The Unique Qur'anic Readings of Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Sulamī: Compilation and Analysis

Abstract

This research is titled: "The Unique Qur'anic Readings of Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami: Compilation and Analysis." It aims to catalog the Qur'anic readings uniquely attributed to Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami, distinguishing them from those shared with other reciters, and to conduct an analytical study highlighting their interpretative aspects and semantic implications. The research adopts a descriptive approachby examining the readings attributed to al-Sulami in the sources of Qur'anic readings, books of anomalous readings, and exegesis. It then extracts, documents, and analyzes the unique aspects of these readings in terms of linguistic structure, chain of transmission, and their contextual impact. The study is divided into an introduction discussing the concept and criteria of uniqueness, a chapter introducing al-Sulami, another chapter analyzing his unique readings and their interpretations, and a conclusion summarizing the key findings and recommendations. Among the key findings of the research are: the total number of instances attributed to al-Sulami reached 234, including repetitions, of which 39 instances were uniquely his, also including repetitions. The predominant feature of his unique readings is their morphological and stylistic diversity without affecting legal rulings, while carrying rhetorical significance that reflects the richness of the Arabic language. The research recommends further efforts to compile and analytically study the unique readings of prominent Tabi'un and early Qur'anic reciters to uncover their linguistic characteristics and performance methodologies.