How can the Seven Readings be considered as mutawatir and divine revelation, given that the term "mutawatir" only appeared after Ibn Mujahid, who specified the Seven Readings?
The majority of scholars hold the view that the seven qira'at (recitations) are mutawatir (transmitted by a large number of narrators, making it impossible for them to have colluded on a lie) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and this is the correct view. Some scholars have gone further to assert the tawatur of the ten qira'at. The misconception that the asanid (chains of narration) of the qira'at are ahad (transmitted by a single narrator or a limited number, not reaching the level of tawatur) and that they do not meet the conditions of tawatur has been answered by explaining that the confinement of asanid to a specific group does not preclude these qira'at from having been transmitted by others, because tawatur has been established throughout the ages. As for the late appearance of the term "tawatur," it does not negate the existence of its substance prior to its emergence.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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