Bin Abi Talib used to do. Al-Kisa'i was reciter of Madinatus Salam.
In the beginning he followed Hamzah in recitation, but later on adopted his own way of recitation and used to recite to the people in it. Ibn-un-Nadim then writes about those people who reported from Al-Kisa'i and the names of the books which scholars wrote on his recitation At an other place he says that Al-Kisa'i was the author of a book on different styles of recitation.
I have to add only this much that we have from teachers and scholars about his being a Shi'ite, but nothing has reached us through writers writing about him. In Kitab-ush-Shi'ah wa Funun-il-Islam, we find this statement: In the original, the evidence on his being a Shi'ite has been mentioned. He died in 197 A.H.
13. Al-Waqidi, Muhammad bin 'Umar.
In the Fahrist of Ibn-un-Nadim, under the heading of book written on the recitation, we find this statement:
"Al-Waqidi had a book on recitations. He has also said about him that he was a Shi'ite. He died in 207 A.H."
14. Ubaidullah bin Abdullah bin Musa Absi.
Ibn Nadim has mentioned his name among those who reported from Hamazah, while Ibn Quataibah has said that he is one of those who knew different ways of recitation. He has also said that he recited to Isa bin 'Amr and Ali bin Saleh ibn Hayy. He used to recite the Qur'an in the mosque but was more occupied with the Traditions. This is why, he says he has mentioned among the Traditionalists. Ibn Qutaibah has clarified on this occasion and at another that he was a Shi'ite. Ibn Nadim has reported that Isa bin'Amr Thaqafi was one of the reciters of Basra. He died in 213 A.H.
15. Ibn Sadan, Abu Ja'far Muhammad bin Sa'dan Darir.
According to the Fahrist of Ibn-un-Nadim, he was a reciter who followed the style of Hamzah. Later on he adopted a manner of his own. He was born in Baghdad but followed the Kufite creed. He wrote a book on recitation. While describing the books written on various types of recitation, Ibn-un-Nadim has mentioned a book by Ibn Sa'dan. By saying that Ibn Sa'dan belonged to the Kufite creed, Ibn-un-Nadim implies that he was a Shi'ite because the Kufites were well-known to be Shi'ites. He died in 231 A.H.
16. Ibrahim bin Muhammad bin Sa'dan.
He was a son of Ibn Sa'dan as is clear from his name. Yaqut says about him in Mu'jam-ul-Udaba' that he was one of those wrote, corrected, made researches, reported and were depended upon. He wrote many books, better one of which is Huruf-ul-Qur'an. It is evident that by Huruf-ul-Qur'an, he means manners of recitation.
17. Fadl bin Shadhan Naishapuri.
He was one of the companions of Imam Ali Al-Hadi and Imam Hasan Al-Askari. Ibn Nadim has mentioned his book among the books written on the recitation of the Qur'an. He died in 260 A.H.
18. Muahmmad bin al-Abbas known as Ibn Jahham.
Shaikh has mentioned his name in the Fahrist as having compiled a book an the recitation of Amir-ul-Mu'minin and the Ahl al-Bait. He died during the fourth century.
19. Abdul Aziz bin Yahya al-Jaludi.
According to Ibn Nadim, he composed a book about recitation of Imam Ali, and that of Ibn Abbas. He also says that Al-Jaludi had a collection of the recitations of Imam Ali. He died after 330 A.H.
20. Abu Abdullah Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sayyar al-Katib Sayyari.
According to An-Najashi, he had a book of recitations. He died in 368 A.H.
21. Ibn Khaluyah, al-Husain bin Ahmad.
He had a book of recitations which has been mentioned by Ibn-un-Nadim in his Fahrist. According to Bughyatul Wi'at, he had compiled a book titled Al-Badi fi Qirat-is-Sab'a. He died 370 A.H.
22. Al-Bare' Ibn Dabbas, al-Husain bin Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab al-Harithi al-Bikri.
According to Bughyatul Wi'at, he was a reciter who recited the Qur'an and wrote about different manners of recitation.
According to Ibn-ul-Jawzi, he recited the Qur'an in the presence of Abu Ali bin al-Banna and others. He is also mentioned in Ijazat-ul-Bihar. He died in 524 A.H.