What are the different ways of reciting the Qur'an, and are there any Hadith narrations concerning them?

The Holy Quran was revealed in one harf (mode of recitation), then Gabriel increased it to seven ahruf (modes). These are seven ways of reading that differ in wording but may agree in meaning. Their differences are a matter of variety, not contradiction. The assertion that the seven ahruf refer to the dialects of the Arabs is far-fetched, because the Qurayshi Companions differed in their recitation even though they shared one language. Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, unified the Muslims upon one harf out of the seven, while leaving the Mushaf open to some of the other ahruf. Thus, the seven well-known recitations are a part of the seven ahruf, not all of them. The seven famous reciters are: Nafi‘, Ibn Kathir, ‘Asim, Hamzah, Al-Kisa'i, Abu ‘Amr, and Ibn ‘Amir.