Qirāʾa 2 of the Ten

Nafi al-Madani

Nafi ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Madani (died 169 AH / 785 CE), the leading imam of Madinah in Quranic recitation and one of the Ten canonical reciters. He learned from seventy Successors (Tabi'in), most notably Abu Jaafar Yazid ibn al-Qaqa, and his chain connects to the Companion Ubayy ibn Kaab.

Reciters

125

History of This Qirāʾa

The qirāʾa of Nafi represents the Medinan school that developed in the city of the Prophet ﷺ. It is characterised by distinctive phonetic features such as imala (vowel inclination) and taqlil in certain positions, along with specific rulings on hamza and madd.

Main Geographical Areas

The qirāʾa of Nafi in its two transmissions (Warsh and Qalun) is recited in the Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya), West Africa, and parts of Sudan and historical Egypt.

Its Riwāyāt

Qalun an Nafi

Narrator: Qalun an Nafi

53 reciters

Isa ibn Mina al-Madani, known as Qalun (120–220 AH / 737–835 CE), one of the foremost transmitters of Nafi al-Madani and his direct student. His transmission spread in Libya and parts of Tunisia, as well as in regions of historical al-Andalus.

Warsh an Nafi

Narrator: Warsh an Nafi

72 reciters

Uthman ibn Said al-Masri, known as Warsh (110–197 AH / 728–812 CE), the most famous transmitter of Nafi al-Madani's recitation. He traveled from Egypt to Madinah to receive the recitation directly from Nafi. His transmission is widespread in the Maghreb and West Africa.

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