The significance of critical terms on the refutation of readings according to the ancient imams of readings: Comparative analytical study

Abstract

This research aims to study the significance of the critical terminology on the recitation of recitations among the ancient imams of recitations, and to reveal its terminological connotations, and to show the extent of its significance for the recitation of recitation, and the methodological differences between them, and its impact on building the critical approach among the imams of this science. The problem of the research is represented by the need for an independent study that collects the critical terms that the imams of recitations used in rebutting some recitations and narrations, and extrapolates the places of their use in the authentic sources, while revealing their meanings. Explaining the differences between them, and the impact of the scientific context in determining what is meant by them. The research relied on the inductive approach by extrapolating the critical terms related to the refutation of readings in a number of authentic sources, the most prominent of which are: The Seven in the Readings by Ibn Mujahid, Al-Taysir in the Seven Readings, Jami’ Al-Bayan in the Seven Readings by Abu Amr Al-Dani, Al-Kamil in the Fifty Readings by Al-Hudhali, Al-Iqna’ in the Seven Readings by Ibn Al-Badhish, Al-Kanz in the Ten Readings by Al-Wasiti, and Al-Nashr in the Ten Readings by Ibn Al-Jazari. The research also adopted the analytical method in studying the connotations of these terms and the contexts. Its use, the comparative approach in explaining the areas of agreement and differences between imams in its use, and the descriptive approach in its classification and arrangement. The research deals with the concept of critical terminology related to refutation of readings, its origin and development, then it extrapolates the most prominent words and terminology with which the imams of recitations expressed the refutation of reading, studies their terminological connotations and critical contexts, and reveals the differences between them in terms of the strength of their connotation of refutation and the subject and cause of criticism. It also addresses the criteria relied upon by imams in rejecting readings, and the extent to which the use of the term is related to the type of critical interpretation, whether it is related to transmission and narration, or to performance, or to Arabic, or to drawing, with an explanation of the impact of this in determining the meaning of the term. Through this, the research highlights the accuracy of the critical terminology among the advanced imams of recitations, the diversity of expressions they used in refuting recitations, and the difference in their connotations depending on the contexts and critical approaches, which reveals a disciplined critical approach in judging recitations and rejecting what was not proven by them, and contributes to highlighting an aspect of the terminological and methodological foundations on which criticism in the science of recitations is based.