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Recitation of Al-Quran & Types of Verses in The Quran

Recitation of the Quran

The ahruf of the Quran is not the same as the qira’at. What is the difference between qira'at vs ahruf? Ahruf is revealed by Allah ﷻ while the qira'at is the manifestation from the taqari (reciters) chosen from the ahruf and taught to the students and so on.
The ahruf as a means of how the Quran recited, so that people read the Quran as it was received. The ahruf has seven (7) modes, while the qira'at has ten (10).  However, before there were ten, they could have been 100 and more.
As an analogy, the qira’at is how different people pronounce certain words and verses according to their accents and slangs. For example, the way one would pronounce the statement "I want water", could varies accordingly such as "I want wat-er", "I need wat-er", "I wanna wadder" and many other styles and forms. 
The ten qira'at being used until today has preserved the seven original ahruf. Qira’at can’t simply be created as they were transmitted in an authentic chain, and to avoid confusion and differences from the book of Allah ﷻ. 


Types of Verses in The Quran

The verses in the Quran have two categories which are the Makki verses and the Madani verses. There are two strong opinions on what is defined as Makki or Madani, which are:

  • according to place of verses being revealed i.e. in Mecca (Makki) or Medina (Madani)

  • according to the time of verses being revealed, taking the Hijrah as the yardstick, irrespective to the place the verses were revealed i.e. before Hijrah (Makki) or after Hijrah (Madani) 


The wisdom in knowing which is which is to understand the context of revelations, in order to connect and understand the meaning of the Quran.


Among the features of Makki verses are:

  • shorter in length

  • candid, direct, strong, impactful approach

  • focus on: tawheed, revelation, hereafter & akhlaq

while the Madani verses are:

  • longer in length

  • informational, instructional upon informational paradigm, gentler approach

  • focus on: rulings & jurisprudence, journey to please Allah (taqwa: love, fear, hope).


As mentioned earlier, the Quran was revealed in piecemeal. The wisdom behind this would be:

  1. Steadying the heart of the Prophet ﷺ as stated in the Quran, Surah al-Furqan verse 32:

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواۡ لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ جُمْلَةً وَٰحِدَةًۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنُثَبِّتَ بِهِۧ فُؤَادَكَۖ وَرَتَّلْنَٰهُ تَرْتِيلًا

And those who disbelieve say, "Why was the Quran not revealed to him all at once?" Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby your heart. And We have spaced it distinctly. [QS 25:32]

  1. To facilitate the memorization of the Quran, as explained in Al-Isra’ verse 106:

وَقُرْءَانًا فَرَقْنَٰهُ لِتَقْرَأَهُ‌و عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ مُكْثٍ وَنَزَّلْنَٰهُ تَنزِيلًا

And [it is] a Quran which We have separated [by intervals] that you might recite it to the people over a prolonged period. And We have sent it down progressively. [QS 17:106]

  1. Maintaining the interest and desires in appreciating the Quran.

  2. The gradation in legislation, until maximum intensity is achieved. 

Disclaimer: These are notes sharing from the Steps of Jannah classes online taught by Sheikh Dr Sajid Umar focusing on three subjects i.e. Ayatul Ahkam, Hadith 40 an-Nawawi and Al-Biri's the Ta'iyyah Poem. The classes are still ongoing, every Monday 8pm UK time. If you would like to join, please email stepstojannah12@gmail.com
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