In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
*ITHAF AL-BARARAH BI-TARAJIM AL-QURRA' AL-'ASHARAH* (Bestowing Upon the Righteous the Biographies of the Ten Reciters).
Biography of Imam Ibn Kathir al-Makki.
He is Abu Ma'bad 'Abd Allah ibn Kathir al-Dari al-Makki.
He was called al-Dari because he was a perfume merchant (*'attar*).
The Arabs call a perfume merchant *dari*.
This is in relation to Dareen, a place in Bahrain from which perfume was imported.
It was also said that al-Dari refers to his lineage from the tribe of Bani 'Abd al-Dar.
He—may Allah have mercy on him—was born in Mecca in the year 45 AH, and his origins were from Persia.
He was eloquent, fluent, articulate, white-bearded, brown-complexioned, and of large stature.
He dyed his beard with henna, and possessed tranquility and dignity.
Among the Companions, he met 'Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, Abu Ayyub al-Ansari,
and Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with them.
He received the recitation orally (*'ardan*) from 'Abd Allah ibn al-Sa'ib al-Makhzumi,
Mujahid ibn Jabr, and Dirbas, the freed slave of Ibn 'Abbas.
Ibn al-Sa'ib recited to Ubayy ibn Ka'b and 'Umar ibn al-Khattab.
Mujahid recited to Ibn al-Sa'ib and Ibn 'Abbas.
Ibn 'Abbas recited to Ubayy ibn Ka'b and Zayd ibn Thabit.
Zayd, Ubayy, and 'Umar recited to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
Ibn Mujahid said: "He remained the unanimously agreed-upon Imam of recitation in Mecca until he died."
Al-Asma'i said: "I asked Abu 'Amr: 'Did you recite to Ibn Kathir?'
He replied: 'Yes, I completed a full recitation under Ibn Kathir after I had recited under Mujahid.'
And he was more knowledgeable in the Arabic language than Mujahid."
Ibn 'Uyaynah said: "There was no one in Mecca who was a greater reciter than Humayd ibn Qays and 'Abd Allah ibn Kathir."
Imam al-Shafi'i transmitted the recitation of Ibn Kathir, praised it, and said:
"Our recitation is the recitation of 'Abd Allah ibn Kathir, and upon it I found the people of Mecca."
A vast number of people narrated the recitation from him.
Among them were Imam Abu 'Amr ibn al-'Ala', Shibl ibn 'Abbad, Ma'ruf ibn Mishkan, Isma'il al-Qast, and others.
He died, may Allah have mercy on him, in the year 120 AH at the age of seventy-five.
Biography of Imam al-Bazzi.
The first transmitter from Imam Ibn Kathir al-Makki.
He is Abu al-Hasan Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah ibn al-Qasim ibn Nafi' ibn Abi Bazzah.
The name of Abu Bazzah was Bashshar, of Persian origin.
He—may Allah have mercy on him—was born in Mecca in the year 170 AH.
He was the eldest of those who narrated the recitation of Imam 'Abd Allah ibn Kathir.
He was an Imam in recitation, meticulous, precise, masterly, trustworthy in it, and an adherent of the Sunnah.
Leadership of Quranic instruction in Mecca culminated in him, and he served as the muezzin of al-Masjid al-Haram for forty years.
He—may Allah have mercy on him—recited to 'Abd Allah ibn Ziyad, the freed slave of 'Ubayd ibn 'Umayr al-Laythi,
'Ikrimah ibn Sulayman, the freed slave of Ibn Shaybah, Abu al-Ikhrit Wahb ibn Wadih, and others.
Reciting under him were Abu Rabi'ah Muhammad ibn Ishaq al-Raba'i,
Ishaq ibn Ahmad al-Khuza'i, Ahmad ibn Faraj, al-Hasan ibn al-Hubab, and others.
He died, may Allah have mercy on him, in the year 250 AH.
A sample of al-Bazzi's narration from Ibn Kathir.
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
“O ye who believe! Spend of the good things which ye have earned, and of that which We bring forth from the earth for you, and seek not the bad (with intent) to spend thereof (in charity) when ye would not take it for yourselves save with disdain; and know that Allah is Absolute, Owner of Praise.” (2:267)
"...and from what We have produced for you from the earth."
“O ye who believe! Spend of the good things which ye have earned, and of that which We bring forth from the earth for you, and seek not the bad (with intent) to spend thereof (in charity) when ye would not take it for yourselves save with disdain; and know that Allah is Absolute, Owner of Praise.” (2:267)
"...and you would not take it except with closed eyes."
"And know that Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy."
“The devil promiseth you destitution and enjoineth on you lewdness. But Allah promiseth you forgiveness from Himself with bounty. Allah is All-Embracing, All-knowing.” (2:268)
“The devil promiseth you destitution and enjoineth on you lewdness. But Allah promiseth you forgiveness from Himself with bounty. Allah is All-Embracing, All-knowing.” (2:268)
"And Allah is All-Encompassing and Knowing."
"He gives wisdom to whom He wills..."
"...and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good."
"And none will remember except those of understanding."
He is Abu 'Amr Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Khalid ibn Sa'id,
al-Makhzumi by clientage (*wala'*).
He was nicknamed Qunbul because he belonged to a people known as al-Qanabilah, though other reasons have also been stated.
He—may Allah have mercy on him—was born in the year 195 AH in Noble Mecca.
He was an Imam in recitation, masterly and precise.
Leadership of Quranic instruction in the Hijaz culminated in him.
People traveled to him from all regions.
He—may Allah have mercy on him—recited to Abu al-Hasan Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Qawwas, the companion of Abu al-Ikhrit,
and succeeded him in teaching recitation after his death.
He was among the people of virtue, goodness, and righteousness.
He was in charge of the police force in Mecca
due to his knowledge of the prescribed legal punishments (*hudud*) and rulings.
They placed him in charge of it because of his knowledge and virtue in their eyes.
He lived a long life and grew frail,
so he stopped teaching recitation seven years before his death.
Reciting under him were Abu Rabi'ah Muhammad ibn Ishaq,
Abu Bakr ibn Mujahid,
Ibrahim ibn 'Abd al-Razzaq al-Antaki—
presenting the variant letters only—
Abu al-Hasan ibn Shanabudh,
Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn 'Isa al-Jassas,
Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Musa al-Hashimi al-Zaynabi,
Nazif ibn 'Abd Allah, and others.
He died, may Allah have mercy on him, in the year 291 AH.
A sample of Qunbul's narration from Ibn Kathir.
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
“Say: Have ye thought, if Allah made night everlasting for you till the Day of Resurrection, who is a god beside Allah who could bring you light? Will ye not then hear?” (28:71)
"...what god other than Allah could bring you light?"
"Will you not then hear?"
“Say: Have ye thought, if Allah made day everlasting for you till the Day of Resurrection, who is a god beside Allah who could bring you night wherein ye rest? Will ye not then see?” (28:72)
"...what god other than Allah could bring you a night in which you may rest?"
"Will you not then see?"
“Of His mercy hath He appointed for you night and day, that therein ye may rest, and that ye may seek His bounty, and that haply ye may be thankful.” (28:73)
"...and that you may seek of His bounty and that you may be grateful."
May Allah reward with all goodness on our behalf the Imams
who transmitted the Qur'an to us, pure and sweet.