The life of Abul-Fadl al-Huzai and the place of his work al-Muntaha in the research of qira'at

This study examines Abū'l-Fadl al-Huzâ'ī, a qirāʾāt scholar of the tadwīn (codification) period, and investigates the position of his work al-Muntahā within the science of Qur'anic recitation. The fact that Huzâ'ī lived in the Baghdad region during the period close to Ibn Mujāhid (d. 324/936) and composed his work using a method that extends beyond the canonical seven readings necessitates the examination of his role and significance in the field of qirāʾāt. The study first analyzes Huzâ'ī's biography, as well as the political, religious, and socio-cultural context of his era. It further discusses the development of qirāʾāt scholarship prior to and during his lifetime, along with his contributions to the field. Subsequently, the study introduces al-Muntahā, examining its position in the science of Qur'anic recitation, the methods employed, and the sources utilized. Within this framework, the fifteen readings included in the work are analyzed in terms of their chains of transmission (isnāds), and their relationship to the seven canonical readings is identified. Additionally, the recitations in the work are evaluated from phonetic and semantic perspectives. The primary focus of this research is the authenticity of the readings in al-Muntahā, the relationship between recitation and meaning, and the connection between recitation and the written Muṣḥaf. Accordingly, the study aims to reveal Huzâ'ī's approach to the readings, his method of analyzing them, his role in reviving the pre–Ibn Mujāhid understanding of qirāʾāt, and his influence as a source for later scholarship. To achieve this, classical works on ṭabaqāt and qirāʾāt were examined, and a comparative analysis was conducted using examples from before, during, and after Huzâ'ī's time. The findings indicate that in al-Muntahā, Huzâ'ī approached the readings with a distinctive and innovative perspective, diverging from earlier traditions both in terms of chains of transmission and textual features, as well as in the number of recitations included. In conclusion, this study elucidates Huzāʾī's distinctive position in the field of Qur'anic recitation and contributes to the history of qirāʾāt by providing both substantive insight and an original perspective.