An ijazah in Al Duri ‘an Abi ‘Amr certifies that you have recited the Quran, usually in full, according to the riwayah of al-Duri from Abu ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ala’ of Basra, to a teacher whose chain of transmission reaches back through those imams to the Prophet ﷺ. Today it is recited daily in much of Sudan and studied by advanced students around the world. Most students reach it only after a strong, complete Ijazah in Hafs, which is why the first practical step for most people is to start your Ijazah journey in Hafs ‘an ‘Asim.
This guide explains who Abu ‘Amr and al-Duri were, where the riwayah lives today, how it sounds different from Hafs, and what an Ijazah in it typically involves.
Key takeaways
- Abu ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ala’ (died 154 AH) is one of the seven readers; his two narrators are al-Duri and al-Susi.
- Al-Duri also narrated the reading of al-Kisa’i, so always check which “Duri” a teacher or mushaf means.
- The riwayah is the common recitation in Sudan, where mushafs in this riwayah are printed and widely used.
- Key differences from Hafs include shorter madd munfasil, eased hamzas and imalah in certain words.
Who Were Abu ‘Amr and al-Duri?
Abu ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ala’ al-Basri was born in Makkah around 68 AH and raised in Basra. He studied with readers across the major centers of the Hijaz and Iraq and became both the leading Quran reader of Basra and one of the founding figures of Arabic grammar. When Ibn Mujahid compiled his list of seven readers in the 4th century AH, Abu ‘Amr was among them.
His reading reached later generations mainly through his student Yahya ibn al-Mubarak al-Yazidi, who taught it to two famous narrators:
- Abu ‘Umar Hafs ibn ‘Umar al-Duri (died 246 AH), named after al-Dur, an area near Baghdad.
- Abu Shu’ayb Salih ibn Ziyad al-Susi (died 261 AH).
Two points often confuse students. First, al-Duri’s personal name is Hafs, but he is a different person from Hafs ibn Sulayman, the narrator of ‘Asim whose riwayah most of the world reads. Second, al-Duri narrated two readings: that of Abu ‘Amr, and that of al-Kisa’i. “Al-Duri ‘an Abi ‘Amr” and “al-Duri ‘an al-Kisa’i” are different riwayat with different features. If you want a refresher on how these terms fit together, see our guide to qira’ah vs riwayah vs tariq.
Where Is Al-Duri ‘an Abi ‘Amr Recited Today?
The riwayah is best known today as the common recitation in much of Sudan, where mushafs printed in this riwayah are used in homes, schools and masajid, and where many people memorize the Quran in it from childhood. It is also found in some neighboring areas of Africa, while other regions of Sudan and the wider region recite Warsh or Hafs.
Historically, the reading of Abu ‘Amr was widely followed across many eastern lands for centuries. Over time, the spread of mushafs printed in Hafs ‘an ‘Asim made Hafs the dominant riwayah in most of the Muslim world, and Abu ‘Amr’s reading became more regional, as Warsh did in North and West Africa. Our article on the Ijazah in Warsh ‘an Nafi’ explains that riwayah if you want to compare.
You can follow the full chain, from Abu ‘Amr to the routes used in Ijazahs today, in the timeline below.
Al-Duri Riwayah Timeline
Tap each step to follow the riwayah from Abu 'Amr to today
How Al-Duri Differs From Hafs
The text of the Quran is the same; the differences are in pronunciation rules and in some individual words. Here are features students notice first, following the route of al-Shatibiyyah:
| Feature | Hafs ‘an ‘Asim | Al-Duri ‘an Abi ‘Amr |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Fatihah, ayah 4 | مَالِكِ, with alif | مَلِكِ, without alif |
| Madd munfasil | 4 or 5 counts | 2 counts (qasr) or 4 counts |
| Two hamzas in one word, as in ءَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ | Both pronounced fully | Second hamza eased, with an alif inserted between them |
| Two hamzas meeting across words with the same vowel, as in جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا | Both pronounced | The first hamza is dropped |
| هُوَ and هِيَ after waw, fa or lam | وَهُوَ, فَهِيَ | Ha with sukun: وَهْوَ, فَهْيَ |
| Alif before a final ra with kasra, as in النَّارِ | Read with an open fatha sound | Read with imalah, tilting the alif toward a ya sound |
| Between two surahs | Basmalah | Basmalah, a brief silent pause (sakt) or joining, all permitted |
Al-Duri also applies imalah in some other words, such as الْكَافِرِينَ, and has a lighter tilting (taqlil) in certain word patterns. These details are learned from a teacher, word by word, rather than from a table.
Al-Duri compared with al-Susi
Both narrators share most of Abu ‘Amr’s reading, but two famous features are associated with al-Susi in the common teaching through al-Shatibiyyah. The first is the major idgham (al-idgham al-kabir), merging a voweled letter into a similar following letter, which is read for al-Susi while al-Duri generally keeps the letters clear. The second is replacing a silent hamza with a long vowel, so that يُؤْمِنُونَ sounds like yuminun; al-Duri keeps the hamza. For a student coming from Hafs, al-Duri therefore usually feels like the gentler starting point of the two.
Why Hafs students notice the similarity to Qalun
Several of al-Duri’s features, such as the shorter madd munfasil, the eased second hamza and the sukun in وَهْوَ, also appear in Qalun’s riwayah from Nafi’. The imalah, the handling of hamzas across words and many individual word readings set al-Duri apart. Our guide to Shu’bah ‘an ‘Asim shows a different kind of contrast: a riwayah that shares its imam with Hafs.
Who Studies for an Ijazah in Al-Duri?
Students usually come to this riwayah for one of three reasons:
- Heritage. Sudanese families and communities who memorized in al-Duri and want a formal, connected sanad in the riwayah they already recite.
- Teaching. Teachers serving Sudanese communities abroad who need to hear and correct recitation in al-Duri.
- The qiraat path. Advanced students working through the seven or ten readings, for whom Abu ‘Amr is one of the core readings.
What the Ijazah Process Typically Involves
Requirements vary by teacher, but the usual pattern looks like this:
- A firm foundation in Hafs, often a full Hafs Ijazah, so that the student’s makharij, sifat and core tajweed are already precise.
- Study of the relevant rules, often through the sections of al-Shatibiyyah that cover Abu ‘Amr, with a teacher explaining each principle and the words where it applies.
- A complete recitation of the Quran in al-Duri to the teacher, from Al-Fatihah to An-Nas, with corrections along the way. Some teachers require it from memory.
- The Ijazah itself, a written certificate naming the riwayah, the route (usually al-Shatibiyyah) and the full sanad. Our overview of what an Ijazah is and its types explains how recitation and teaching Ijazahs differ.
One riwayah at a time. Mixing features of Hafs and al-Duri in one recitation is a well-known mistake. Teachers usually ask students to recite whole sessions in a single riwayah until the new rules become automatic.
Why Most Students Start With Hafs
Hafs ‘an ‘Asim is the riwayah of most printed mushafs, most recordings and most teachers worldwide. A complete Ijazah in Hafs builds the precision every other riwayah depends on, and it gives you a sanad you can use immediately. Our school’s Ijazah certification track is in Hafs ‘an ‘Asim with a connected sanad, alongside recitation, Hifz and Tajweed Ijazah tracks. If your long-term goal is al-Duri or another riwayah, mention it during your free level assessment so your teacher can discuss advanced options with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is al-Duri ‘an Abi ‘Amr a different Quran from Hafs?
No. It is the same Quran, revealed and transmitted through authentic chains. The differences are in pronunciation and in some word readings, all of which go back to the Prophet ﷺ through mass transmission. Both are valid to recite in and out of salah.
What is the difference between al-Duri ‘an Abi ‘Amr and al-Duri ‘an al-Kisa’i?
They share the same narrator, al-Duri, but come from two different imams: Abu ‘Amr of Basra and al-Kisa’i of Kufa. Each has its own rules, for example in imalah and in many individual words. Always check which one a mushaf, recording or Ijazah refers to.
Do I need to memorize the whole Quran for an Ijazah in al-Duri?
Many teachers require a complete recitation from memory, especially for Ijazahs on the qiraat path, while some grant a recitation Ijazah read from the mushaf. Ask your teacher at the start, because it changes your preparation time considerably.
Which countries read the Quran in the riwayah of al-Duri?
Today it is most widely read in Sudan, with smaller communities in some neighboring regions and among Sudanese families abroad. Elsewhere it is mainly studied by advanced students of the qiraat.
How should I begin if I want this Ijazah one day?
Build your foundation first: precise tajweed and a complete Ijazah in Hafs with a connected sanad. Our online Ijazah program offers that foundation one-to-one, and you can raise your interest in al-Duri during the free assessment.
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