Ithaf Al-Barara with biographies of the ten readers | Episode (7) | Translated by Imam Al-Kisa’i and his narrators Abu Al-Harith and Al-Duri

0:00 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

0:05 *Delighting the Virtuous with Biographies of the Ten Reciters*.

0:15 Biography of Imam Al-Kisa'i Al-Kufi.

0:20 He is Abu al-Hasan 'Ali ibn Hamzah ibn 'Abdullah,

0:24 the grammarian, Al-Kisa'i.

0:26 He was given this epithet after a garment (*kisa'*) in which he entered the state of ihram.

0:30 He was born, may Allah have mercy on him, in Kufa around the year 120 AH.

0:36 He learned the recitation from a great number of scholars,

0:39 including Imam Hamzah ibn Habib al-Zayyat,

0:43 Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Layla,

0:46 'Asim ibn Abi al-Najud,

0:48 Abu Bakr Shu'bah ibn 'Ayyash,

0:51 Isma'il ibn Ja'far,

0:53 and Shaybah ibn Nassah,

0:55 the teacher of Imam Nafi' al-Madani.

0:58 All of them possess a chain of transmission connected directly to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

1:04 He was the foremost authority of the people in recitation during his time and the most knowledgeable among them in it.

1:10 Abu Bakr ibn al-Anbari said:

1:13 "Multiple virtues converged in Al-Kisa'i:

1:16 He was the most knowledgeable of people in Arabic grammar,

1:18 the unique master in rare vocabulary (*gharib*),

1:21 and he was unmatched among people in the Qur'an.

1:24 People used to gather around him in such immense numbers

1:26 that he could not monitor each student's reading individually.

1:29 So he would gather them in a single assembly,

1:31 sit upon a chair,

1:33 and recite the Qur'an from beginning to end,

1:37 while they listened attentively and noted down every detail from him,

1:39 even the precise pause and start points."

1:42 Ibn Ma'in said:

1:44 "I have not seen with my own two eyes anyone truthful in speech more than Al-Kisa'i."

1:49 Imam Al-Shafi'i said:

1:51 "Whoever wishes to delve deeply into grammar

1:54 is dependent upon Al-Kisa'i."

1:58 A vast number of people narrated the recitation from him through direct recitation before him and listening to his recitation—

2:01 a count that cannot be enumerated.

2:04 Among them were Ahmad ibn Mansur al-Baghdadi,

2:07 Abu Haywah Shurayh ibn Yazid,

2:11 Abu al-Harith al-Layth ibn Khalid,

2:14 and Hafs ibn 'Umar al-Duri.

2:17 He passed away in the year 189 AH

2:21 at the age of seventy.

2:26 Biography of Imam Abu al-Harith,

2:29 the first narrator from Imam Al-Kisa'i.

2:34 He is Abu al-Harith al-Layth ibn Khalid

2:37 al-Marwazi al-Baghdadi.

2:40 He recited directly to Imam Al-Kisa'i

2:43 and was among his most illustrious companions.

2:46 He also narrated the recitations from Yahya ibn al-Mubarak al-Yazidi

2:49 and Hamzah ibn al-Qasim al-Ahwal.

2:53 He was trustworthy, highly skilled,

2:55 precise in recitation, and meticulously accurate in it.

2:59 Al-Dhahabi said:

3:00 "He established himself to teach recitation,

3:02 and people transmitted the recitations from him.

3:04 He was trustworthy and reliable in what he transmitted."

3:08 Salamah ibn 'Asim,

3:11 the author of *Al-Farra'*, narrated the recitation from him,

3:13 as did Muhammad ibn Yahya,

3:15 Al-Kisa'i the Younger,

3:17 Al-Fadl ibn Shadhan,

3:19 and others.

3:21 He passed away, may Allah have mercy on him, in the year 240 AH.

3:28 An example of Abu al-Harith's narration from Al-Kisa'i:

3:34 I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

3:37 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

3:42 By the star when it sets,

3:47 Your companion has not strayed, nor has he erred,

3:52 Nor does he speak from his own desire.

3:57 It is not but a revelation revealed,

4:03 Taught to him by one strong in power—

4:07 One of soundness. And he rose to his true form

4:11 While he was in the highest horizon.

4:15 Then he approached and descended

4:19 And was at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer.

4:24 And he revealed to His servant what he revealed.

4:32 The heart did not lie about what it saw.

4:37 So will you dispute with him over what he saw?

4:42 And he certainly saw him in another descent

4:47 At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary—

4:53 Near it is the Garden of Refuge—

4:59 When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered it.

5:04 The sight did not swerve, nor did it transgress.

5:09 He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.

5:19 Biography of Imam Al-Duri,

5:22 the second narrator from Imam Al-Kisa'i.

5:27 Discussion regarding him has already been presented

5:30 in the biography of Abu 'Amr ibn al-'Ala' al-Basri,

5:34 because he narrated from both him and Al-Kisa'i.

5:37 And Allah Almighty knows best.

5:42 An example of Al-Duri's narration from Al-Kisa'i:

5:47 I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

5:51 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

5:56 Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.

6:01 The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp;

6:11 the lamp is within glass,

6:15 the glass as if it were a brilliant star

6:24 lit from a blessed olive tree,

6:33 “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things.” (24:35)

6:41 whose oil would almost glow

6:45 even if untouched by fire.

6:51 Light upon light.

6:57 “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things.” (24:35)

7:05 And Allah presents examples for the people,

7:13 and Allah is Knowing of all things.

7:19 “(This lamp is found) in houses which Allah hath allowed to be exalted and that His name shall be remembered therein. Therein do offer praise to Him at morn and evening.” (24:36)

7:22 “(This lamp is found) in houses which Allah hath allowed to be exalted and that His name shall be remembered therein. Therein do offer praise to Him at morn and evening.” (24:36)

7:27 Exalted is He in them in the mornings and the evenings by men

7:36 “Men whom neither merchandise nor sale beguileth from remembrance of Allah and constancy in prayer and paying to the poor their due; who fear a day when hearts and eyeballs will be overturned;” (24:37)

7:43 “Men whom neither merchandise nor sale beguileth from remembrance of Allah and constancy in prayer and paying to the poor their due; who fear a day when hearts and eyeballs will be overturned;” (24:37)

7:52 and giving zakat,

7:56 “Men whom neither merchandise nor sale beguileth from remembrance of Allah and constancy in prayer and paying to the poor their due; who fear a day when hearts and eyeballs will be overturned;” (24:37)

8:01 the hearts and eyes,

8:07 “That Allah may reward them with the best of what they did, and increase reward for them of His bounty. Allah giveth blessings without stint to whom He will.” (24:38)

8:11 and increase them from His bounty.

8:17 And Allah provides for whom He wills without account.

8:38 May Allah reward with all good on our behalf the Imams

8:43 who transmitted to us the Qur'an fresh and fluid.

Ithaf Al-Barara with biographies of the ten readers | Episode (7) | Translated by Imam Al-Kisa’i and his narrators Abu Al-Harith and Al-Duri

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