Is it considered a distortion to write verse 16 of Surat Al-Jinn (وألواستقاموا...) in a Mushaf with the narration of Warsh from Nafi', instead of (وأن لواستقاموا...)?
The difference in the orthography (rasm) of the word "وأن لو استقاموا" (and if they had remained on the straight path), whether by retaining the letter 'ن' (nun) or omitting it, is a difference among the orthographers (ahl al-rasm) and not among the reciters (qurra'); because the word is recited this way in all the continuous (mutawatir) recitations. Similar to this is the difference in the orthography of "ذرية ضعافًا خافوا" (weak offspring whom they feared), whether by retaining the alif or omitting it, yet the reciters are unanimous in reciting it with the alif. Likewise is the difference in the orthography of "قال إنما أدعوا ربي" (He said: 'I only invoke my Lord') according to reciters other than Asim, Hamzah, and Abu Ja'far, whether by retaining the alif or omitting it. As for "أنْ لو" (that if), Abu Amr did not address it, nor did Abu Dawud. He separated it in other than Surat al-Jinn and joined it therein, and this is the practice.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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