Ibn ‘Abbās reported God’s messenger as saying, “Gabriel taught me to recite in one mode, and when I replied to him and kept asking him to give me more he did so till he reached seven modes." Ibn Shihāb said he had heard that those seven modes are essentially one, not differing about what is permitted and what is prohibited. (Bukhārī and Muslim.)
The Seven Modes of Qur'anic Recitation
This narration from Ibn 'Abbās, recorded in both Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, establishes the divine origin of the seven modes (aḥruf) of Qur'anic recitation. The Prophet's persistent request to Angel Gabriel demonstrates the importance of accommodating different Arab dialects and facilitating ease of recitation for the Ummah.
Scholarly Interpretation of the Seven Modes
Ibn Shihāb's clarification that these seven modes are essentially one reveals their unified nature regarding legal rulings. The variations occur in pronunciation, wording, or grammatical forms without affecting the fundamental meaning or legal injunctions.
Classical scholars explain these modes encompass different Arab tribal dialects current during revelation, accommodating linguistic variations while preserving the Qur'an's miraculous nature and legal integrity.
Divine Wisdom in Multiple Modes
The wisdom behind multiple recitation modes includes: facilitating memorization for diverse Arab tribes, demonstrating the Qur'an's miraculous flexibility, and providing multiple avenues for understanding divine speech while maintaining textual purity.
This divine accommodation reflects Allah's mercy, making His final revelation accessible to all Arabs despite their dialectical differences, while ensuring uniformity in legal and theological matters.