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The Golden Chain of Reciters: Hafs an ʿĀṣim
The Golden Chain describes the continuous line of transmission (Isnād) that traces the Qur'anic recitation all the way back to the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم . It is referred to as golden because of the integrity, trustworthiness, and purity of the individuals in that line. Each instructor and reciter was renowned for their precision and commitment to keeping the Qur'an exactly as it was revealed.
The most well-known Qur'anic recitation in use today is the Hafs ‘an Asim recitation. This chain traces back to the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, who received the Qur'an from Jibreel عليه السلام .The Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم then taught his companions, including Ali ibn Abi Talib, Uthman ibn Affan, Zayd ibn Thabit, and Abdullah ibn Masʿudرضي الله عنهم . Abu ʿAbd al-Rahman al-Sulami learned from them and taught ʿĀṣim ibn Abi al-Najūd. ʿĀṣim, in turn, taught Hafs ibn Sulaymān, his student and stepson, passing on the recitation directly to him. Due to this direct, unbroken chain of teachers, the Hafs ʿan ʿĀṣim recitation has been preserved with high accuracy.
The widespread adoption of this recitation is attributed to its phonetic clarity, making it accessible for learners. The Ottoman Empire's standardization of the Hafs recitation in the 1924 Cairo edition of the Qur'an further facilitated its global spread. Additionally, the first complete recording of the Qur'an was made in Egypt using the Hafs recitation, setting a global standard. Today, it serves as the foundation of Qur'anic education worldwide, taught in nearly all schools, universities, and local maktabs, from the Arab world to the West.
To this day, Muslims have made it their mission to preserve the Qur'an in its original form. Every Muslim, regardless of origin, can take pride in and be united by the shared sound and pronunciation of Hafs ʿan ʿĀṣim. This recitation forms part of our Muslim identity and serves as a spiritual bond that unites the muslimns across time and geography.
References
Quranica. “Hafs an Asim Tajweed”, https://quranica.com/articles/hafs-an-asim-tajweed/.
Hekma Academy. “What Is the Most Popular Qiraat?”, https://hekmaacademy.com/what-is-the-most-popular-qiraat/.
Iqra Online. "How the Quranic Recital of Hafs from Asim Became Mainstream”, https://iqraonline.net/how-the-quranic-recital-of-hafs-from-asim-became-mainstream/.
Resala Academy. “Why the Hafs Quran is the Most Widely Used Recitation - and What That Means for New Learners”, https://resala-academy.com/hafs-quran/.
M.N.Pervaiz
CT B3
