DIACRITICAL DEVIATIONS IN THE OTTOMAN CODEX: AN EXAMINATION OF VARIANT RECITATIONS IN SURAH AL-FĀTIḤAH AND THEIR CONSEQUENTIAL IMPACT ON THE VALIDITY OF ṢALĀH

Abstract

This study addresses a matter of great importance to many Muslims; it covers the words of Sūrat al-Fātiḥah which feature unconventional readings (qira'āt shādhah) that deviate from the Uthmanic Qur’an's grammatical indications. The study explains that these unusual readings should be viewed as a significant linguistic source (maʿyūn lughawī hāmm), and an authentic source for documenting various grammatical aspects that some Arab tribes permit, according to their dialects. The study also considers the ruling on Prayer with these unconventional readings. The study is divided into three main sections. The first titled: "Surah Al- Fātiḥah and Reasons for Diversity in Grammatical Indications," the second titled: "The Impact of Deviation in Grammatical Indications from the Uthmanic Muṣ-ḥaf on the Validity of Prayer in Surah Al-Fātiḥah," and the third titled: "Words Contradicting the Uthmanic Muṣ-ḥaf in Grammatical Indications where Unconventional Readings Occur: A Statistical and Applied Study on Surah Al- Fātiḥah." The researcher relied on a variety of sources, including exegesis books focusing on linguistic aspects, books on the grammar of the Qur’an, books on both unconventional and correct Qur’anic readings, and some grammatical texts. One of the most significant findings of the study is that all the unconventional Qur’anic readings, which deviate from the Uthmanic Mushaf in their grammatical indications, conform to Arabic grammar rules. Moreover, the study shows that there is a large abundance of unconventional readings in Surah Al-Fātiḥah, which deviate in their grammatical indications from the Uthmanic Muṣ-ḥaf.