WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:03.680 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:03.680 --> 00:00:07.969 *Delighting the Virtuous:* 00:00:07.969 --> 00:00:12.060 *Biographies of the Ten Qur'an Reciters*. 00:00:12.060 --> 00:00:19.250 Praise be to Allah. 00:00:19.250 --> 00:00:22.250 We praise Him, seek His help, and ask for His forgiveness. 00:00:22.250 --> 00:00:28.250 We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our souls and from the misdeeds of our actions. 00:00:28.250 --> 00:00:31.250 Whomever Allah guides, none can lead astray, 00:00:31.250 --> 00:00:34.250 and whomever He leads astray, none can guide. 00:00:34.250 --> 00:00:39.280 I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, alone without partner, 00:00:39.280 --> 00:00:43.630 and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. 00:00:43.630 --> 00:00:48.630 “O ye who believe! Observe your duty to Allah with right observance, and die not save as those who have surrendered (unto Him)” (3:102) 00:00:48.630 --> 00:00:53.759 “O ye who believe! Observe your duty to Allah with right observance, and die not save as those who have surrendered (unto Him)” (3:102) 00:00:53.759 --> 00:01:00.759 “O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty toward Allah in Whom ye claim (your rights) of one another, and toward the wombs (that bare you). Lo! Allah hath been a watcher over you.” (4:1) 00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:03.759 and created from it its mate, 00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:08.760 and dispersed from both of them many men and women. 00:01:08.760 --> 00:01:14.760 “O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty toward Allah in Whom ye claim (your rights) of one another, and toward the wombs (that bare you). Lo! Allah hath been a watcher over you.” (4:1) 00:01:14.760 --> 00:01:19.019 “O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty toward Allah in Whom ye claim (your rights) of one another, and toward the wombs (that bare you). Lo! Allah hath been a watcher over you.” (4:1) 00:01:19.019 --> 00:01:25.019 “O ye who believe! Guard your duty to Allah, and speak words straight to the point;” (33:70) 00:01:25.019 --> 00:01:30.019 “He will adjust your works for you and will forgive you your sins. Whosoever obeyeth Allah and His messenger, he verily hath gained a signal victory.” (33:71) 00:01:30.019 --> 00:01:36.019 “He will adjust your works for you and will forgive you your sins. Whosoever obeyeth Allah and His messenger, he verily hath gained a signal victory.” (33:71) 00:01:36.019 --> 00:01:38.209 To proceed: 00:01:38.209 --> 00:01:44.209 This is a concise overview of the biographies of the ten leading Qur'an reciters, 00:01:44.209 --> 00:01:50.209 whose recitations have spread across the horizons and been transmitted down to us through unbroken chain of mass transmission (*tawatur*). 00:01:50.209 --> 00:01:55.209 Our chains of transmission in these recitations end with them, 00:01:55.209 --> 00:01:58.209 which they received from the finest of the Tabi'un, 00:01:58.209 --> 00:02:01.209 who in turn transmitted them from the noble Companions, 00:02:01.209 --> 00:02:06.209 from the truthful and trustworthy one, Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. 00:02:06.209 --> 00:02:10.500 The attribution of these recitations to these leaders 00:02:10.500 --> 00:02:13.500 is solely an attribution of specialization and renown, 00:02:13.500 --> 00:02:17.500 owing to their mastery of the specific variant readings (*huruf*) they received, 00:02:17.500 --> 00:02:20.500 their precision and expertise in them, 00:02:20.500 --> 00:02:24.500 their constant commitment to reading and teaching them, 00:02:25.500 --> 00:02:30.500 and the people's flocking to them due to their abundant virtues, 00:02:30.500 --> 00:02:32.500 their asceticism, and their piety, 00:02:32.500 --> 00:02:38.500 alongside other qualities that set them apart from many reciters of their era— 00:02:38.500 --> 00:02:44.780 even though their era was by no means devoid of other virtuous reciters like them. 00:02:44.780 --> 00:02:47.780 In examining the biographies of the righteous— 00:02:47.780 --> 00:02:52.780 among the reciters, scholars, worshippers, and ascetics of the salaf— 00:02:53.780 --> 00:02:56.819 It was said to Ibn al-Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him: 00:02:56.819 --> 00:03:00.819 "When you finish praying, why do you not sit with us?" 00:03:00.819 --> 00:03:04.819 He replied, "I sit with the Companions and the Tabi'un; 00:03:04.819 --> 00:03:07.819 I study their books and traditions. 00:03:07.819 --> 00:03:13.819 What would I do sitting with you? You backbite people." 00:03:13.819 --> 00:03:20.900 Scholars have noted numerous benefits of studying biographies and historical accounts. 00:03:20.900 --> 00:03:26.900 Among them, first: high resolve and steadfastness of heart. 00:03:26.900 --> 00:03:31.969 Allah Almighty said, addressing the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): 00:03:31.969 --> 00:03:38.969 “And all that We relate unto thee of the story of the messengers is in order that thereby We may make firm thy heart. And herein hath come unto thee the Truth and an exhortation and a reminder for believers.” (11:120) 00:03:38.969 --> 00:03:41.969 Al-Sa'di, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:03:41.969 --> 00:03:45.000 "For souls find comfort in following good examples, 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:47.000 grow energetic in righteous deeds, 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:50.000 desire to compete with others, 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:55.000 and the truth is fortified by mentioning its testimonies and the many who upheld it." 00:03:55.000 --> 00:03:57.259 Second: 00:03:57.259 --> 00:04:02.259 Following the example of the salaf and taking heed of their admonitions and states. 00:04:02.259 --> 00:04:04.259 Allah Almighty said: 00:04:04.259 --> 00:04:09.259 “In their history verily there is a lesson for men of understanding. It is no invented story but a confirmation of the existing (Scripture) and a detailed explanation of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for folk who believe.” (12:111) 00:04:09.259 --> 00:04:11.419 Third: 00:04:11.419 --> 00:04:14.419 That a person recognizes their own true worth. 00:04:14.419 --> 00:04:16.480 Abu Salih 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:19.480 Hamdun al-Qassar, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:04:19.480 --> 00:04:22.480 "Whoever examines the biographies of the salaf 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:27.480 realizes his own shortcomings and how far he falls short of the ranks of true men." 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:29.509 As the poet said: 00:04:29.509 --> 00:04:32.509 "Do not bring up our mention alongside theirs; 00:04:32.509 --> 00:04:36.509 the healthy man is not like the crippled when he walks." 00:04:36.509 --> 00:04:38.860 Fourth: 00:04:38.860 --> 00:04:41.860 Loving the salaf and the leaders of the religion, 00:04:41.860 --> 00:04:45.860 for reading their biographies and understanding their lives 00:04:45.860 --> 00:04:47.860 inspires such love. 00:04:47.860 --> 00:04:51.860 So glad tidings to whoever loves them for the sake of Allah Almighty! 00:04:51.860 --> 00:04:55.860 For the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 00:04:55.860 --> 00:04:58.860 "A person will be with whom he loves." 00:04:58.860 --> 00:05:00.120 Fifth: 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:04.120 Gathering the distilled wisdom of past generations' experiences. 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:06.310 One poet said: 00:05:06.310 --> 00:05:09.310 "If a person learns the accounts of those who passed, 00:05:09.310 --> 00:05:13.310 you would imagine he had lived from the beginning of time." 00:05:13.310 --> 00:05:15.600 Sixth: 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:19.600 Mercy descends when the righteous are remembered. 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:21.600 They are like abundant rain; 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:24.600 wherever it falls, Allah Almighty brings benefit through it. 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:28.730 Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:05:28.730 --> 00:05:38.300 "Upon the mention of the righteous, mercy descends." 00:05:38.300 --> 00:05:43.300 May Allah reward on our behalf the leading imams with all goodness, 00:05:43.300 --> 00:05:49.300 who transmitted the Qur'an to us pure and flowing smoothly.