Differences in recitation of surah ar-Rum, Luqman and as-Sajdah according to the recitation of Asherah and their effect on the meaning

This study aims to identify the recitational variants observed in Surahs Ar-Rum, Luqman, and As-Sajdah according to the Qira'at al-'Ashara, and to reveal the effects of these variants on meaning. The science of Qira'at concerns the different authentic narrations of how the Qur'an has been recited, and investigates how certain orthographic (lafzi) differences in words influence meaning. In this context, this study comparatively examines the authentic reports attributed to the ten Qira'at Imams; the recitational variants are assessed in terms of grammar, meaning, and exegetical implications. Our study is composed of two sections. In the first section, a general framework for the science of Qira'at is presented: the definition, subject matter, benefits, and objectives of Qira'at are clarified; fundamental concepts, different transmission chains (tarīq), types of recitations, recitation Imams, and narrators are introduced. Also, the definitions of methodological differences found in Qira'at are addressed in this part. In the second section, the study is structured around the three Surahs. Each surah is examined under three subheadings: introduction to the general content, methodological differences (vucūhāt), and farsh al-ḥurūf. In the methodological differences subsection, the Āṣim recitation via the Ḥafs narration is taken as the basis; recitational variants are presented in schematic form in Arabic. In the farsh al-ḥurūf subsection, lexical differences are identified along with translations of the relevant verses, and the effects of these differences on meaning are evaluated in light of classical tafsir sources. Our work seeks to contribute both to those interested in the science of Qira'at and to those who wish to explore the layers of meaning in the Qur'an in depth.