Ijazah in Qalun: How It Differs From Hafs and Who Should Choose It

An Ijazah in Qalun is a certification, with a connected chain (sanad) back to the Prophet (peace be upon him), that you recite the Quran correctly in the riwayah of Qalun ‘an Nafi’, one of the two famous transmissions of the Madinan reading of Imam Nafi’. It suits reciters who live where Qalun is the common reading, such as Libya and Tunisia, and advanced students who already recite Hafs well and want a second riwayah. If you are still building toward that level, the first step is to earn your Ijazah online in Hafs ‘an ‘Asim, which is the path almost every Qalun student follows.

This guide explains who Qalun was, the main ways his reading differs from Hafs, what the Ijazah process involves and how to tell whether you are ready.

Who Was Qalun?

Qalun is the title of ‘Isa ibn Mina al-Madani, who died around 220 AH. He was a student, and by most accounts the stepson, of Imam Nafi’ ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman (died 169 AH), the leading Quran reader of Madinah in his time. Nafi’ himself learned from around seventy of the Tabi’in in Madinah, which is why his reading carries great weight.

The name “Qalun” is reported to mean “excellent” or “good”, a nickname Nafi’ gave him for the quality of his recitation. Biographers also report that Qalun became deaf later in life, yet still corrected his students by watching their lips. His transmission, together with that of Warsh, preserves the reading of Nafi’ among the ten canonical readings.

Where Is Qalun Recited Today?

Qalun is the everyday riwayah in Libya and in much of Tunisia, where printed mushafs in this riwayah are standard in mosques and homes. Smaller communities in other parts of North and West Africa recite it as well. Elsewhere it is studied mainly by advanced students and imams who collect several riwayat.

If you pray behind an imam in Tripoli or Tunis, the Fatihah you hear will likely be slightly different from what you learned. That is not an error; it is a different authentic transmission.

How Qalun Differs From Hafs

Qalun and Hafs share the same text of the Quran; the differences are in pronunciation and in a limited number of words. Here are the differences students meet first (Qalun via al-Shatibiyyah):

There are also many individual word differences across the Quran, along with different handling of two hamzas that meet across words, where Qalun drops or eases one of them. Some things stay the same: like Hafs, Qalun recites the basmalah between every two surahs (except between Al-Anfal and At-Tawbah), and he has almost no imalah (tilting the alif toward ya).

Qalun compared with Warsh

Because both narrate from Nafi’, Qalun and Warsh share many word-level readings. But Qalun’s pronunciation is noticeably closer to Hafs: he does not lengthen Madd Munfasil to 6 counts, he does not apply Warsh’s extensive taqlil (slight tilting) and he pronounces most single hamzas fully rather than replacing them. For comparison, see our guide to the Ijazah in Warsh ‘an Nafi’.

Who Should Choose an Ijazah in Qalun?

An Ijazah in Qalun makes sense if you are:

1. From Libya or Tunisia, or serving a community there, and want to lead prayer and teach in the riwayah people know.
2. An imam or teacher who already holds an Ijazah in Hafs and wants a deeper understanding of the qiraat.
3. A student of Warsh, since adding Qalun completes your study of the reading of Nafi’.
4. On the path toward the seven or ten readings, where Qalun is usually among the first riwayat studied after Hafs.

It is usually not the right first step if you are still memorizing, still correcting basic tajweed or have not yet recited a full khatmah in Hafs. Learning two riwayat at once often leads to mixing them, which teachers work hard to avoid.

Not sure where you stand? Take the short readiness check below for an honest starting point.

What the Ijazah Process Involves

The details depend on the sheikh, but the structure is similar everywhere:

1. Foundation: strong tajweed, full or near-full memorization, and usually a completed Ijazah in Hafs.
2. Learning the usul: the general rules of Qalun (madd, hamzas, plural meem, basmalah) from a teacher, often with study of the relevant parts of al-Shatibiyyah.
3. Learning the farsh: the individual word differences, surah by surah.
4. Full recitation: reciting the entire Quran from memory, or sometimes from the mushaf depending on the type of Ijazah, to a teacher who holds a sanad in Qalun.
5. Certification: the teacher writes the Ijazah with the full chain of narrators through Qalun and Nafi’ back to the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Many students who already hold Hafs find Qalun takes months rather than years, because the work is mainly learning the differences and keeping them consistent. To understand the steps of any Ijazah in more depth, read how to complete the Ijazah and our overview of Ijazah in the Quran and its types.

Tips for Students Moving From Hafs to Qalun

• Use a Qalun mushaf for all your study, so the written text matches what you recite.
• Learn the usul before the farsh. The general rules affect every page; individual words come after.
• Keep a differences notebook for each surah and review it before every session.
• Separate your practice times. Many students recite Hafs in salah and Qalun only in study sessions until Qalun is stable.
• Listen to recognized reciters of Qalun to train your ear, but always confirm details with your teacher.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Qalun harder to learn than Hafs?

For a student who already recites Hafs well, Qalun is generally considered one of the easier riwayat to add, since its pronunciation is close to Hafs. The challenge is remembering the many word differences and not mixing the two.

Do I need to memorize the whole Quran for an Ijazah in Qalun?

For a full Ijazah in recitation by memory, yes, you recite the entire Quran from memory to your teacher. Some teachers grant an Ijazah for reading from the mushaf, which does not require full memorization. Ask your teacher which type they offer.

Is it permissible to pray with Qalun if my community reads Hafs?

Yes, Qalun is an authentic, mass-transmitted reading, and prayer with it is valid. Scholars generally advise reading what your community knows in public prayers to avoid confusion, and keeping each riwayah consistent within a recitation.

What is the difference between Qalun and Warsh?

Both narrate the reading of Imam Nafi’ of Madinah, so many words are read the same way. Warsh has longer madd, frequent taqlil and changes to many hamzas, while Qalun’s pronunciation is closer to Hafs.

Where should I start if I want an Ijazah in Qalun one day?

Start by perfecting Hafs and completing a full Ijazah in it with a connected sanad. Our online Ijazah course offers that foundation one-to-one, and you can raise your Qalun goal during the free assessment.

Madraset El Quran Academy

Editor@madrasatelquran.com

Madraset Elquran Academy is a world-class platform for learning Quran, Arabic, and Islamic Studies, recognized globally for its excellence. As one of the leading online Quran schools, we offer personalized one-on-one sessions with expert native Egyptian tutors, providing high-quality education for learners of all levels.

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