Ijazah in the Ten Qiraat: Stages, Core Texts and Realistic Timelines

An ijazah in the ten qiraat is a certified chain of transmission (sanad) showing that you recited the Quran to a qualified sheikh in all ten canonical readings, through their twenty narrators, and were authorized to teach them. It is one of the highest levels of Quranic scholarship. Almost every student reaches it in stages: first a complete Ijazah in one riwayah (usually Hafs ‘an ‘Asim), then memorizing the core poems, then reading the seven qiraat, and finally the remaining three. If you are starting that journey, an Ijazah program with sanad in Hafs is the natural first step.

This guide explains who the ten readers are, which texts you will study, how the stages work and how long each one realistically takes.

Qira’ah, Riwayah and Tariq: The Key Terms

Before looking at stages, it helps to know three terms you will hear constantly:

• Qira’ah (reading): attributed to one of the ten imams, for example the qira’ah of ‘Asim.
• Riwayah (narration): attributed to one of the imam’s two main narrators, for example the riwayah of Hafs from ‘Asim.
• Tariq (route): the chain from later transmitters below the narrator, which can carry small differences of its own.

So “Hafs ‘an ‘Asim” is a riwayah, and it is just one of the twenty riwayat you will master in the ten.

The Ten Readers and Their Narrators

The first seven are the famous “seven qiraat”. Readers 8 to 10 complete the ten. Note that Khalaf appears twice: as a narrator of Hamzah and as an imam in his own right.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught that the Quran was revealed in seven ahruf (modes), as in the well-known incident of ‘Umar and Hisham ibn Hakim (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). Scholars are clear that the seven ahruf are not the same thing as the seven qiraat; the qiraat are authenticated readings preserved through mass transmission, and their relationship to the ahruf is discussed at length in the classical books.

The Core Texts You Will Study

Al-Shatibiyyah

Imam al-Qasim ibn Firruh al-Shatibi (died 590 AH) wrote Hirz al-Amani wa Wajh al-Tahani, known as al-Shatibiyyah, a poem of about 1,170 lines that versifies the seven qiraat through fourteen narrators. It is based on al-Taysir by Imam Abu ‘Amr al-Dani. The poem has two parts: the usul (general rules that repeat across the Quran, such as madd lengths, hamzah treatment, imalah and idgham) and the farsh (word-by-word differences, surah by surah).

Al-Durrah al-Mudiyyah

Imam Ibn al-Jazari (died 833 AH) wrote al-Durrah, a short poem of about 240 lines covering the three remaining readers: Abu Ja’far, Ya’qub and Khalaf al-‘Ashir. It follows the structure of al-Shatibiyyah, so it is usually studied after it. Together, these two poems make up the minor ten (al-‘ashr al-sughra).

Tayyibat al-Nashr

Also by Ibn al-Jazari, Tayyibat al-Nashr (about 1,014 lines) summarizes his major work al-Nashr fi al-Qira’at al-‘Ashr. It covers the same ten readers through far more transmission routes, which is why it is called the major ten (al-‘ashr al-kubra). It is usually studied only after the minor ten.

Most students also study al-Muqaddimah al-Jazariyyah for tajweed rules and articulation before or alongside these poems, if they did not already study it for their Hafs Ijazah.

The Stages of an Ijazah in the Ten Qiraat

Most teachers follow a sequence like this:

1. Complete hifz with strong tajweed. For qiraat ijazah, memorizing the whole Quran is the normal requirement.
2. Earn an Ijazah in Hafs ‘an ‘Asim. One full khatm recited to your sheikh, which builds the precision every later stage depends on. Our guide on how to complete the Ijazah explains this stage.
3. Memorize al-Shatibiyyah and study an explanation of it, usul first, then farsh.
4. Read the seven qiraat. Either by ifrad (a separate khatm for each riwayah or qira’ah) or by jam’ (gathering several readings in one recitation, verse by verse). Many students do some riwayat by ifrad first, such as Shu’bah, Warsh or Qalun, before moving to jam’.
5. Memorize al-Durrah and read the three remaining readers, completing the minor ten.
6. Optionally, study Tayyibat al-Nashr for the major ten.

Students often take a single riwayah such as Warsh ‘an Nafi’ or Qalun as a stepping stone between Hafs and the full seven.

Realistic Timelines

Timelines vary widely with the student, the sheikh and the method. These ranges assume a hafiz with solid tajweed and regular lessons.

Reading every riwayah by ifrad takes much longer, since it can mean many separate complete khatmas. Use the estimator below to see a rough figure for your stage and pace.

What Makes Qiraat Study Hard

Students who succeed usually plan for these challenges from the start:

• Memory load. You memorize the Quran, over a thousand lines of poetry and the meaning of its codes, then apply them in real time.
• Interference with Hafs. Reading other riwayat can blur your Hafs at first. Keep a fixed daily Hafs revision.
• Symbols and codes. Al-Shatibiyyah uses letter codes for readers; you must decode them instantly while reciting.
• Finding a qualified sheikh. You need a teacher who holds an ijazah in what you are reading, with a connected sanad, and who has time for long, regular sessions.

For background on why the chain matters so much, see what Ijazah in Quran is and its types.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the minor ten and the major ten?

Both cover the same ten readers and twenty narrators. The minor ten is studied through al-Shatibiyyah and al-Durrah with a limited set of routes, while the major ten, through Tayyibat al-Nashr, includes many more routes and finer variations.

Do I need to be a hafiz to get an ijazah in the ten qiraat?

In almost all cases, yes. Teachers of the qiraat normally require complete memorization of the Quran with strong tajweed, and many also require an Ijazah in Hafs first.

Are the seven qiraat the same as the seven ahruf?

No. This is a common confusion. The seven ahruf are mentioned in authentic hadith, while the seven qiraat are readings later compiled and named after specific imams. Scholars discuss their relationship in detail, but they are not identical.

Can I study the ten qiraat online?

Many students today recite online for parts or all of their qiraat studies, provided the sheikh holds a connected sanad and hears the full recitation. Most begin by completing a Hafs Ijazah online and then continue with advanced riwayat.

Where should I start if the ten qiraat is my long-term goal?

Start with hifz and a precise Hafs Ijazah, since everything else builds on it. Our online Ijazah course offers the Hafs ‘an ‘Asim track with sanad, and you can book a free trial class to have your level assessed and discuss your long-term path.

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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