This fascinating and important book attempts to
investigate the nature of the seven Ahruf in which the Qur’an has been revealed
and the reason for the variations in readings among the Qurraa of the Quran. It
studies, examines, and discusses: the revelation of the Qur’an in the seven
ahruf concluding that they represent seven linguistical ways of recitation; the
compilation of the Quran during the lifetime of the Prophet and the preservation
of the Quran in the memories of the Companions as well as in written form, the
compilation during the time of Abu Bakr, and the further compilation during the
time of Uthman; the problem of naskh to demonstrate the completeness and
trustworthiness of the Quran and that no verses are missing or were read and
abrogated by naskh al-tilawah either with or without hukm; the Uthmanic masahif
and their relation to the seven ahruf; the language of the Quran and whether it
includes one, several, or all the dialects of the Arabs; the origin of the
qiraat and conditions governing accepted readings; and ikhtiyar (i.e., the
selection of one reading rather than another) and the rules governing the Qurraa’
who selected a reading.