Textual Mechanism

The variants listed below fall under the mechanism category of "Graphical/Basic Letter Difference". This specific textual difference between the Hafs reading and other recognized readings highlights the fluidity in dotting, vowelization, or orthography present during the early oral and written transmission of the text.

Al-Fatihah 1:4

مَٰلِكِ يَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ

Master of the Day of Judgment.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

مَٰلِكِ

Master

Variant Reading

مَلِكِ

King

Hafs reads 'Mālik' (Master/Owner) with an alif, while the variant reads 'Malik' (King) without the alif, shifting the emphasis from ownership to sovereignty.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Idris, Khalaf, Khallad, Qalun, Qunbul, Susi, Warsh

Al-Baqarah 2:9

يُخَٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَمَا يَخۡدَعُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمۡ وَمَا يَشۡعُرُونَ

They try to deceive God and the believers, but they only deceive themselves, though they do not realize (it).

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

يَخۡدَعُونَ

deceive

Variant Reading

يُخَٰدِعُونَ

try to deceive

Hafs uses the Form I verb 'yakhdaʿūna' (they deceive), whereas the variant uses the Form III verb 'yukhādiʿūna' (they try to deceive), shifting the meaning from the act of deceiving to the attempt of deceiving, matching the verb at the beginning of the verse.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Qalun, Qunbul, Susi, Warsh

Al-Baqarah 2:36

فَأَزَلَّهُمَا ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ عَنۡهَا فَأَخۡرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِۖ وَقُلۡنَا ٱهۡبِطُواْ بَعۡضُكُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ عَدُوّٞۖ وَلَكُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مُسۡتَقَرّٞ وَمَتَٰعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٖ

Then Satan caused them both to slip from there, and to go out from where they were. And We said, ‘Go down, some of you an enemy to others! The earth is a dwelling place for you, and enjoyment (of life) for a time.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

فَأَزَلَّهُمَا

caused them both to slip

Variant Reading

فَأَزَالَهُمَا

removed them

Hafs reads with a shaddah on the lam ('fa'azallahuma') from the root Z-L-L (to slip). The variant, read by Hamzah, introduces an alif and removes the shaddah ('fa'azalahuma') from the root Z-W-L (to remove/cease), changing the word entirely.

Read by:

Khalaf, Khallad

Al-Baqarah 2:51

وَإِذۡ وَٰعَدۡنَا مُوسَىٰٓ أَرۡبَعِينَ لَيۡلَةٗ ثُمَّ ٱتَّخَذۡتُمُ ٱلۡعِجۡلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ وَأَنتُمۡ ظَٰلِمُونَ

(Remember) when We appointed for Moses forty nights. Then you took the calf after he (was gone), and you were evildoers.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

وَٰعَدۡنَا

We appointed

Variant Reading

وَعَدۡنَا

We appointed

Hafs uses Form III 'wā'adnā' (with an alif), implying a mutual appointment between Allah and Moses. The variant uses Form I 'wa'adnā' (without an alif), indicating a unilateral appointment or promise by Allah.

Read by:

Duri Abu 'Amr, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Rawh, Ruways, Susi

Al-Baqarah 2:62

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَٱلنَّصَٰرَىٰ وَٱلصَّـٰبِـِٔينَ مَنۡ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا فَلَهُمۡ أَجۡرُهُمۡ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ وَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ

Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians – whoever believes in God and the Last Day, and does righteousness – they have their reward with their Lord. (There will be) no fear on them, nor will they sorrow.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

وَٱلصَّٰبِـِٔينَ

the Sabians

Variant Reading

وَٱلصَّابِينَ

the Sabians

The variant is read without the hamzah. This shifts the morphological root from ص-ب-أ (to abandon one's religion) to ص-ب-و (to incline toward something), although both readings refer to the Sabians.

Read by:

Rawh, Ruways

Al-Baqarah 2:81

بَلَىٰۚ مَن كَسَبَ سَيِّئَةٗ وَأَحَٰطَتۡ بِهِۦ خَطِيٓـَٔتُهُۥ فَأُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِۖ هُمۡ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ

Yes indeed! Whoever commits evil and is encompassed by his sin – those are the companions of the Fire. There they will remain.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

خَطِيٓـَٔتُهُۥ

sin

Variant Reading

خَطِيٓـَٰٔتُهُۥ

offenses

The word changes from the singular 'sin' to the plural 'offenses' due to the addition of an alif in the variant reading.

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Warsh

Al-Baqarah 2:106

۞مَا نَنسَخۡ مِنۡ ءَايَةٍ أَوۡ نُنسِهَا نَأۡتِ بِخَيۡرٖ مِّنۡهَآ أَوۡ مِثۡلِهَآۗ أَلَمۡ تَعۡلَمۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٌ

Whatever verse We cancel or cause to be forgotten, We bring a better (one) than it, or (one) similar to it. Do you not know that God is powerful over everything?

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

نُنسِهَا

cause to be forgotten

Variant Reading

نَنسَـٔۡهَا

postpone it

Hafs reads 'nunsiha' derived from the root (n-s-y), meaning 'cause to be forgotten'. The variant reads 'nansa'ha' from the root (n-s-'), adding a hamza and changing the vowels, which means 'postpone it'. This changes the root word and meaning completely.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Qunbul, Susi

Al-Baqarah 2:130

وَمَن يَرۡغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمَ إِلَّا مَن سَفِهَ نَفۡسَهُۥۚ وَلَقَدِ ٱصۡطَفَيۡنَٰهُ فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ فِي ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ

Who prefers (another creed) to the creed of Abraham except the one who makes a fool of himself? Certainly We have chosen him in this world, and surely in the Hereafter he will indeed be among the righteous.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

ٱلدُّنۡيَا

this world

Variant Reading

ٱلۡأُولَىٰ

the Earlier (Life)

The variant replaces 'al-dunya' (the nearer/this world) with 'al-ula' (the earlier life), completely changing the noun while maintaining a similar temporal contrast with the Hereafter.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan

Al-Baqarah 2:132

وَوَصَّىٰ بِهَآ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعۡقُوبُ يَٰبَنِيَّ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصۡطَفَىٰ لَكُمُ ٱلدِّينَ فَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسۡلِمُونَ

And Abraham charged his sons with this, and Jacob (did too): ‘My sons! Surely God has chosen the (true) religion for you, so do not die without submitting.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

وَوَصَّىٰ

charged

Variant Reading

وَأَوْصَىٰ

enjoined

The verb shifts from Form II (waṣṣā) in Hafs to Form IV (awṣā) in the variant. Both forms originate from the same root and mean to charge, advise, or enjoin, presenting a morphological variation with essentially the same core meaning.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Warsh

Al-Baqarah 2:133

أَمۡ كُنتُمۡ شُهَدَآءَ إِذۡ حَضَرَ يَعۡقُوبَ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ إِذۡ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ مَا تَعۡبُدُونَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِيۖ قَالُواْ نَعۡبُدُ إِلَٰهَكَ وَإِلَٰهَ ءَابَآئِكَ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسۡمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَٰقَ إِلَٰهٗا وَٰحِدٗا وَنَحۡنُ لَهُۥ مُسۡلِمُونَ

Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob, when he said to his sons, ‘What will you serve after me?’ They said, ‘We will serve your God, and the God of your fathers, Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac: one God – to Him we submit.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ

Abraham

Variant Reading

إِبْرَٰهَـٰمَ

Abraham

Hisham (from the recitation of Ibn 'Amir) reads the Prophet's name as 'Ibraham' (with an Alif) instead of 'Ibrahim' (with a Ya), reflecting a dialectal or historical variation of the name. The English translation remains 'Abraham' in both.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan

Al-Baqarah 2:136

قُولُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسۡمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَٰقَ وَيَعۡقُوبَ وَٱلۡأَسۡبَاطِ وَمَآ أُوتِيَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَآ أُوتِيَ ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمۡ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيۡنَ أَحَدٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ وَنَحۡنُ لَهُۥ مُسۡلِمُونَ

Say: ‘We believe in God, and what has been sent down to us, and what has been sent down to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and what was given to Moses and Jesus, and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمَ

Abraham

Variant Reading

إِبۡرَٰهَـٰمَ

Abraham

Ibn 'Amir reads the Prophet's name with an alif ('Ibraham') instead of a ya ('Ibrahim'), reflecting a recognized dialectical and morphological variant of the proper name.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan

Al-Baqarah 2:164

إِنَّ فِي خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَٰفِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱلۡفُلۡكِ ٱلَّتِي تَجۡرِي فِي ٱلۡبَحۡرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن مَّآءٖ فَأَحۡيَا بِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةٖ وَتَصۡرِيفِ ٱلرِّيَٰحِ وَٱلسَّحَابِ ٱلۡمُسَخَّرِ بَيۡنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَعۡقِلُونَ

Surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the ship which runs on the sea with what benefits the people, and the water which God sends down from the sky, and by means of it gives the earth life after its death, and He scatters on it all (kinds of) creatures, and (in the) changing of the winds, and the clouds controlled between the sky and the earth – (all these are) signs indeed for a people who understand.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ٱلرِّيَٰحِ

winds

Variant Reading

ٱلرِّيحِ

wind

The Hafs reading uses the plural noun 'ar-riyāḥ' (winds), whereas the variant reading (such as that of Hamzah and Al-Kisa'i) uses the singular noun 'ar-rīḥ' (wind) by omitting the alif. This changes the grammatical number while maintaining the core context.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

Al-Baqarah 2:184

أَيَّامٗا مَّعۡدُودَٰتٖۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٖ فَعِدَّةٞ مِّنۡ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَۚ وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُۥ فِدۡيَةٞ طَعَامُ مِسۡكِينٖۖ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيۡرٗا فَهُوَ خَيۡرٞ لَّهُۥۚ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيۡرٞ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ

(Fast for) a number of days. Whoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast) a certain number of other days. And for those who can afford it, (there is) a ransom: feeding a poor person. Whoever does good voluntarily – it is better for him. But to fast is better for you, if (only) you knew.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

مِسۡكِينٖ

a poor person

Variant Reading

مَسَاكِينَ

destitute people

The word changes from the singular 'miskin' (a poor person) to the plural 'masakin' (destitute people), expanding the expression of who receives the compensation.

Read by:

Hisham

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

مِسۡكِينٖ

a poor person

Variant Reading

مَسَٰكِينَ

destitute persons

The noun changes from singular (miskin, a poor person) in Hafs to plural (masakin, destitute persons) in the variant, which also involves a shift in voweling and the addition of a dagger alif.

Read by:

Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Warsh

Al-Baqarah 2:191

وَٱقۡتُلُوهُمۡ حَيۡثُ ثَقِفۡتُمُوهُمۡ وَأَخۡرِجُوهُم مِّنۡ حَيۡثُ أَخۡرَجُوكُمۡۚ وَٱلۡفِتۡنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ ٱلۡقَتۡلِۚ وَلَا تُقَٰتِلُوهُمۡ عِندَ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ حَتَّىٰ يُقَٰتِلُوكُمۡ فِيهِۖ فَإِن قَٰتَلُوكُمۡ فَٱقۡتُلُوهُمۡۗ كَذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ

And kill them wherever you come upon them, and expel them from where they expelled you. Persecution is worse than killing. But do not fight them near the Sacred Mosque until they fight you there. If they fight you, kill them – such is the payment for the disbelievers.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

تُقَٰتِلُوهُمۡ ... يُقَٰتِلُوكُمۡ ... قَٰتَلُوكُمۡ

fight them ... fight you ... fight you

Variant Reading

تَقْتُلُوهُمۡ ... يَقْتُلُوكُمۡ ... قَتَلُوكُمۡ

kill them ... kill you ... kill you

The Hafs reading uses Form III verbs (mufa'alah) which denote mutual fighting or combat. The variant reading uses Form I verbs (mujarrad) which specifically mean 'to kill'.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

Al-Baqarah 2:229

ٱلطَّلَٰقُ مَرَّتَانِۖ فَإِمۡسَاكُۢ بِمَعۡرُوفٍ أَوۡ تَسۡرِيحُۢ بِإِحۡسَٰنٖۗ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمۡ أَن تَأۡخُذُواْ مِمَّآ ءَاتَيۡتُمُوهُنَّ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّآ أَن يَخَافَآ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِۖ فَإِنۡ خِفۡتُمۡ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡهِمَا فِيمَا ٱفۡتَدَتۡ بِهِۦۗ تِلۡكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَعۡتَدُوهَاۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ

Divorce (may take place) twice, (with the option of) retaining (them) rightfully, or sending (them) away with kindness. It is not permitted to you to take (back) anything of what you have given them, unless the two of them fear that they cannot maintain the limits (set by) God. But if you fear that they cannot maintain the limits (set by) God, (there is) no blame on either of them in what she ransoms (herself) with. Those are the limits (set by) God, so do not transgress them. Whoever transgresses the limits (set by) God, those – they are the evildoers.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Active to Passive / Passive to Active
Original (Hafs)

يَخَافَآ

the two of them fear

Variant Reading

يُخَافَ

it is feared

The active dual verb 'yakhāfā' (the two of them fear) changes to the passive singular verb 'yukhāfa' (it is feared), dropping the final alif of the dual.

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Khalaf, Khallad, Rawh, Ruways

Al-Baqarah 2:233

۞وَٱلۡوَٰلِدَٰتُ يُرۡضِعۡنَ أَوۡلَٰدَهُنَّ حَوۡلَيۡنِ كَامِلَيۡنِۖ لِمَنۡ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ ٱلرَّضَاعَةَۚ وَعَلَى ٱلۡمَوۡلُودِ لَهُۥ رِزۡقُهُنَّ وَكِسۡوَتُهُنَّ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفۡسٌ إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۚ لَا تُضَآرَّ وَٰلِدَةُۢ بِوَلَدِهَا وَلَا مَوۡلُودٞ لَّهُۥ بِوَلَدِهِۦۚ وَعَلَى ٱلۡوَارِثِ مِثۡلُ ذَٰلِكَۗ فَإِنۡ أَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَن تَرَاضٖ مِّنۡهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٖ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡهِمَاۗ وَإِنۡ أَرَدتُّمۡ أَن تَسۡتَرۡضِعُوٓاْ أَوۡلَٰدَكُمۡ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذَا سَلَّمۡتُم مَّآ ءَاتَيۡتُم بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۗ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِيرٞ

Mothers shall nurse their children for two full years, for those who wish to complete the nursing (period). (It is an obligation) on the father for him (to supply) their provision and their clothing rightfully. No one is to be burdened beyond their capacity. A mother is not to suffer on account of her child, nor a father on account of his child. The (father’s) heir has a similar (obligation) to that. If the two of them wish, by mutual consent and consultation, to wean (the child earlier), (there is) no blame on (either of) them. And if you wish to seek nursing for your children, (there is) no blame on you, provided you pay what you have rightfully promised. Guard (yourselves) against God, and know that God sees what you do.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

ءَاتَيۡتُم

you have promised

Variant Reading

أَتَيۡتُمُۥ

you have come up with

Hafs reads the verb in Form IV (aataytum), meaning 'you have given' or 'promised'. The variant reads it in Form I (ataytum) with a silat meem, changing the meaning to 'you have come up with'.

Read by:

Bazzi, Qunbul

Al-Baqarah 2:236

لَّا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِن طَلَّقۡتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ مَا لَمۡ تَمَسُّوهُنَّ أَوۡ تَفۡرِضُواْ لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةٗۚ وَمَتِّعُوهُنَّ عَلَى ٱلۡمُوسِعِ قَدَرُهُۥ وَعَلَى ٱلۡمُقۡتِرِ قَدَرُهُۥ مَتَٰعَۢا بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۖ حَقًّا عَلَى ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ

(There is) no blame on you if you divorce women whom you have not touched, nor promised any bridal gift to them. Yet provide for them rightfully – the wealthy according to his means, and the poor according to his means – (it is) an obligation on the doers of good.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

تَمَسُّوهُنَّ

touched

Variant Reading

تُمَاسُّوهُنَّ

touched each other

The variant reads the verb in Form III (tumāssūhunna) instead of Form I (tamassūhunna) by adding an alif, changing the meaning from a one-sided action (touching) to a mutual action (touching each other), emphasizing mutual intimacy.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

Al-Baqarah 2:251

فَهَزَمُوهُم بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتَلَ دَاوُۥدُ جَالُوتَ وَءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُۥ مِمَّا يَشَآءُۗ وَلَوۡلَا دَفۡعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعۡضَهُم بِبَعۡضٖ لَّفَسَدَتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ذُو فَضۡلٍ عَلَى ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ

And they routed them by the permission of God, and David killed Jālūt, and God gave him the kingdom and the wisdom, and taught him about whatever He pleased. If God had not repelled some of the people by means of others, the earth would indeed have been corrupted. But God is full of favor to the worlds.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

دَفۡعُ

repelled

Variant Reading

دِفَٰعُ

strongly repelling

The change from the Form I verbal noun (dafu) to the Form III verbal noun (difā'u) intensifies the meaning to imply a stronger, continuous, or mutual act of repelling.

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Rawh, Ruways, Warsh

Al-Baqarah 2:260

وَإِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمُ رَبِّ أَرِنِي كَيۡفَ تُحۡيِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰۖ قَالَ أَوَلَمۡ تُؤۡمِنۖ قَالَ بَلَىٰ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَطۡمَئِنَّ قَلۡبِيۖ قَالَ فَخُذۡ أَرۡبَعَةٗ مِّنَ ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَصُرۡهُنَّ إِلَيۡكَ ثُمَّ ٱجۡعَلۡ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ جَبَلٖ مِّنۡهُنَّ جُزۡءٗا ثُمَّ ٱدۡعُهُنَّ يَأۡتِينَكَ سَعۡيٗاۚ وَٱعۡلَمۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٞ

(Remember) when Abraham said, ‘My Lord, show me how You give the dead life.’ He said, ‘Have you not believed?’ He said, ‘Yes indeed! But (show me) to satisfy my heart.’ He said, ‘Take four birds, and take them close to you, then place a piece of them on each hill, (and) then call them. They will come rushing to you. Know that God is mighty, wise.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمُ

Abraham

Variant Reading

إِبۡرَٰهَـٰمُ

Abraham

The pronunciation of the Prophet's name changes from Ibrahim to Ibraham (a variation read by Ibn 'Amir in Al-Baqarah), reflecting an ancient dialectical variation of the name without changing the referent.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan

Ali 'Imran 3:21

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكۡفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقۡتُلُونَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ بِغَيۡرِ حَقّٖ وَيَقۡتُلُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَأۡمُرُونَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فَبَشِّرۡهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

Surely those who disbelieve in the signs of God, and kill the prophets without any right, and kill those of the people who command justice – give them news of a painful punishment.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

وَيَقۡتُلُونَ

and kill

Variant Reading

وَيُقَاتِلُونَ

and combat

The verb changes from 'yaqtulūna' (they kill) to form III 'yuqātilūna' (they fight/combat), shifting the meaning from the direct act of killing to the act of engaging in battle or combat.

Ali 'Imran 3:81

وَإِذۡ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَٰقَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ لَمَآ ءَاتَيۡتُكُم مِّن كِتَٰبٖ وَحِكۡمَةٖ ثُمَّ جَآءَكُمۡ رَسُولٞ مُّصَدِّقٞ لِّمَا مَعَكُمۡ لَتُؤۡمِنُنَّ بِهِۦ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُۥۚ قَالَ ءَأَقۡرَرۡتُمۡ وَأَخَذۡتُمۡ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمۡ إِصۡرِيۖ قَالُوٓاْ أَقۡرَرۡنَاۚ قَالَ فَٱشۡهَدُواْ وَأَنَا۠ مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ

(Remember) when God took a covenant with the prophets: ‘Whatever indeed I have given you of the Book and wisdom, when a messenger comes to you confirming what is with you, you are to believe in him and you are to help him.’ He said, ‘Do you agree and accept My burden on that (condition)?’ They said, ‘We agree.’ He said, ‘Bear witness, and I shall be with you among the witnesses.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

ءَاتَيۡتُكُم

I have given you

Variant Reading

ءَاتَيْنَٰكُم

We have given you

The verb's subject pronoun changes from the first person singular 'I' (tu) in Hafs to the first person plural 'We' (na) in the variant, shifting from a singular to a majestic plural reference to God.

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Warsh

Ali 'Imran 3:195

فَٱسۡتَجَابَ لَهُمۡ رَبُّهُمۡ أَنِّي لَآ أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَٰمِلٖ مِّنكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوۡ أُنثَىٰۖ بَعۡضُكُم مِّنۢ بَعۡضٖۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُواْ وَأُخۡرِجُواْ مِن دِيَٰرِهِمۡ وَأُوذُواْ فِي سَبِيلِي وَقَٰتَلُواْ وَقُتِلُواْ لَأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنۡهُمۡ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمۡ وَلَأُدۡخِلَنَّهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ ثَوَابٗا مِّنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥ حُسۡنُ ٱلثَّوَابِ

And their Lord responded to them: ‘Surely I do not let a deed of anyone of you go to waste – whether male or female – you are all alike. Those who have emigrated, and were expelled from their homes, and suffered harm in My way, and have fought and been killed – I shall indeed absolve them of their evil deeds, and I shall indeed cause them to enter Gardens through which rivers flow. A reward from God! God – with Him is the best reward.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

وَقَٰتَلُواْ وَقُتِلُواْ

have fought and been killed

Variant Reading

وَقُتِلُواْ وَقَٰتَلُواْ

were killed and (who) combated

The order of the two verbs is reversed. Hafs reads 'fought and were killed' (active then passive), while the variant reads 'were killed and combated' (passive then active), signifying that after some were martyred, the rest continued to fight.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

An-Nisa 4:94

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا ضَرَبۡتُمۡ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَتَبَيَّنُواْ وَلَا تَقُولُواْ لِمَنۡ أَلۡقَىٰٓ إِلَيۡكُمُ ٱلسَّلَٰمَ لَسۡتَ مُؤۡمِنٗا تَبۡتَغُونَ عَرَضَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا فَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَغَانِمُ كَثِيرَةٞۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كُنتُم مِّن قَبۡلُ فَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرٗا

You who believe! When you strike forth in the way of God, be discerning, and do not say to the one who offers you peace, ‘You are not a believer,’ seeking (the fleeting) goods of this present life. For (there are) many spoils with God. You (too) were like that before, but God bestowed favor on you. So be discerning. Surely God is aware of what you do.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

ٱلسَّلَٰمَ

peace

Variant Reading

اُ۬لسَّلَمَ

surrender

Hafs includes an alif (read as 'as-salām'), meaning 'peace' or 'greeting of peace'. The variant omits the alif (read as 'as-salam'), changing the meaning to 'surrender' or 'submission'.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Qalun, Warsh

An-Nisa 4:128

وَإِنِ ٱمۡرَأَةٌ خَافَتۡ مِنۢ بَعۡلِهَا نُشُوزًا أَوۡ إِعۡرَاضٗا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡهِمَآ أَن يُصۡلِحَا بَيۡنَهُمَا صُلۡحٗاۚ وَٱلصُّلۡحُ خَيۡرٞۗ وَأُحۡضِرَتِ ٱلۡأَنفُسُ ٱلشُّحَّۚ وَإِن تُحۡسِنُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرٗا

If a woman fears rebelliousness from her husband, or desertion, (there is) no blame on the two of them if they set (things) right between themselves. Setting (things) right is better, but people are prone to greed. If you do good and guard (yourselves) – surely God is aware of what you do.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

يُصۡلِحَا

they set (things) right

Variant Reading

يَّصَّٰلَحَا

they reconcile

Hafs uses the Form IV verb (to set things right/make peace), whereas the variant uses the Form VI verb (assimilated from يَتَصَالَحَا) which emphasizes a mutual and reciprocal effort to reconcile.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

An-Nisa 4:135

۞يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّـٰمِينَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ شُهَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَوِ ٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبِينَۚ إِن يَكُنۡ غَنِيًّا أَوۡ فَقِيرٗا فَٱللَّهُ أَوۡلَىٰ بِهِمَاۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ أَن تَعۡدِلُواْۚ وَإِن تَلۡوُۥٓاْ أَوۡ تُعۡرِضُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرٗا

You who believe! Be supervisors in justice, witnesses for God, even if it is against yourselves or your parents and family. Whether he be rich or poor, God (stands) closer to both of them. Do not follow (your vain) desire or you will (not) act fairly. If you turn aside or turn away – surely God is aware of what you do.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

تَلۡوُۥٓاْ

turn aside

Variant Reading

تَلُواْ

go forward

Hafs derives the word from the root l-w-y (to twist or turn aside), whereas the variant derives it from w-l-y (to go forward or be in charge of testifying), omitting a Waw and resulting in a different word with a distinct meaning.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Khalaf, Khallad

Al-Ma'idah 5:13

فَبِمَا نَقۡضِهِم مِّيثَٰقَهُمۡ لَعَنَّـٰهُمۡ وَجَعَلۡنَا قُلُوبَهُمۡ قَٰسِيَةٗۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلۡكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِۦ وَنَسُواْ حَظّٗا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهِۦۚ وَلَا تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَىٰ خَآئِنَةٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا مِّنۡهُمۡۖ فَٱعۡفُ عَنۡهُمۡ وَٱصۡفَحۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ

For their breaking their covenant, We cursed them and made their hearts hard. They alter words from their positions, and have forgotten part of what they were reminded of. You will continue to see treachery from them, except for a few of them. Yet pardon them and excuse (them). Surely God loves the doers of good.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

قَٰسِيَةٗ

hard

Variant Reading

قَسِيَّةً

fake / very hard

The Hafs reading uses the active participle 'qasiyah' (hard), while the variant (read by Hamzah and Al-Kisa'i) uses 'qasiyyah' (without the Alif and with a shaddah on the Ya). This shifts the meaning to an intensive 'very hard' or 'fake/counterfeit' (derived from terminology for counterfeit coins).

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Khalaf, Khallad

Al-Ma'idah 5:67

۞يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغۡ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَۖ وَإِن لَّمۡ تَفۡعَلۡ فَمَا بَلَّغۡتَ رِسَالَتَهُۥۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ

Messenger! Deliver what has been sent down to you from your Lord. If you do not, you have not delivered His message. God will protect you from the people. Surely God does not guide the people who are disbelievers.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

رِسَالَتَهُۥ

His message

Variant Reading

رِسَالَٰتِهِۦ

His messages

The word changes from the singular 'message' to the plural 'messages', encompassing all the revelations and injunctions delivered by the Messenger.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Rawh, Ruways, Shu'bah, Warsh

Al-Ma'idah 5:110

إِذۡ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ يَٰعِيسَى ٱبۡنَ مَرۡيَمَ ٱذۡكُرۡ نِعۡمَتِي عَلَيۡكَ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَتِكَ إِذۡ أَيَّدتُّكَ بِرُوحِ ٱلۡقُدُسِ تُكَلِّمُ ٱلنَّاسَ فِي ٱلۡمَهۡدِ وَكَهۡلٗاۖ وَإِذۡ عَلَّمۡتُكَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةَ وَٱلۡإِنجِيلَۖ وَإِذۡ تَخۡلُقُ مِنَ ٱلطِّينِ كَهَيۡـَٔةِ ٱلطَّيۡرِ بِإِذۡنِي فَتَنفُخُ فِيهَا فَتَكُونُ طَيۡرَۢا بِإِذۡنِيۖ وَتُبۡرِئُ ٱلۡأَكۡمَهَ وَٱلۡأَبۡرَصَ بِإِذۡنِيۖ وَإِذۡ تُخۡرِجُ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ بِإِذۡنِيۖ وَإِذۡ كَفَفۡتُ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَـٰٓءِيلَ عَنكَ إِذۡ جِئۡتَهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ فَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنۡهُمۡ إِنۡ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحۡرٞ مُّبِينٞ

(Remember) when God said, ‘Jesus, son of Mary! Remember My blessing on you and on your mother, when I supported you with the holy spirit, (and) you spoke to the people (while you were still) in the cradle, and in adulthood. And when I taught you the Book and the wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel. And when you created the form of a bird from clay by My permission, and you breathed into it, and it became a bird by My permission, and you healed the blind and the leper by My permission. And when you brought forth the dead by My permission, and when I restrained the Sons of Israel from (violence against) you. When you brought them the clear signs, those among them who had disbelieved said, “This is nothing but clear magic.”’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

كَهَيۡـَٔةِ

the form

Variant Reading

كَهَيَّةِ

the shape

The reading of Abu Ja'far changes 'kahay'ati' (with a hamza) to 'kahayyati' (dropping the hamza and doubling the yaa). The translation reflects this dialectal/phonological variant by shifting from 'the form' to 'the shape'.

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

فَتَكُونُ طَيۡرَۢا

and it became a bird

Variant Reading

فَتَكُونُ طَائِرًا

so it becomes a bird

The variant changes the noun from the collective/plural 'tayran' (birds/bird kind) to the strictly singular 'ta'iran' (a single flying bird). The translation also adjusts the verb to reflect its present/resultative tense.

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Rawh, Ruways, Warsh

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

سِحۡرٞ

magic

Variant Reading

سَٰحِرٞ

sorcerer

The word is changed from 'sihr' (magic) to the active participle 'sahir' (sorcerer) by the addition of an alif. This shifts the accusation from describing the miracles as magic to attacking Prophet Jesus directly as a sorcerer.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

Al-An'am 6:32

وَمَا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَآ إِلَّا لَعِبٞ وَلَهۡوٞۖ وَلَلدَّارُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةُ خَيۡرٞ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ

This present life is nothing but jest and diversion. Yet the Home of the Hereafter is indeed better for the ones who guard (themselves). Will you not understand?

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Grammatical Case Change
Original (Hafs)

وَلَلدَّارُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةُ

Yet the Home of the Hereafter is indeed

Variant Reading

وَلَدَارُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ

but the Home of the Hereafter

The definite article 'al' is omitted from the first word in the Shami Uthmani script (written with one lam instead of two), changing the phrase from a noun-adjective relationship to an idafah (possessive) construction. This causes 'al-akhirah' to take the genitive case (kasrah) instead of the nominative.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan

Al-An'am 6:63

قُلۡ مَن يُنَجِّيكُم مِّن ظُلُمَٰتِ ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ تَدۡعُونَهُۥ تَضَرُّعٗا وَخُفۡيَةٗ لَّئِنۡ أَنجَىٰنَا مِنۡ هَٰذِهِۦ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ

Say: ‘Who rescues you from the dangers of the shore and the sea? You call on Him in humility and in secret: “If indeed He rescues us from this, we shall indeed be among the thankful.”’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

أَنجَىٰنَا

He rescues us

Variant Reading

اَنجَيْتَنَا

You save us

The verb changes from the third person 'He rescues' to the second person direct address 'You save'.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

Al-An'am 6:105

وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ وَلِيَقُولُواْ دَرَسۡتَ وَلِنُبَيِّنَهُۥ لِقَوۡمٖ يَعۡلَمُونَ

In this way We vary the signs, so that they will say, ‘You have studied,’ and that We may make it clear to a people who know.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

دَرَسۡتَ

You have studied

Variant Reading

دَٰرَسۡتَ

You have studied with someone

The Hafs reading uses Form I 'darasta' meaning 'you have studied', while the variant uses Form III 'dārasta' which implies mutual study or studying with someone.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Qunbul, Susi

Al-An'am 6:115

وَتَمَّتۡ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ صِدۡقٗا وَعَدۡلٗاۚ لَّا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَٰتِهِۦۚ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ

Perfect is the word of your Lord in truth and justice. No one can change His words. He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

كَلِمَتُ

word

Variant Reading

كَلِمَٰتُ

Words

The noun changed from singular (word) in Hafs to plural (Words) in the variant.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Susi, Warsh

Al-An'am 6:124

وَإِذَا جَآءَتۡهُمۡ ءَايَةٞ قَالُواْ لَن نُّؤۡمِنَ حَتَّىٰ نُؤۡتَىٰ مِثۡلَ مَآ أُوتِيَ رُسُلُ ٱللَّهِۘ ٱللَّهُ أَعۡلَمُ حَيۡثُ يَجۡعَلُ رِسَالَتَهُۥۗ سَيُصِيبُ ٱلَّذِينَ أَجۡرَمُواْ صَغَارٌ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَعَذَابٞ شَدِيدُۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَمۡكُرُونَ

When a sign comes to them, they say, ‘We will not believe until we are given (something) similar to what was given to the messengers of God.’ God knows where He places His message. Disgrace in God’s sight will smite those who have sinned, and (also) a harsh punishment, for what they were scheming.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

رِسَالَتَهُۥ

His message

Variant Reading

رِسَٰلَٰتِهِۦ

His messages

The word changes from singular (message) in Hafs to plural (messages) in the variant.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Abu 'Amr, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Idris, Ishaq, Qalun, Rawh, Ruways, Shu'bah, Susi, Warsh

Al-An'am 6:125

فَمَن يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ أَن يَهۡدِيَهُۥ يَشۡرَحۡ صَدۡرَهُۥ لِلۡإِسۡلَٰمِۖ وَمَن يُرِدۡ أَن يُضِلَّهُۥ يَجۡعَلۡ صَدۡرَهُۥ ضَيِّقًا حَرَجٗا كَأَنَّمَا يَصَّعَّدُ فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَجۡعَلُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرِّجۡسَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ

Whomever God intends to guide, He expands his heart to Islam, and whomever He intends to lead astray, He makes his heart narrow (and) constricted, as if he were climbing up into the sky. In this way God places the abomination on those who do not believe.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

يَصَّعَّدُ

climbing up

Variant Reading

يَصَّاعَدُ

ascending on and on

The variant includes an alif (shifting the verb to Form VI), which conveys a sense of continuous, prolonged, or progressively difficult ascension compared to the Hafs reading.

Read by:

Shu'bah

Al-An'am 6:135

قُلۡ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمۡ إِنِّي عَامِلٞۖ فَسَوۡفَ تَعۡلَمُونَ مَن تَكُونُ لَهُۥ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلدَّارِۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ

Say: ‘My people! Do as you are able. Surely I am going to do (what I can). Soon you will know to whom the final Home (belongs). Surely he – the evildoers will not prosper.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

مَكَانَتِكُمۡ

as you are able

Variant Reading

مَكَانَاتِكُمۡ

your positions

The variant reads the word as a plural ('positions') instead of a singular ('position' or 'ability'), shifting the nuance from a collective state or ability to their various individual places or conditions.

Read by:

Shu'bah

Al-An'am 6:159

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ فَرَّقُواْ دِينَهُمۡ وَكَانُواْ شِيَعٗا لَّسۡتَ مِنۡهُمۡ فِي شَيۡءٍۚ إِنَّمَآ أَمۡرُهُمۡ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفۡعَلُونَ

Surely those who have divided up their religion and become (different) parties – you are no part of them. Their affair (belongs) only to God, and He will inform them about what they have done.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

فَرَّقُواْ

divided up

Variant Reading

فَارَقُواْ

departed from

The Hafs reading uses the Form II verb 'farraqū' (divided up), while the variant reading uses the Form III verb 'fāraqū' (departed from or separated from), which involves adding an Alif and removing the shaddah.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i

Al-A'raf 7:57

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِي يُرۡسِلُ ٱلرِّيَٰحَ بُشۡرَۢا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡ رَحۡمَتِهِۦۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَقَلَّتۡ سَحَابٗا ثِقَالٗا سُقۡنَٰهُ لِبَلَدٖ مَّيِّتٖ فَأَنزَلۡنَا بِهِ ٱلۡمَآءَ فَأَخۡرَجۡنَا بِهِۦ مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُخۡرِجُ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَكَّرُونَ

He (it is) who sends the winds as good news before His mercy, until, when it brings a cloud heavy (with rain), We drive it to some barren land, and send down water by means of it, and bring forth by means of it every (kind of) fruit. In this way We bring forth the dead, so that you may take heed.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ٱلرِّيَٰحَ

winds

Variant Reading

ٱلرِّيحَ

wind

The word changes from the plural 'winds' (al-riyaha) in Hafs to the singular 'wind' (al-riha) in the variant.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Bazzi, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Qunbul

Al-A'raf 7:98

أَوَأَمِنَ أَهۡلُ ٱلۡقُرَىٰٓ أَن يَأۡتِيَهُم بَأۡسُنَا ضُحٗى وَهُمۡ يَلۡعَبُونَ

Or do the people of the towns feel secure that Our violence will not come upon them in the daylight, while they jest?

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

بَأۡسُنَا

Our violence

Variant Reading

بَاسُنَا

Our chastisement

The Warsh recitation applies ibdal, replacing the hamza with an alif (basuna instead of ba'suna). The English translations use synonyms ('chastisement' vs 'violence'), though the core Arabic meaning remains identical.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Abu 'Amr, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Rawh, Ruways, Susi

Al-A'raf 7:112

يَأۡتُوكَ بِكُلِّ سَٰحِرٍ عَلِيمٖ

to bring you every skilled magician.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

سَٰحِرٍ

magician

Variant Reading

سَحَّارٍ

proficient sorcerer

The variant uses the intensive morphological form 'saḥḥār' (proficient/expert sorcerer) instead of the standard active participle 'sāḥir' (magician), emphasizing the extreme skill and mastery of the sorcerers.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq

Al-A'raf 7:113

وَجَآءَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّ لَنَا لَأَجۡرًا إِن كُنَّا نَحۡنُ ٱلۡغَٰلِبِينَ

And the magicians came to Pharaoh, (and) said, ‘Surely for us (there will be) a reward indeed, if we are the victors.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

إِنَّ

Surely

Variant Reading

أَٰ۟نَّ

Is there

The variant adds an interrogative hamzah (hamzat al-istifham), changing the sentence from a declarative affirmation ('Surely...') to a question ('Is there...?').

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Abu 'Amr, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Idris, Ishaq, Rawh, Ruways, Shu'bah, Susi

Al-A'raf 7:141

وَإِذۡ أَنجَيۡنَٰكُم مِّنۡ ءَالِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ يَسُومُونَكُمۡ سُوٓءَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ يُقَتِّلُونَ أَبۡنَآءَكُمۡ وَيَسۡتَحۡيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمۡۚ وَفِي ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٞ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ عَظِيمٞ

(Remember) when We rescued you from the house of Pharaoh. They were inflicting on you the evil punishment, killing your sons and sparing your women. In that was a great test from your Lord.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

أَنجَيۡنَٰكُم

We rescued you

Variant Reading

أَنجَاكُم

He saved you

The verb changes from the first person plural 'We rescued/saved' to the third person singular 'He saved', referencing Allah.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan

Al-A'raf 7:142

۞وَوَٰعَدۡنَا مُوسَىٰ ثَلَٰثِينَ لَيۡلَةٗ وَأَتۡمَمۡنَٰهَا بِعَشۡرٖ فَتَمَّ مِيقَٰتُ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَرۡبَعِينَ لَيۡلَةٗۚ وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَخِيهِ هَٰرُونَ ٱخۡلُفۡنِي فِي قَوۡمِي وَأَصۡلِحۡ وَلَا تَتَّبِعۡ سَبِيلَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ

And We appointed for Moses (a period of) thirty night(s), and We completed them with ten (more), so the meeting with his Lord was completed in forty night(s). And Moses said to his brother Aaron, ‘Be my successor among my people, and set (things) right, and do not follow the way of the fomenters of corruption.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

وَوَٰعَدۡنَا

And We appointed

Variant Reading

وَوَعَدۡنَا

And We promised

The variant removes the alif after the waw, changing the verb from Form III (appointed/mutually promised) to Form I (promised).

Read by:

Duri Abu 'Amr, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Rawh, Ruways, Susi

Al-A'raf 7:143

وَلَمَّا جَآءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِيقَٰتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِيٓ أَنظُرۡ إِلَيۡكَۚ قَالَ لَن تَرَىٰنِي وَلَٰكِنِ ٱنظُرۡ إِلَى ٱلۡجَبَلِ فَإِنِ ٱسۡتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُۥ فَسَوۡفَ تَرَىٰنِيۚ فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُۥ لِلۡجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُۥ دَكّٗا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقٗاۚ فَلَمَّآ أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبۡحَٰنَكَ تُبۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ

And when Moses came to Our meeting, and his Lord spoke to him, he said, ‘My Lord, show me (Yourself), so that I may look at You.’ He said, ‘You will not see Me, but look at the mountain. If it remains in its place, you will see Me.’ But when his Lord revealed His splendor to the mountain, He shattered it, and Moses fell down thunderstruck. And when he recovered, he said, ‘Glory to You! I turn to You (in repentance), and I am the first of the believers.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

دَكّٗا

shattered

Variant Reading

دَكَّآءَ

flattened land

Hafs reads the word as the verbal noun 'dakkan' (crushed or shattered), whereas the variant reads it as the diptote noun 'dakkā'a' (a flat mound or flattened land), indicated by an added hamza.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq

Al-A'raf 7:144

قَالَ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّي ٱصۡطَفَيۡتُكَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ بِرِسَٰلَٰتِي وَبِكَلَٰمِي فَخُذۡ مَآ ءَاتَيۡتُكَ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ

He said, ‘Moses! I have chosen you over the people for My messages and for My word. So take what I have given you, and be one of the thankful.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

بِرِسَٰلَٰتِي

My messages

Variant Reading

بِرِسَالَتِے

My message

Hafs reads the word in the plural form 'messages' (birisālātī), while the variant reads it in the singular form 'message' (birisālatī).

Read by:

Bazzi, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Warsh

Al-A'raf 7:157

ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ ٱلرَّسُولَ ٱلنَّبِيَّ ٱلۡأُمِّيَّ ٱلَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُۥ مَكۡتُوبًا عِندَهُمۡ فِي ٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةِ وَٱلۡإِنجِيلِ يَأۡمُرُهُم بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَيَنۡهَىٰهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡخَبَـٰٓئِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنۡهُمۡ إِصۡرَهُمۡ وَٱلۡأَغۡلَٰلَ ٱلَّتِي كَانَتۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِهِۦ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَٱتَّبَعُواْ ٱلنُّورَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُۥٓ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ

those who follow the messenger, the prophet of the common people, whom they find written in their Torah and Gospel. He will command them what is right and forbid them what is wrong, and he will permit them good things and forbid them bad things, and he will deliver them of their burden and the chains that were on them. Those who believe in him, and support him and help him, and follow the light which has been sent down with him, those – they are the ones who will prosper.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

إِصۡرَهُمۡ

their burden

Variant Reading

آصَارَهُمْ

their heavy loads

The word is read as singular 'burden' (israhum) in Hafs, whereas the variant reading (by Ibn 'Amir) reads it as the plural 'heavy loads' (asararhum).

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan

Al-A'raf 7:161

وَإِذۡ قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱسۡكُنُواْ هَٰذِهِ ٱلۡقَرۡيَةَ وَكُلُواْ مِنۡهَا حَيۡثُ شِئۡتُمۡ وَقُولُواْ حِطَّةٞ وَٱدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡبَابَ سُجَّدٗا نَّغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ خَطِيٓـَٰٔتِكُمۡۚ سَنَزِيدُ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ

(Remember) when it was said to them, ‘Inhabit this town and eat of it wherever you please, and say: “Ḥiṭṭa,” and enter the gate in prostration. We shall forgive you your sins and increase the doers of good.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

خَطِيٓـَٰٔتِكُمۡ

your sins

Variant Reading

خَطَٰيَىٰكُمۡ

your numerous offenses

The Hafs reading uses 'khaṭī'ātikum' (a sound feminine plural, which serves as a plural of paucity), whereas the variant uses 'khaṭāyākum' (a broken plural of multitude), emphasizing the large number or magnitude of the offenses.

Read by:

Duri Abu 'Amr, Susi

Al-A'raf 7:172

وَإِذۡ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنۢ بَنِيٓ ءَادَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمۡ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمۡ وَأَشۡهَدَهُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ أَلَسۡتُ بِرَبِّكُمۡۖ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ شَهِدۡنَآۚ أَن تَقُولُواْ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنۡ هَٰذَا غَٰفِلِينَ

(Remember) when your Lord took from the sons of Adam – from their loins – their descendants, and made them bear witness about themselves: ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said, ‘Yes indeed! We bear witness.’ (We did that) so that you would not say on the Day of Resurrection, ‘Surely we were oblivious of this,’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ذُرِّيَّتَهُمۡ

their descendants

Variant Reading

ذُرِّيَّٰتِهِمْ

the offspring(s)

The word is read as singular in Hafs and as plural in the variant, changing the vowels and adding a dagger alif while also changing the following pronoun's vowel to match.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Rawh, Ruways, Warsh

At-Tawbah 9:17

مَا كَانَ لِلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ أَن يَعۡمُرُواْ مَسَٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ شَٰهِدِينَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِم بِٱلۡكُفۡرِۚ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتۡ أَعۡمَٰلُهُمۡ وَفِي ٱلنَّارِ هُمۡ خَٰلِدُونَ

It is not for the idolaters to inhabit the mosques of God, (while) bearing witness against themselves of disbelief. Those – their deeds have come to nothing, and in the Fire they will remain.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

مَسَٰجِدَ

mosques

Variant Reading

مَسۡجِدَ

mosque

The word changes from plural (mosques) in Hafs to singular (mosque) in the variant, shifting the reference from places of worship in general to the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram) specifically.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi

At-Tawbah 9:19

۞أَجَعَلۡتُمۡ سِقَايَةَ ٱلۡحَآجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ كَمَنۡ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِ وَجَٰهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِۚ لَا يَسۡتَوُۥنَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

Do you make the giving of water to the pilgrims and the inhabiting of the Sacred Mosque like the one who believes in God and the Last Day and struggles in the way of God? They are not equal with God, and God does not guide the people who are evildoers.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

سِقَايَةَ / عِمَارَةَ

giving of water / inhabiting

Variant Reading

سُقَاةَ / عَمَرَةَ

water-servers / maintainers

Hafs uses verbal nouns (masdars) referring to the actions of 'giving water' and 'inhabiting'. The variant uses plural active participles, referring directly to the people performing the actions ('water-servers' and 'maintainers').

Read by:

Ibn Wardan

At-Tawbah 9:24

قُلۡ إِن كَانَ ءَابَآؤُكُمۡ وَأَبۡنَآؤُكُمۡ وَإِخۡوَٰنُكُمۡ وَأَزۡوَٰجُكُمۡ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمۡ وَأَمۡوَٰلٌ ٱقۡتَرَفۡتُمُوهَا وَتِجَٰرَةٞ تَخۡشَوۡنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَٰكِنُ تَرۡضَوۡنَهَآ أَحَبَّ إِلَيۡكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَجِهَادٖ فِي سَبِيلِهِۦ فَتَرَبَّصُواْ حَتَّىٰ يَأۡتِيَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَمۡرِهِۦۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَٰسِقِينَ

Say: ‘If your fathers, and your sons, and your brothers, and your wives, and your clan, and wealth you have acquired, and (business) transaction(s) you fear (may) fall off, and dwellings you take pleasure in are dearer to you than God and His messenger, and struggling in His way, then wait until God brings His command. God does not guide the people who are wicked.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

وَعَشِيرَتُكُمۡ

your clan

Variant Reading

وَعَشِيرَاتُكُمۡ

your kinsfolks

The Hafs recitation reads the word in the singular form ('your clan'), while the variant recitation adds an Alif to read it in the plural form ('your kinsfolks' or 'clans').

Read by:

Shu'bah

Yunus 10:2

أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا أَنۡ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ رَجُلٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ أَنۡ أَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَنَّ لَهُمۡ قَدَمَ صِدۡقٍ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡۗ قَالَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسَٰحِرٞ مُّبِينٌ

Is it amazing to the people that We have inspired a man from among them: ‘Warn the people, and give good news to those who believe, that for them (there is) a sure footing with their Lord’? (But) the disbelievers say, ‘Surely this (man) is a clear magician indeed.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

لَسَٰحِرٞ

magician

Variant Reading

لَسِحْرٞ

sorcery

Hafs reads the active participle 'lasāḥirun' (a magician), referring to the Prophet himself. The variant reads the verbal noun 'lasiḥrun' (sorcery), shifting the reference to the message or the revelation being presented.

Read by:

Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Rawh, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

Yunus 10:16

قُل لَّوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا تَلَوۡتُهُۥ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَلَآ أَدۡرَىٰكُم بِهِۦۖ فَقَدۡ لَبِثۡتُ فِيكُمۡ عُمُرٗا مِّن قَبۡلِهِۦٓۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ

Say: ‘If God had (so) pleased, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you. I had already spent a lifetime among you before it (came to me). Will you not understand?’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

وَلَآ أَدۡرَىٰكُم

nor would He have made it known to you

Variant Reading

وَلَأَدۡرَىٰكُم

and He would have informed you

The negative particle 'لَا' (not) is read as the emphatic particle 'لَ' (surely) by omitting the Alif. This changes the meaning from a negation ('nor would He...') to an affirmative assertion ('and surely He would have...').

Read by:

Bazzi

Yunus 10:33

كَذَٰلِكَ حَقَّتۡ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ فَسَقُوٓاْ أَنَّهُمۡ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ

In this way the word of your Lord has proved true against those who acted wickedly: ‘They will not believe.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

كَلِمَتُ

word

Variant Reading

كَلِمَٰتُ

Words

The noun changes from the singular 'word' (kalimatu) to the plural 'words' (kalimātu).

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Warsh

Yunus 10:79

وَقَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ ٱئۡتُونِي بِكُلِّ سَٰحِرٍ عَلِيمٖ

And Pharaoh said, ‘Bring me every skilled magician.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

سَٰحِرٍ

magician

Variant Reading

سَحَّارٍ

proficient sorcerer

The variant changes the active participle 'sāḥir' (magician) to the intensive morphological pattern 'saḥḥār' (proficient/highly skilled sorcerer), emphasizing a greater degree of mastery in sorcery.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

Yunus 10:96

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّتۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ

Surely those against whom the word of your Lord has proved true will not believe,

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

كَلِمَتُ

word

Variant Reading

كَلِمَٰتُ

Words

The variant reads the noun in the plural form 'Words' (with an added alif, represented by a dagger alif in the rasm) rather than the singular form 'word', expanding the reference from a single decree to multiple decrees of the Lord.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Warsh

Hud 11:7

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٖ وَكَانَ عَرۡشُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡمَآءِ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلٗاۗ وَلَئِن قُلۡتَ إِنَّكُم مَّبۡعُوثُونَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ لَيَقُولَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ إِنۡ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحۡرٞ مُّبِينٞ

He (it is) who created the heavens and the earth in six days – and His throne was upon the water – that He might test you (to see) which of you is best in deed. If indeed you say, ‘Surely you will be raised up after death,’ those who disbelieve will indeed say, ‘This is nothing but clear magic.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

سِحۡرٞ

magic

Variant Reading

سَاحِرٞ

sorcerer

The word changes from 'sihr' (magic) to 'sahir' (sorcerer), shifting the accusation of the disbelievers from the revelation/message (magic) to the Prophet himself (a sorcerer).

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

Hud 11:93

وَيَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمۡ إِنِّي عَٰمِلٞۖ سَوۡفَ تَعۡلَمُونَ مَن يَأۡتِيهِ عَذَابٞ يُخۡزِيهِ وَمَنۡ هُوَ كَٰذِبٞۖ وَٱرۡتَقِبُوٓاْ إِنِّي مَعَكُمۡ رَقِيبٞ

My people! Do as you are able. Surely I am going to do (what I can). Soon you will know the one (on) whom punishment will come, disgracing him, and the one who is a liar. (Just) watch! Surely I am watching with you.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

مَكَانَتِكُمۡ

as you are able

Variant Reading

مَكَانَاتِكُمۡ

your positions

Hafs reads the word in the singular form (position/ability), while the variant reads it in the plural form (positions) with the addition of an Alif.

Read by:

Shu'bah

Hud 11:121

وَقُل لِّلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ ٱعۡمَلُواْ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمۡ إِنَّا عَٰمِلُونَ

Say to those who do not believe: ‘Do as you are able. Surely we are going to do (what we can).’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

مَكَانَتِكُمۡ

as you are able

Variant Reading

مَكَانَاتِكُمۡ

your positions

The word is read as singular (position/ability) in Hafs and plural (positions) in the variant, changing the scope from a collective state to individual positions.

Read by:

Shu'bah

Yusuf 12:7

۞لَّقَدۡ كَانَ فِي يُوسُفَ وَإِخۡوَتِهِۦٓ ءَايَٰتٞ لِّلسَّآئِلِينَ

Certainly in (the story of) Joseph and his brothers (there) are signs for the ones who ask.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ءَايَٰتٞ

signs

Variant Reading

ءَايَتٞ

a sign

Hafs reads the word in the plural form 'āyāt' (signs), whereas the variant (e.g., Ibn Kathir) reads it in the singular form 'āyat' (a sign), based on the presence or absence of the alif (represented by the dagger alif in the Uthmani script).

Read by:

Bazzi, Qunbul

Yusuf 12:10

قَالَ قَآئِلٞ مِّنۡهُمۡ لَا تَقۡتُلُواْ يُوسُفَ وَأَلۡقُوهُ فِي غَيَٰبَتِ ٱلۡجُبِّ يَلۡتَقِطۡهُ بَعۡضُ ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمۡ فَٰعِلِينَ

A speaker among them said, ‘Do not kill Joseph, but cast him to the bottom of the well, (and) some caravan will pick him up – if you are going to do (anything).’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

غَيَٰبَتِ

bottom

Variant Reading

غَيَٰبَٰتِ

invisible cavities

Hafs reads the word in the singular form 'ghayābati' (bottom/depth), whereas the variant reads it in the plural form 'ghayābāti' (invisible cavities/depths).

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Warsh

Yusuf 12:15

فَلَمَّا ذَهَبُواْ بِهِۦ وَأَجۡمَعُوٓاْ أَن يَجۡعَلُوهُ فِي غَيَٰبَتِ ٱلۡجُبِّۚ وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمۡرِهِمۡ هَٰذَا وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ

When they had taken him away, and agreed to put him in the bottom of the well, We inspired him: ‘You will indeed inform them about this affair (of theirs), though they will not realize (who you are).’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

غَيَٰبَتِ

bottom

Variant Reading

غَيَٰبَٰتِ

invisible cavities

The word is read as a singular noun (ghayābat) in Hafs, meaning 'bottom' or 'depth', whereas the variant reads it as a plural noun (ghayābāt), meaning 'depths' or 'invisible cavities'.

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Warsh

Yusuf 12:19

وَجَآءَتۡ سَيَّارَةٞ فَأَرۡسَلُواْ وَارِدَهُمۡ فَأَدۡلَىٰ دَلۡوَهُۥۖ قَالَ يَٰبُشۡرَىٰ هَٰذَا غُلَٰمٞۚ وَأَسَرُّوهُ بِضَٰعَةٗۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمُۢ بِمَا يَعۡمَلُونَ

A caravan came, and they sent their water-drawer, and he let down his bucket. He said, ‘Good news! This is a young boy (here).’ And they hid him as merchandise, but God knew what they were doing.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Addition / Omission of Word
Original (Hafs)

يَٰبُشۡرَىٰ

Good news!

Variant Reading

يَٰبُشْرٰ۪يَ

glad tidings for me!

The variant adds the first-person possessive pronoun suffix (ya mutakallim), changing the general exclamation 'O good news!' to a personalized 'O my good news!' (glad tidings for me).

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

Yusuf 12:62

وَقَالَ لِفِتۡيَٰنِهِ ٱجۡعَلُواْ بِضَٰعَتَهُمۡ فِي رِحَالِهِمۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَعۡرِفُونَهَآ إِذَا ٱنقَلَبُوٓاْ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِمۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ

He said to his young men, ‘Put their merchandise (back) in their packs, so that they will recognize it when they turn back to their family, (and) so that they will return (here).’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

لِفِتۡيَٰنِهِ

his young men

Variant Reading

لِفِتْيَتِهِ

his few young assistants

The word changes from 'fityān' (a plural of multitude) to 'fityah' (a plural of paucity), shifting the meaning to specifically indicate a smaller number ('a few') of young men or assistants.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Shu'bah, Susi, Warsh

Yusuf 12:110

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ٱسۡتَيۡـَٔسَ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوٓاْ أَنَّهُمۡ قَدۡ كُذِبُواْ جَآءَهُمۡ نَصۡرُنَا فَنُجِّيَ مَن نَّشَآءُۖ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأۡسُنَا عَنِ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ

– Until, when the messengers had given up hope, and thought that they had been lied to, Our help came to them, and those whom We pleased were rescued. But Our violence was not turned back from the people who were sinners.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Active to Passive / Passive to Active
Original (Hafs)

فَنُجِّيَ

were rescued

Variant Reading

فَنُۨجِے

We save

The verb changes from a passive form (were rescued) in Hafs to an active, first-person plural form (We save) in the variant, while maintaining the same base Uthmani skeleton.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Qalun, Qunbul, Susi, Warsh

Ar-Ra'd 13:5

۞وَإِن تَعۡجَبۡ فَعَجَبٞ قَوۡلُهُمۡ أَءِذَا كُنَّا تُرَٰبًا أَءِنَّا لَفِي خَلۡقٖ جَدِيدٍۗ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّهِمۡۖ وَأُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلۡأَغۡلَٰلُ فِيٓ أَعۡنَاقِهِمۡۖ وَأُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِۖ هُمۡ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ

If you are amazed, their saying is amazing: ‘When we have turned to dust, shall we indeed (return) in a new creation?’ Those are the ones who have disbelieved in their Lord, and those – the chains will be on their necks – those are the companions of the Fire. There they will remain.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Addition / Omission of Word
Original (Hafs)

أَءِنَّا

shall we indeed

Variant Reading

إِنَّا

we will really be

The variant drops the interrogative hamzah (أَ), changing the second part of the sentence from a question ('shall we indeed') to a definitive statement ('we will really be').

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Qalun, Rawh, Ruways, Warsh

Ibrahim 14:18

مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّهِمۡۖ أَعۡمَٰلُهُمۡ كَرَمَادٍ ٱشۡتَدَّتۡ بِهِ ٱلرِّيحُ فِي يَوۡمٍ عَاصِفٖۖ لَّا يَقۡدِرُونَ مِمَّا كَسَبُواْ عَلَىٰ شَيۡءٖۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلضَّلَٰلُ ٱلۡبَعِيدُ

A parable of those who disbelieve in their Lord: their deeds are like ashes, on which the wind blows strongly on a stormy day. They have no power over anything of what they have earned. That is straying far.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ٱلرِّيحُ

the wind

Variant Reading

اِ۬لرِّيَٰحُ

winds

The word for wind is read as singular (ar-rīḥ) in Hafs and plural (ar-riyāḥ) in the variant.

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Warsh

Ibrahim 14:19

أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ بِٱلۡحَقِّۚ إِن يَشَأۡ يُذۡهِبۡكُمۡ وَيَأۡتِ بِخَلۡقٖ جَدِيدٖ

Do you not see that God created the heavens and the earth in truth? If He (so) pleases, He will do away with you and bring a new creation.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

خَلَقَ

created

Variant Reading

خَالِقُ

is the Creator

The Hafs recitation uses the past tense verb 'khalaqa' (created), whereas the variant uses the active participle/noun 'khāliqu' (Creator), shifting the grammatical structure to a noun construct (idafah) which also changes the case of the following words to genitive.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

Al-Isra 17:7

إِنۡ أَحۡسَنتُمۡ أَحۡسَنتُمۡ لِأَنفُسِكُمۡۖ وَإِنۡ أَسَأۡتُمۡ فَلَهَاۚ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعۡدُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ لِيَسُـُٔواْ وُجُوهَكُمۡ وَلِيَدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدَ كَمَا دَخَلُوهُ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٖ وَلِيُتَبِّرُواْ مَا عَلَوۡاْ تَتۡبِيرًا

‘If you do good, you do good for yourselves, but if you do evil, (it is likewise) for yourselves.’ When the second promise came (to pass), (We raised up against you servants of Ours) to cause you distress, and to enter the Temple as they entered it the first time, and to destroy completely what they had conquered.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

لِيَسُـُٔواْ

to cause you distress

Variant Reading

لِيَسُوءَ

He will defile

The verb changes from the third-person plural in Hafs (referring to the servants causing distress) to the third-person singular in the variant (referring to Allah or the promise defiling/distressing), which changes the spelling by removing the plural suffix.

Read by:

Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Shu'bah

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

لِيَسُـُٔواْ

to cause you distress

Variant Reading

لِنَسُوءَ

We will defile

The prefix changes from 'ya' (third-person plural) to 'nun' (first-person plural), shifting the subject from 'they' to 'We', and the plural ending is removed.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i

Al-Isra 17:38

كُلُّ ذَٰلِكَ كَانَ سَيِّئُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّكَ مَكۡرُوهٗا

All that – the evil of it – is hateful in the sight of your Lord.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

سَيِّئُهُۥ

the evil of it

Variant Reading

سَيِّئَةً

an evil deed

Hafs reads with a masculine noun and an attached possessive pronoun 'sayyi'uhu' (the evil of it), while the variant reads with a feminine indefinite noun ending in a ta' marbutah 'sayyi'atan' (an evil deed).

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

Al-Isra 17:49

وَقَالُوٓاْ أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَٰمٗا وَرُفَٰتًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبۡعُوثُونَ خَلۡقٗا جَدِيدٗا

They say, ‘When we have become bones and fragments, shall we indeed be raised up as a new creation?’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Addition / Omission of Word
Original (Hafs)

أَءِنَّا

shall we indeed

Variant Reading

اِنَّا

we will really

The variant omits the interrogative hamza (أ) in the second part of the verse, changing it from a direct question to an affirmative statement, relying on the first interrogative particle to carry the question for the entire sentence.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Qalun, Rawh, Ruways, Warsh

Al-Isra 17:83

وَإِذَآ أَنۡعَمۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡإِنسَٰنِ أَعۡرَضَ وَنَـَٔا بِجَانِبِهِۦ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ كَانَ يَـُٔوسٗا

When We bless a person, he turns away and distances himself, but when evil touches him, he is in despair.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

وَنَـَٔا

and distances himself

Variant Reading

وَنَاءَ

and turns his back

The positions of the hamza and alif are transposed (metathesis). Hafs reads 'na'aa' (from the root n-a-y, meaning to distance oneself), while the variant reads 'naa'a' (from the root n-w-a, meaning to turn one's back, rise, or withdraw heavily).

Read by:

Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan

Al-Isra 17:95

قُل لَّوۡ كَانَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَلَـٰٓئِكَةٞ يَمۡشُونَ مُطۡمَئِنِّينَ لَنَزَّلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَلَكٗا رَّسُولٗا

Say: ‘If there were angels walking contentedly on the earth, We would indeed have sent down on them an angel from the sky as a messenger.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

قُل

Say

Variant Reading

قَالَ

He said

The imperative command 'Say' (qul) is changed to the third-person past tense 'He said' (qala).

Read by:

Bazzi, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Qunbul

Al-Isra 17:98

ذَٰلِكَ جَزَآؤُهُم بِأَنَّهُمۡ كَفَرُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا وَقَالُوٓاْ أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَٰمٗا وَرُفَٰتًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبۡعُوثُونَ خَلۡقٗا جَدِيدًا

That is their payment because they disbelieved in Our signs, and said, ‘When we have become bones and fragments, shall we indeed be raised up as a new creation?’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Addition / Omission of Word
Original (Hafs)

أَءِذَا

When

Variant Reading

إِذَا

When

The variant omits the interrogative hamza (أَ) at the beginning of the word, changing the first clause from a question to a conditional statement, while the second clause remains a question.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan

Al-Kahf 18:36

وَمَآ أَظُنُّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَآئِمَةٗ وَلَئِن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيۡرٗا مِّنۡهَا مُنقَلَبٗا

nor do I think the Hour is coming. If indeed I am returned to my Lord, I shall indeed find a better (place of) return than this.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

مِّنۡهَا

than this

Variant Reading

مِّنۡهُمَا

than them both

The pronoun changes from the singular feminine 'ha' (referring to one garden) to the dual 'huma' (referring to both gardens).

Read by:

Bazzi, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Warsh

Al-Kahf 18:74

فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا لَقِيَا غُلَٰمٗا فَقَتَلَهُۥ قَالَ أَقَتَلۡتَ نَفۡسٗا زَكِيَّةَۢ بِغَيۡرِ نَفۡسٖ لَّقَدۡ جِئۡتَ شَيۡـٔٗا نُّكۡرٗا

So they both set out (and continued on) until, when they met a young boy, he killed him. He said, ‘Have you killed an innocent person, other than (in retaliation) for a person? Certainly you have done a terrible thing!’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

زَكِيَّةَۢ

innocent

Variant Reading

زَٰكِيَةَۢ

inherently sinless

The Arabic word changes from the morphological form 'zakiyyah' to 'zaakiyah' with the addition of an alif and removal of shaddah. This shifts the meaning subtly from 'innocent' or 'pure' to 'inherently sinless'.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

Al-Kahf 18:86

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَغۡرِبَ ٱلشَّمۡسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغۡرُبُ فِي عَيۡنٍ حَمِئَةٖ وَوَجَدَ عِندَهَا قَوۡمٗاۖ قُلۡنَا يَٰذَا ٱلۡقَرۡنَيۡنِ إِمَّآ أَن تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمَّآ أَن تَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمۡ حُسۡنٗا

until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and he found next to it a people. We said, “Dhū-l-Qarnayn! Either punish (them) or do them (some) good.”

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

حَمِئَةٖ

muddy

Variant Reading

حَامِيَةٖ

hot

Hafs reads the word as 'hami'ah' (muddy), whereas the variant reads it as 'hamiyah' (hot), shifting the description of the spring from its muddy composition to its high temperature.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Shu'bah

Al-Kahf 18:98

قَالَ هَٰذَا رَحۡمَةٞ مِّن رَّبِّيۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعۡدُ رَبِّي جَعَلَهُۥ دَكَّآءَۖ وَكَانَ وَعۡدُ رَبِّي حَقّٗا

He said, “This is a mercy from my Lord. But when the promise of my Lord comes, He will shatter it. The promise of my Lord is true.”’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

دَكَّآءَ

shatter

Variant Reading

دَكًّا

rubble

Hafs reads 'dakkā'a' (دَكَّاءَ) ending with a hamza, acting as a noun or adjective meaning a shattered state or leveled plain. The variant reads 'dakkan' (دَكًّا) without a hamza but with tanween, acting as a verbal noun (masdar) meaning crushing or rubble.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

Maryam 19:9

قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٞ وَقَدۡ خَلَقۡتُكَ مِن قَبۡلُ وَلَمۡ تَكُ شَيۡـٔٗا

He said, ‘So (it will be)! Your Lord has said, “It is easy for Me, seeing that I created you before, when you were nothing.”’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

خَلَقْتُكَ

I created you

Variant Reading

خَلَقْنَاكَ

We created you

The verb shifts from the first-person singular pronoun 'I' (tu) to the first-person plural 'We' (naa), changing the reference from a singular speaker to the royal plural.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Khalaf, Khallad

Maryam 19:19

قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَٰمٗا زَكِيّٗا

He said, ‘I am only a messenger of your Lord (sent) to grant you a boy (who is) pure.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

لِأَهَبَ

to grant

Variant Reading

لِيَهَبَ

He may grant

The verb changes from the first person singular 'I may grant' (referring to the angel) to the third person singular 'He may grant' (referring to Allah).

Read by:

Duri Abu 'Amr, Qalun, Rawh, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

Taha 20:13

وَأَنَا ٱخۡتَرۡتُكَ فَٱسۡتَمِعۡ لِمَا يُوحَىٰٓ

I have chosen you, so listen to what is inspired.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

وَأَنَا ٱخۡتَرۡتُكَ

I have chosen you

Variant Reading

وَأَنَّا ٱخۡتَرۡنَاكَ

And We have indeed chosen you

The pronoun changes from the first-person singular 'I' to the first-person plural 'We' (of majesty), which modifies both the independent pronoun (أَنَا to أَنَّا) and the verb conjugation (ٱخۡتَرۡتُكَ to ٱخۡتَرۡنَاكَ).

Read by:

Khalaf, Khallad

Taha 20:53

ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مَهۡدٗا وَسَلَكَ لَكُمۡ فِيهَا سُبُلٗا وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ فَأَخۡرَجۡنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزۡوَٰجٗا مِّن نَّبَاتٖ شَتَّىٰ

(It is He) who made the earth as a cradle for you, and put (path)ways in it for you, and sent down water from the sky. And by means of it We brought forth pairs of various (kinds of) vegetation.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

مَهۡدٗا

as a cradle

Variant Reading

مِهَٰداٗ

a resting place

The Hafs recitation uses the noun 'mahd' (cradle/bed), whereas the variant uses 'mihaad' (an expansive resting place/bed). This involves the addition of an alif (represented as a dagger alif in the Uthmani script) and a change in vowels, slightly shifting the semantic nuance.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

Taha 20:69

وَأَلۡقِ مَا فِي يَمِينِكَ تَلۡقَفۡ مَا صَنَعُوٓاْۖ إِنَّمَا صَنَعُواْ كَيۡدُ سَٰحِرٖۖ وَلَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلسَّاحِرُ حَيۡثُ أَتَىٰ

Cast (down) what is in your right (hand), and it will swallow up what they have made. What they have done is only a magician’s trick, and the magician does not prosper, (no matter) where he comes.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

سَٰحِرٖ

magician’s

Variant Reading

سِحۡرٖ

sorcery

The recitation changes the active participle 'sāhir' (magician) to the verbal noun 'sihr' (sorcery). While the base unpointed skeletal text (rasm) remains 'سحر', the difference in vowels and the omitted dagger-alif shifts the phrase from 'a magician's trick' to 'a trick of sorcery'.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq

Taha 20:80

يَٰبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَـٰٓءِيلَ قَدۡ أَنجَيۡنَٰكُم مِّنۡ عَدُوِّكُمۡ وَوَٰعَدۡنَٰكُمۡ جَانِبَ ٱلطُّورِ ٱلۡأَيۡمَنَ وَنَزَّلۡنَا عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡمَنَّ وَٱلسَّلۡوَىٰ

Sons of Israel! We have rescued you from your enemy, and made a covenant with you at the right side of the mountain, and sent down on you the manna and the quails:

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

وَوَٰعَدۡنَٰكُمۡ

made a covenant with you

Variant Reading

وَوَعَدۡنَٰكُمۡ

have promised you

The verb shifts from Form III (wāʿadnākum), which implies a mutual appointment or covenant, to Form I (waʿadnākum), which means a direct promise from Allah.

Read by:

Duri Abu 'Amr, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Rawh, Ruways, Susi

Taha 20:112

وَمَن يَعۡمَلۡ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنٞ فَلَا يَخَافُ ظُلۡمٗا وَلَا هَضۡمٗا

but whoever does any righteous deeds – and he is a believer – he will not fear (any) evil or dispossession.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Grammatical Case Change
Original (Hafs)

يَخَافُ

he will fear

Variant Reading

يَخَفۡ

he should fear

The verb changes from the indicative mood (marfu') to the jussive mood (majzum) functioning as a prohibition or conditional response, which causes the medial alif to be dropped.

Read by:

Bazzi, Qunbul

Al-Anbya 21:4

قَالَ رَبِّي يَعۡلَمُ ٱلۡقَوۡلَ فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ

Say: ‘My Lord knows the words (spoken) in the sky and the earth. He is the Hearing, the Knowing.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

قَالَ

He said

Variant Reading

قُل

Say

Hafs uses the third-person past tense verb 'qāla' (He said), whereas the variant uses the second-person imperative verb 'qul' (Say command), which corresponds to the omission of the letter alif in the script.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Shu'bah, Susi, Warsh

Al-Anbya 21:81

وَلِسُلَيۡمَٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةٗ تَجۡرِي بِأَمۡرِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ٱلَّتِي بَٰرَكۡنَا فِيهَاۚ وَكُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَٰلِمِينَ

And to Solomon (We subjected) the wind, blowing strongly at his command to the land which We have blessed – We have knowledge of everything.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ٱلرِّيحَ

the wind

Variant Reading

ٱلرِّيَاحَ

winds

The variant changes the noun from the singular form 'wind' (ar-rīḥ) to the plural form 'winds' (ar-riyāḥ) through the addition of the letter alif, highlighting the multiplicity or various types of winds subjected to Prophet Solomon.

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan

Al-Anbya 21:112

قَٰلَ رَبِّ ٱحۡكُم بِٱلۡحَقِّۗ وَرَبُّنَا ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ ٱلۡمُسۡتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ

Say: ‘My Lord, judge in truth! Our Lord is the Merciful – the One to be sought for help against what you allege.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

قَٰلَ

Say (He said)

Variant Reading

قُل

Say (sg.)

Hafs uses the third-person past tense 'qāla' (He said), whereas the variant uses the second-person singular imperative 'qul' (Say!).

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Shu'bah, Susi, Warsh

Al-Hajj 22:5

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمۡ فِي رَيۡبٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡبَعۡثِ فَإِنَّا خَلَقۡنَٰكُم مِّن تُرَابٖ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطۡفَةٖ ثُمَّ مِنۡ عَلَقَةٖ ثُمَّ مِن مُّضۡغَةٖ مُّخَلَّقَةٖ وَغَيۡرِ مُخَلَّقَةٖ لِّنُبَيِّنَ لَكُمۡۚ وَنُقِرُّ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡحَامِ مَا نَشَآءُ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٖ مُّسَمّٗى ثُمَّ نُخۡرِجُكُمۡ طِفۡلٗا ثُمَّ لِتَبۡلُغُوٓاْ أَشُدَّكُمۡۖ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّىٰ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَرۡذَلِ ٱلۡعُمُرِ لِكَيۡلَا يَعۡلَمَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ عِلۡمٖ شَيۡـٔٗاۚ وَتَرَى ٱلۡأَرۡضَ هَامِدَةٗ فَإِذَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهَا ٱلۡمَآءَ ٱهۡتَزَّتۡ وَرَبَتۡ وَأَنۢبَتَتۡ مِن كُلِّ زَوۡجِۭ بَهِيجٖ

People! If you are in doubt about the raising up – surely We created you from dust, then from a drop, then from a clot, (and) then from a lump, formed and unformed, so that We may make (it) clear to you. We establish in the wombs what We please for an appointed time, then We bring you forth as a child, (and) then (We provide for you) so that you may reach your maturity. Among you (there is) one who is taken, and among you (there is) one who is reduced to the worst (stage) of life, so that he knows nothing after (having had) knowledge. And you see the earth withered, but when We send down water on it, it stirs and swells, and grows (plants) of every beautiful kind.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

وَرَبَتۡ

swells

Variant Reading

وَرَبَأَتۡ

becomes higher

The Hafs reading uses 'rabat' from the root ra-ba-wa (to swell or increase), whereas the variant adds a hamzah to read 'raba'at' from the root ra-ba-a (to rise or become higher).

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan

Al-Hajj 22:45

فَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرۡيَةٍ أَهۡلَكۡنَٰهَا وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٞ فَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَبِئۡرٖ مُّعَطَّلَةٖ وَقَصۡرٖ مَّشِيدٍ

How many a town have We destroyed while it was doing evil, so it is (now) collapsed on its supports! (How many) an abandoned well and well-built palace!

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

أَهۡلَكۡنَٰهَا

have We destroyed

Variant Reading

أَهۡلَكۡتُهَا

have I annihilated

The attached subject pronoun changes from the first person plural 'We' (نَا) in Hafs to the first person singular 'I' (تُ) in the variant.

Read by:

Duri Abu 'Amr, Rawh, Ruways, Susi

Al-Mu'minun 23:8

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِأَمَٰنَٰتِهِمۡ وَعَهۡدِهِمۡ رَٰعُونَ

and those who keep their pledges and their promise(s),

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

لِأَمَٰنَٰتِهِمۡ

their pledges

Variant Reading

لِأَمَٰنَتِهِمُۥ

their trust

The word is read as plural ('pledges' or 'trusts') in Hafs, marked by the extra dagger alif, whereas the variant reads it as a singular noun ('trust'). This changes the focus from individual instances of trusts to the collective, encompassing concept of trust.

Read by:

Bazzi, Qunbul

Al-Mu'minun 23:9

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَٰتِهِمۡ يُحَافِظُونَ

and who guard their prayers.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

صَلَوَٰتِهِمۡ

their prayers

Variant Reading

صَلَاتِهِمۡ

their prayer

Hafs recites the word in the plural form (prayers), while the variant recites it in the singular form (prayer).

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

Al-Mu'minun 23:89

سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِۚ قُلۡ فَأَنَّىٰ تُسۡحَرُونَ

They will say, ‘To God.’ Say: ‘How are you (so) bewitched?’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Grammatical Case Change
Original (Hafs)

لِلَّهِ

To God

Variant Reading

اَ۬للَّهُ

Allah

Hafs reads with the preposition 'li' (to/for) making the name of God genitive ('To Allah' or 'Belonging to Allah'), whereas the variant reads it in the nominative case without the preposition ('Allah').

Read by:

Duri Abu 'Amr, Rawh, Ruways, Susi

An-Nur 24:45

وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَ كُلَّ دَآبَّةٖ مِّن مَّآءٖۖ فَمِنۡهُم مَّن يَمۡشِي عَلَىٰ بَطۡنِهِۦ وَمِنۡهُم مَّن يَمۡشِي عَلَىٰ رِجۡلَيۡنِ وَمِنۡهُم مَّن يَمۡشِي عَلَىٰٓ أَرۡبَعٖۚ يَخۡلُقُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ

God has created every living creature from water. (There are) some of them who walk on their bellies, and some of them who walk on two feet, and some of them who walk on four. God creates whatever He pleases. Surely God is powerful over everything.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

خَلَقَ كُلَّ

has created every

Variant Reading

خَالِقُ كُلِّ

is the Creator of every

The Hafs reading uses the past tense verb 'khalaqa' (created) with the object 'kulla' (every) in the accusative case. The variant changes the verb to the active participle/noun 'khaaliqu' (Creator), which places the following word 'kulli' (every) into the genitive case due to a construct state (idafah).

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq

Al-Furqan 25:25

وَيَوۡمَ تَشَقَّقُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ بِٱلۡغَمَٰمِ وَنُزِّلَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ تَنزِيلًا

On the Day when the sky is split open, (along) with the clouds, and the angels are sent down all at once,

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Active to Passive / Passive to Active
Original (Hafs)

وَنُزِّلَ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ

the angels are sent down

Variant Reading

وَنُنزِلُ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةَ

We send down the angels

The verb changes from the passive 'are sent down' (making 'angels' the nominative subject) to the active 'We send down' (making 'angels' the accusative object). This also involves a graphical difference in the verb's spelling.

Read by:

Bazzi, Qunbul

Al-Furqan 25:74

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَزۡوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعۡيُنٖ وَٱجۡعَلۡنَا لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

and those who say, ‘Our Lord, grant us comfort (to our) eyes from our wives and descendants, and make us a model for the ones who guard (themselves).’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

وَذُرِّيَّٰتِنَا

descendants

Variant Reading

وَذُرِّيَّتِنَا

offspring

The Hafs reading uses the plural form 'dhurriyyātinā' (descendants) marked by the alif, whereas the variant reading uses the singular collective noun 'dhurriyyatinā' (offspring) without the alif.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Abu 'Amr, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Shu'bah, Susi

Ash-Shu'ara 26:56

وَإِنَّا لَجَمِيعٌ حَٰذِرُونَ

but surely we are indeed all vigilant.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

حَٰذِرُونَ

vigilant

Variant Reading

حَذِرُونَ

constantly cautious

The presence of the alif (indicated by the dagger alif) in Hafs creates the active participle form (fāʿil) meaning 'vigilant' or 'prepared/armed'. The variant omits the alif, creating the intensive adjective form (faʿil), which conveys a permanent or constant state of being 'cautious' or 'wary'.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

Ash-Shu'ara 26:111

۞قَالُوٓاْ أَنُؤۡمِنُ لَكَ وَٱتَّبَعَكَ ٱلۡأَرۡذَلُونَ

They said, ‘Shall we believe you, when (only) the worst (people) follow you?’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

وَٱتَّبَعَكَ

follow you

Variant Reading

وَأَتْبَاعُكَ

your followers

The Hafs reading uses the past tense verb 'وَٱتَّبَعَكَ' (and followed you), while the variant uses the plural noun 'وَأَتْبَاعُكَ' (and your followers), shifting the grammatical structure.

Read by:

Rawh, Ruways

Ash-Shu'ara 26:149

وَتَنۡحِتُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡجِبَالِ بُيُوتٗا فَٰرِهِينَ

Will you (continue to) carve houses out of the mountains with skill?

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

فَٰرِهِينَ

with skill

Variant Reading

فَرِهِينَ

with great skill

The omission of the alif changes the word from an active participle (fārihīn) to an intensive adjective form (farihīn), altering the meaning from simply 'skillful' to 'with great skill' or 'insolent'.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

Ash-Shu'ara 26:217

وَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Put your trust in the Mighty, the Compassionate,

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

وَتَوَكَّلۡ

Put your trust

Variant Reading

فَتَوَكَّلْ

Then place your trust

The conjunction 'waw' (and) in Hafs is replaced with 'fa' (then/so) in the variant, shifting the connection from a simple continuation to a sequential or consequential action.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Warsh

An-Naml 27:63

أَمَّن يَهۡدِيكُمۡ فِي ظُلُمَٰتِ ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ وَمَن يُرۡسِلُ ٱلرِّيَٰحَ بُشۡرَۢا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡ رَحۡمَتِهِۦٓۗ أَءِلَٰهٞ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِۚ تَعَٰلَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ

Or (is He not better) who guides you in the darkness of the shore and the sea, and who sends the winds as good news before His mercy? (Is there any other) god with God? God is exalted above what they associate!

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

ٱلرِّيَٰحَ بُشۡرَۢا

the winds as good news

Variant Reading

ٱلرِّيحَ نُشُرَۢا

the wind as revivers

The plural 'winds' (al-riyah) changes to the singular 'wind' (al-rih), and 'good news' (bushran) changes to 'revivers/spreading' (nushuran) due to differences in dots, vowels, and the removal of the alif.

Read by:

Bazzi, Qunbul

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

ٱلرِّيَٰحَ بُشۡرَۢا

winds as good news

Variant Reading

ٱلرِّيحَ نُشْرًا

wind as a revival

The variant changes 'winds' (plural) to 'wind' (singular) by removing the alif, and alters 'bushran' (good news) to 'nushran' (revival/spreading) by changing the dot of the ba to a nun.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

An-Naml 27:66

بَلِ ٱدَّـٰرَكَ عِلۡمُهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِۚ بَلۡ هُمۡ فِي شَكّٖ مِّنۡهَاۖ بَلۡ هُم مِّنۡهَا عَمُونَ

No! Their knowledge is confused concerning the Hereafter. No! They are in doubt about it. No! They are blind to it.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

ٱدَّٰرَكَ

is confused

Variant Reading

أَدۡرَكَ

has been grasped

The verb shifts from Form VI (iddāraka) meaning 'arrested' or 'confused', to Form IV (adraka) meaning 'attained' or 'grasped', fundamentally changing the description of their knowledge regarding the Hereafter.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi

Al-Qasas 28:48

فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِنۡ عِندِنَا قَالُواْ لَوۡلَآ أُوتِيَ مِثۡلَ مَآ أُوتِيَ مُوسَىٰٓۚ أَوَلَمۡ يَكۡفُرُواْ بِمَآ أُوتِيَ مُوسَىٰ مِن قَبۡلُۖ قَالُواْ سِحۡرَانِ تَظَٰهَرَا وَقَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا بِكُلّٖ كَٰفِرُونَ

Yet when the truth did come to them from Us, they said, ‘If only he were given the same as what Moses was given.’ Did they not disbelieve in what was given to Moses before? They said, ‘Two magic (tricks) supporting each other,’ and they said, ‘Surely we are disbelievers in all (of it).’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

سِحۡرَانِ

Two magic (tricks)

Variant Reading

سَٰحِرَٰنِ

Two sorcerers

The Hafs reading uses 'sihran' (two works of magic), whereas the variant reading uses the active participle 'sahiran' (two sorcerers), shifting the reference from the magic itself to the individuals performing it.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

Al-'Ankabut 29:31

وَلَمَّا جَآءَتۡ رُسُلُنَآ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ بِٱلۡبُشۡرَىٰ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا مُهۡلِكُوٓاْ أَهۡلِ هَٰذِهِ ٱلۡقَرۡيَةِۖ إِنَّ أَهۡلَهَا كَانُواْ ظَٰلِمِينَ

When Our messengers brought Abraham the good news, they said, ‘Surely we are going to destroy the people of this town, (for) its people are evildoers.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Grammatical Case Change
Original (Hafs)

مُهۡلِكُوٓاْ أَهۡلِ

destroy the people

Variant Reading

مُهْلِكُونَ أَهْلَ

destroy the people

Hafs uses the construct state (iḍāfah) without the letter Nūn ('muhlikū'), placing 'ahli' in the genitive case. The variant adds the Nūn to the active participle ('muhlikūna'), placing 'ahla' in the accusative case as its direct object.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan

Al-'Ankabut 29:50

وَقَالُواْ لَوۡلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيۡهِ ءَايَٰتٞ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦۚ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡأٓيَٰتُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ نَذِيرٞ مُّبِينٌ

They say, ‘If only signs were sent down on him from his Lord.’ Say: ‘The signs are only with God. I am only a clear warner.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ءَايَٰتٞ

signs

Variant Reading

ءَايَتٞ

sign

The word changes from the plural 'āyātun' (signs) in Hafs to the singular 'āyatun' (sign) in the variant, modifying the disbelievers' demand from multiple miracles to a single miracle.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Bazzi, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Qunbul, Shu'bah

Ar-Rum 30:32

مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ فَرَّقُواْ دِينَهُمۡ وَكَانُواْ شِيَعٗاۖ كُلُّ حِزۡبِۭ بِمَا لَدَيۡهِمۡ فَرِحُونَ

one of those who have divided up their religion and become parties, each faction gloating over what was with them.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

فَرَّقُواْ

have divided up

Variant Reading

فَارَقُواْ

have separated from

The addition of the letter Alif changes the verb from Form II 'farraqoo' (to divide/split up) to Form III 'faaraqoo' (to separate/depart from).

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Khalaf, Khallad

Ar-Rum 30:39

وَمَآ ءَاتَيۡتُم مِّن رِّبٗا لِّيَرۡبُوَاْ فِيٓ أَمۡوَٰلِ ٱلنَّاسِ فَلَا يَرۡبُواْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِۖ وَمَآ ءَاتَيۡتُم مِّن زَكَوٰةٖ تُرِيدُونَ وَجۡهَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُضۡعِفُونَ

Whatever you give in usury, in order that it may increase on the wealth of the people, does not increase with God, but what you give in alms, desiring the face of God – those are the ones who gain double.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

ءَاتَيۡتُم

you give

Variant Reading

أَتَيۡتُمُۥ

you have come up with

The Hafs reading uses Form IV ('ātaytum) meaning 'you give', whereas the variant uses Form I ('ataytum) meaning 'you have come up with' or 'you have done', changing the vowel length of the initial hamza.

Read by:

Bazzi, Qunbul

Ar-Rum 30:48

ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي يُرۡسِلُ ٱلرِّيَٰحَ فَتُثِيرُ سَحَابٗا فَيَبۡسُطُهُۥ فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَيۡفَ يَشَآءُ وَيَجۡعَلُهُۥ كِسَفٗا فَتَرَى ٱلۡوَدۡقَ يَخۡرُجُ مِنۡ خِلَٰلِهِۦۖ فَإِذَآ أَصَابَ بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦٓ إِذَا هُمۡ يَسۡتَبۡشِرُونَ

(It is) God who sends the winds, and it stirs up a cloud, and He spreads it in the sky as He pleases, and breaks it into fragments, and you see the rain coming forth from the midst of it. When He smites with it whomever He pleases of His servants, suddenly they welcome the good news,

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ٱلرِّيَٰحَ

the winds

Variant Reading

ٱلرِّيحَ

wind

The word is recited in the plural form (ar-riyāḥ) in Hafs and in the singular form (ar-rīḥ) in the variant.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Bazzi, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Qunbul

Ar-Rum 30:50

فَٱنظُرۡ إِلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِ رَحۡمَتِ ٱللَّهِ كَيۡفَ يُحۡيِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَآۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمُحۡيِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ

Observe the traces of the mercy of God, how He gives the earth life after its death. Surely that One will indeed give the dead life. He is powerful over everything.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ءَاثَٰرِ

traces

Variant Reading

أَثَرِ

effect

The Hafs recitation uses the plural 'ءَاثَٰرِ' (traces), while the variant recitation uses the singular 'أَثَرِ' (effect).

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Shu'bah, Susi, Warsh

Ar-Rum 30:53

وَمَآ أَنتَ بِهَٰدِ ٱلۡعُمۡيِ عَن ضَلَٰلَتِهِمۡۖ إِن تُسۡمِعُ إِلَّا مَن يُؤۡمِنُ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا فَهُم مُّسۡلِمُونَ

You cannot guide the blind out of their straying, nor can you make (anyone) hear, except for those who believe in Our signs, and so they submit.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

بِهَٰدِ

guide

Variant Reading

تَهْدِي

do yousg guide

The Hafs reading uses the active participle with a preposition (بِهَٰدِ, 'a guide'), while the variant reads it as a second-person imperfect verb (تَهْدِي, 'you guide').

Read by:

Khalaf, Khallad

Luqman 31:20

أَلَمۡ تَرَوۡاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَأَسۡبَغَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ نِعَمَهُۥ ظَٰهِرَةٗ وَبَاطِنَةٗۗ وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُجَٰدِلُ فِي ٱللَّهِ بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٖ وَلَا هُدٗى وَلَا كِتَٰبٖ مُّنِيرٖ

Do you not see that God has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and has lavished on you His blessings, both outwardly and inwardly? But among the people (there is) one who disputes about God without any knowledge or guidance or illuminating Book.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

نِعَمَهُۥ

His blessings

Variant Reading

نِعْمَتَهُۥ

a blessing

The variant reads the word as a singular noun ('blessing', adding the letter taa) instead of the plural form ('blessings') found in Hafs.

Read by:

Duri Abu 'Amr, Hafs, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Susi, Warsh

Al-Ahzab 33:20

يَحۡسَبُونَ ٱلۡأَحۡزَابَ لَمۡ يَذۡهَبُواْۖ وَإِن يَأۡتِ ٱلۡأَحۡزَابُ يَوَدُّواْ لَوۡ أَنَّهُم بَادُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَعۡرَابِ يَسۡـَٔلُونَ عَنۡ أَنۢبَآئِكُمۡۖ وَلَوۡ كَانُواْ فِيكُم مَّا قَٰتَلُوٓاْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا

They think (that) the factions have not gone away. If the factions come (again), they will wish that they were living in the desert among the Arabs, asking for news of you. Yet (even) if they were among you, they would seldom fight.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

يَسۡـَٔلُونَ

asking

Variant Reading

يَسَّآءَلُونَ

asking each other

The verb changes from Form I (asking) to Form VI (asking one another), modifying the meaning from simply asking to mutual questioning.

Read by:

Ruways

Al-Ahzab 33:49

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا نَكَحۡتُمُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ ثُمَّ طَلَّقۡتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبۡلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ فَمَا لَكُمۡ عَلَيۡهِنَّ مِنۡ عِدَّةٖ تَعۡتَدُّونَهَاۖ فَمَتِّعُوهُنَّ وَسَرِّحُوهُنَّ سَرَاحٗا جَمِيلٗا

You who believe! When you marry believing women (and) then divorce them before you touch them, you have no waiting period to count for them. So make provision for them, and release them gracefully.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

تَمَسُّوهُنَّ

you touch them

Variant Reading

تُمَاسُّوهُنَّ

having touched each other

The variant adds an Alif and changes the vowel on the initial Ta (shifting from Form I to Form III), which introduces a reciprocal meaning ('mutually touching' or 'having touched each other') rather than a one-sided action.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

Saba 34:3

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَا تَأۡتِينَا ٱلسَّاعَةُۖ قُلۡ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّي لَتَأۡتِيَنَّكُمۡ عَٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِۖ لَا يَعۡزُبُ عَنۡهُ مِثۡقَالُ ذَرَّةٖ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَآ أَصۡغَرُ مِن ذَٰلِكَ وَلَآ أَكۡبَرُ إِلَّا فِي كِتَٰبٖ مُّبِينٖ

Those who disbelieve say, ‘The Hour will not come upon us.’ Say: ‘Yes indeed! By my Lord! It will indeed come to you! (He is the) Knower of the unseen. Not (even) the weight of a speck in the heavens and the earth escapes from Him, nor (is there anything) smaller than that or greater, except (that it is recorded) in a clear Book

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

عَٰلِمِ

Knower

Variant Reading

عَلَّٰمِ

Superb Knower

The word changes from the active participle 'عَٰلِمِ' (Knower) to the intensive morphological form 'عَلَّٰمِ' (Superb Knower), emphasizing the vastness and perfection of Allah's knowledge.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Khalaf, Khallad

Saba 34:12

وَلِسُلَيۡمَٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهۡرٞ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَهۡرٞۖ وَأَسَلۡنَا لَهُۥ عَيۡنَ ٱلۡقِطۡرِۖ وَمِنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ مَن يَعۡمَلُ بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهِۦۖ وَمَن يَزِغۡ مِنۡهُمۡ عَنۡ أَمۡرِنَا نُذِقۡهُ مِنۡ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

And to Solomon (We subjected) the wind, its morning was a month’s (journey), and its evening was a month’s (journey), and We made a spring of molten brass to flow for him. And among the jinn, (there were) those who worked for him by the permission of his Lord. Whoever of them turns aside from Our command – We shall make him taste the punishment of the blazing (Fire).

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ٱلرِّيحَ

the wind

Variant Reading

ٱلرِّيَاحَ

the winds

The word changes from the singular 'ar-rīḥ' (the wind) to the plural 'ar-riyāḥ' (the winds), indicating that multiple winds were subjected to Prophet Solomon's command.

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan

Saba 34:15

لَقَدۡ كَانَ لِسَبَإٖ فِي مَسۡكَنِهِمۡ ءَايَةٞۖ جَنَّتَانِ عَن يَمِينٖ وَشِمَالٖۖ كُلُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِ رَبِّكُمۡ وَٱشۡكُرُواْ لَهُۥۚ بَلۡدَةٞ طَيِّبَةٞ وَرَبٌّ غَفُورٞ

Certainly for Sheba there was a sign in their dwelling place – two gardens, on the right and left: ‘Eat from the provision of your Lord, and be thankful to Him. A good land and a forgiving Lord.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

مَسۡكَنِهِمۡ

dwelling place

Variant Reading

مَسَٰكِنِهِمُۥٓ

residences

The Hafs reading uses the singular 'maskan' (dwelling place), while the variant reads it as the plural 'masākin' (residences) indicated by the addition of the dagger alif.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Shu'bah, Susi, Warsh

Saba 34:37

وَمَآ أَمۡوَٰلُكُمۡ وَلَآ أَوۡلَٰدُكُم بِٱلَّتِي تُقَرِّبُكُمۡ عِندَنَا زُلۡفَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَنۡ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا فَأُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمۡ جَزَآءُ ٱلضِّعۡفِ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ وَهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡغُرُفَٰتِ ءَامِنُونَ

Neither your wealth nor your children are the things which bring you near to Us in intimacy, except for whoever believes and does righteousness. And those – for them (there is) a double payment for what they have done, and they will be secure in exalted rooms.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ٱلۡغُرُفَٰتِ

exalted rooms

Variant Reading

ٱلۡغُرۡفَةِ

the Chamber

Hafs reads the noun in the plural form 'al-ghurufaat' (exalted rooms), whereas the variant reads it in the singular form 'al-ghurfah' (the Chamber).

Read by:

Khalaf, Khallad

Fatir 35:9

وَٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَرۡسَلَ ٱلرِّيَٰحَ فَتُثِيرُ سَحَابٗا فَسُقۡنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ بَلَدٖ مَّيِّتٖ فَأَحۡيَيۡنَا بِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَاۚ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلنُّشُورُ

(It is) God who sends the winds, and it stirs up a cloud, and We drive it to some barren land, and by means of it give the earth life after its death. So (too) is the raising up.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ٱلرِّيَٰحَ

the winds

Variant Reading

ٱلرِّيحَ

the wind

The word changes from the plural 'winds' (al-riyāḥ) to the singular 'wind' (al-rīḥ), shifting the grammatical number while maintaining the core meaning.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Bazzi, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Qunbul

Fatir 35:40

قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ شُرَكَآءَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقُواْ مِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شِرۡكٞ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ أَمۡ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُمۡ كِتَٰبٗا فَهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَتٖ مِّنۡهُۚ بَلۡ إِن يَعِدُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ بَعۡضُهُم بَعۡضًا إِلَّا غُرُورًا

Say: ‘Have you seen your associates whom you call on instead of God? Show me what part of the earth they have created. Or do they have any partnership in (the creation of) the heavens?’ Or have We given them a Book, so that they (stand) on a clear sign from it? No! The evildoers promise each other nothing but deception.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

بَيِّنَتٖ

a clear sign

Variant Reading

بَيِّنَٰتٖ

evident proofs

The word changes from singular ('a clear sign') in Hafs to plural ('evident proofs') in the variant, indicating multiple proofs versus a single sign.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Rawh, Ruways, Shu'bah, Warsh

Ya-Sin 36:41

وَءَايَةٞ لَّهُمۡ أَنَّا حَمَلۡنَا ذُرِّيَّتَهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡفُلۡكِ ٱلۡمَشۡحُونِ

A sign for them is that We carried their descendants in the loaded ship,

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ذُرِّيَّتَهُمۡ

their descendants

Variant Reading

ذُرِّيَّٰتِهِمْ

their offspring(s)

The word changes from the singular form 'ذُرِّيَّتَهُم' to the plural form 'ذُرِّيَّٰتِهِم' by adding an alif (written as a dagger alif) before the ta', shifting the reference from a collective singular to a plural.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Rawh, Ruways, Warsh

Ya-Sin 36:67

وَلَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَمَسَخۡنَٰهُمۡ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِهِمۡ فَمَا ٱسۡتَطَٰعُواْ مُضِيّٗا وَلَا يَرۡجِعُونَ

And if We (so) pleased, We would indeed have transformed them where they were, and they could not go on, nor could they return.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

مَكَانَتِهِمۡ

where they were

Variant Reading

مَكَانَاتِهِمۡ

their places

The noun is read in the singular form (place/position) in Hafs, whereas the variant recitation adds an Alif to read it in the plural form (places), shifting the scope from a collective location to their individual places.

Read by:

Shu'bah

As-Saffat 37:16

أَءِذَا مِتۡنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابٗا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبۡعُوثُونَ

When we are dead, and turned to dust and bones, shall we indeed be raised up?

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Addition / Omission of Word
Original (Hafs)

أَءِنَّا

shall we indeed

Variant Reading

اِنَّا

we will really

The variant omits the interrogative hamza (question particle), changing the phrase from a repeated question to an emphatic declarative statement within the overall interrogative sentence.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Rawh, Ruways, Warsh

Sad 38:36

فَسَخَّرۡنَا لَهُ ٱلرِّيحَ تَجۡرِي بِأَمۡرِهِۦ رُخَآءً حَيۡثُ أَصَابَ

So We subjected the wind to him, to blow gently at his command wherever he decided,

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ٱلرِّيحَ

the wind

Variant Reading

ٱلرِّيَاحَ

the winds

The word changes from the singular 'wind' (al-rīḥ) to the plural 'winds' (al-riyāḥ), shifting the meaning from a single wind force to multiple winds.

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan

Az-Zumar 39:36

أَلَيۡسَ ٱللَّهُ بِكَافٍ عَبۡدَهُۥۖ وَيُخَوِّفُونَكَ بِٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦۚ وَمَن يُضۡلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِنۡ هَادٖ

Is God not sufficient for His servant, when they frighten you with (gods) other than Him? Whoever God leads astray has no guide,

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

عَبۡدَهُۥ

His servant

Variant Reading

عِبَادَهُ

His servants

The word changes from the singular 'servant' ('abdahu) to the plural 'servants' ('ibadahu), expanding the meaning from referring specifically to the Prophet to encompassing all true servants of Allah.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Idris, Ishaq

Az-Zumar 39:39

قُلۡ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمۡ إِنِّي عَٰمِلٞۖ فَسَوۡفَ تَعۡلَمُونَ

Say: ‘My people! Do as you are able. Surely I am going to do (what I can). Soon you will know

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

مَكَانَتِكُمۡ

able

Variant Reading

مَكَانَاتِكُمۡ

positions

The variant adds an Alif (often represented as a dagger Alif in the Uthmani script), changing the word from the singular 'makanatikum' (your position/ability, translated here as 'able') to the plural 'makanaatikum' (your positions).

Read by:

Shu'bah

Az-Zumar 39:61

وَيُنَجِّي ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوۡاْ بِمَفَازَتِهِمۡ لَا يَمَسُّهُمُ ٱلسُّوٓءُ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ

But God will rescue those who guarded (themselves) in their (place of) safety. Evil will not touch them, nor will they sorrow.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

بِمَفَازَتِهِمۡ

in their (place of) safety

Variant Reading

بِمَفَازَاتِهِمۡ

to their place of triumph

The variant (read by Hamzah, Al-Kisa'i, Khalaf, and Shu'bah) adds an alif to read the noun in the plural form 'mafāzāt' (places of triumph/safety), whereas Hafs reads it in the singular form 'mafāzah'.

Read by:

Rawh

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

بِمَفَازَتِهِمۡ

their (place of) safety

Variant Reading

بِمَفَازَاتِهِمۡ

their places of triumph

The Hafs reading uses the singular noun 'mafāzatihim' (place of safety/triumph), whereas the variant reading adds an Alif to make it the plural noun 'mafāzātihim' (places of triumph).

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Shu'bah

Ghafir 40:6

وَكَذَٰلِكَ حَقَّتۡ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ أَنَّهُمۡ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ

In this way the word of your Lord has proved true against those who disbelieve: ‘They are the companions of the Fire.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

كَلِمَتُ

the word

Variant Reading

كَلِمَٰتُ

Words

The recitation changes from the singular 'word' (كَلِمَتُ) in Hafs to the plural 'Words' (كَلِمَٰتُ) in the variant.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Warsh

Ghafir 40:21

۞أَوَلَمۡ يَسِيرُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَيَنظُرُواْ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَانُواْ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۚ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَشَدَّ مِنۡهُمۡ قُوَّةٗ وَءَاثَارٗا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمۡ وَمَا كَانَ لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَاقٖ

Have they not traveled on the earth and seen how the end was for those who were before them? They were stronger than them in power, and in the traces (they left behind) on the earth. Yet God seized them in their sins, and they had no defender against God.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

مِنۡهُمۡ

them

Variant Reading

مِنكُمۡ

youpl

The pronoun changes from the third-person plural 'them' (ha) to the second-person plural 'you' (kaf), shifting the narrative from a descriptive statement to a direct address.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan

Fussilat 41:39

وَمِنۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَنَّكَ تَرَى ٱلۡأَرۡضَ خَٰشِعَةٗ فَإِذَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهَا ٱلۡمَآءَ ٱهۡتَزَّتۡ وَرَبَتۡۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَحۡيَاهَا لَمُحۡيِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰٓۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٌ

(Another) of His signs is that you see the earth barren, (and) then, when We send down water on it, it stirs and swells. Surely the One who gives it life is indeed the giver of life to the dead. Surely He is powerful over everything.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

رَبَتۡ

swells

Variant Reading

رَبَأَتۡ

becomes higher

Hafs reads 'rabat' (from the root R-B-W) meaning 'swells' or 'grows', while the variant reads 'raba'at' with a hamzah (from the root R-B-') meaning 'rises' or 'becomes higher'.

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan

Fussilat 41:47

۞إِلَيۡهِ يُرَدُّ عِلۡمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِۚ وَمَا تَخۡرُجُ مِن ثَمَرَٰتٖ مِّنۡ أَكۡمَامِهَا وَمَا تَحۡمِلُ مِنۡ أُنثَىٰ وَلَا تَضَعُ إِلَّا بِعِلۡمِهِۦۚ وَيَوۡمَ يُنَادِيهِمۡ أَيۡنَ شُرَكَآءِي قَالُوٓاْ ءَاذَنَّـٰكَ مَامِنَّا مِن شَهِيدٖ

Knowledge of the Hour is reserved for Him. No fruit comes forth from its sheath, and no female conceives or delivers, except with His knowledge. On the Day when He will call to them, ‘Where are My associates?,’ they will say, ‘We proclaim to You: (there is) no witness among us.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ثَمَرَٰتٖ

fruit

Variant Reading

ثَمَرَتٖ

product

Hafs reads the word in the plural form (fruits, indicated by the dagger alif), whereas the variant reads it in the singular form (fruit/product) without the alif.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Shu'bah, Susi

Ash-Shuraa 42:13

۞شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِۦ نُوحٗا وَٱلَّذِيٓ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ وَمَا وَصَّيۡنَا بِهِۦٓ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰٓۖ أَنۡ أَقِيمُواْ ٱلدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُواْ فِيهِۚ كَبُرَ عَلَى ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ مَا تَدۡعُوهُمۡ إِلَيۡهِۚ ٱللَّهُ يَجۡتَبِيٓ إِلَيۡهِ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهۡدِيٓ إِلَيۡهِ مَن يُنِيبُ

He has instituted for you from the religion what He charged Noah with, and that which We have inspired you (with), and what We charged Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus with: ‘Observe the religion, and do not become divided in it.’ What you call them to is hard on the idolaters. God chooses for Himself whomever He pleases, and He guides to Himself whoever turns (to Him in repentance).

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ

Abraham

Variant Reading

إِبْرَاهَامَ

Abraham (pronounced Ibrahām)

The proper name is pronounced 'Ibrahām' instead of 'Ibrahim', reflecting a dialectal or historical variation in the spelling and pronunciation of the name.

Read by:

Hisham

Ash-Shuraa 42:33

إِن يَشَأۡ يُسۡكِنِ ٱلرِّيحَ فَيَظۡلَلۡنَ رَوَاكِدَ عَلَىٰ ظَهۡرِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٖ شَكُورٍ

If He pleases, He stills the wind and they remain motionless on its surface. Surely in that are signs indeed for every patient (and) thankful one.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ٱلرِّيحَ

the wind

Variant Reading

اِ۬لرِّيَٰحَ

the winds

The word is recited in the singular form (the wind) in Hafs, while the variant recites it in the plural form (the winds).

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Warsh

Ash-Shuraa 42:37

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَجۡتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓئِرَ ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡفَوَٰحِشَ وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُواْ هُمۡ يَغۡفِرُونَ

– and (also for) those who avoid great sins and immoral deeds, and when they are angry, they forgive,

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

كَبَٰٓئِرَ

great sins

Variant Reading

كَبِيرَ

grave kind of sin

The Hafs recitation uses the plural 'kabā'ira' (great sins), while the variant (recited by Hamza and Al-Kisa'i) uses the singular 'kabīra' (grave/great sin), which functions as a collective noun indicating the category of major sin.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

Az-Zukhruf 43:10

ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مَهۡدٗا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمۡ فِيهَا سُبُلٗا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُونَ

(It is He) who made the earth as a cradle for you, and made (path)ways in it for you, so that you might be guided,

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

مَهۡدٗا

cradle

Variant Reading

مِهَٰداٗ

resting place

The word changes from 'mahdan' (cradle) to 'mihadan' (resting place) through a change in voweling and the addition of an alif, shifting the imagery slightly from a cradle to an expansive resting place.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

Az-Zukhruf 43:24

۞قَٰلَ أَوَلَوۡ جِئۡتُكُم بِأَهۡدَىٰ مِمَّا وَجَدتُّمۡ عَلَيۡهِ ءَابَآءَكُمۡۖ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرۡسِلۡتُم بِهِۦ كَٰفِرُونَ

He said, ‘Even if I bring you better guidance than what you found your fathers (set) on?’ They said, ‘Surely we are disbelievers in what you are sent with.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

قَٰلَ

He said

Variant Reading

قُلَ

Saysg

The verb changes from the third-person past tense 'He said' (qaala) to the second-person singular imperative 'Say' (qul).

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Shu'bah, Susi, Warsh

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

قَٰلَ

He said

Variant Reading

قُلۡ

Saysg

The verb changes from the third-person past tense 'He said' to the second-person singular imperative 'Say'.

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan

Al-Ahqaf 46:15

وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ إِحۡسَٰنًاۖ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُۥ كُرۡهٗا وَوَضَعَتۡهُ كُرۡهٗاۖ وَحَمۡلُهُۥ وَفِصَٰلُهُۥ ثَلَٰثُونَ شَهۡرًاۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرۡبَعِينَ سَنَةٗ قَالَ رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِيٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَيَّ وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَٰلِحٗا تَرۡضَىٰهُ وَأَصۡلِحۡ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِيٓۖ إِنِّي تُبۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ

We have charged each person (to do) good to his parents – his mother bore him with difficulty, and she delivered him with difficulty – his bearing and his weaning are thirty months – until, when he reaches his maturity, and reaches forty years, he says, ‘My Lord, (so) dispose me that I may be thankful for your blessing with which You have blessed me and my parents, and that I may do righteousness pleasing to You, and do right by me concerning my descendants. Surely I turn to You (in repentance), and surely I am one of those who submit.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

إِحۡسَٰنًا

good

Variant Reading

حُسۡنًا

kindness

The word changes from the Form IV verbal noun 'Ihsan' (doing good) in Hafs to the Form I verbal noun 'Husn' (goodness/kindness) in the variant, representing a different word choice with a similar semantic focus.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

Muhammad 47:4

فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَضَرۡبَ ٱلرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَثۡخَنتُمُوهُمۡ فَشُدُّواْ ٱلۡوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنَّۢا بَعۡدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَآءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ ٱلۡحَرۡبُ أَوۡزَارَهَاۚ ذَٰلِكَۖ وَلَوۡ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَٱنتَصَرَ مِنۡهُمۡ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبۡلُوَاْ بَعۡضَكُم بِبَعۡضٖۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ

When you meet those who disbelieve, (let there be) a striking of the necks, until, when you have subdued them, bind (them) securely, and then either (set them free) as a favor or by ransom, until the war lays down its burdens. That (is the rule). If God had (so) pleased, He would indeed have defended Himself against them, but (He allows fighting) so that He may test some of you by means of others. Those who are killed in the way of God – He will not lead their deeds astray.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Active to Passive / Passive to Active
Original (Hafs)

قُتِلُواْ

are killed

Variant Reading

قَٰتَلُواْ

combated

The verb changes from the Form I passive 'qutilū' (are killed) to the Form III active 'qātalū' (combated), shifting the meaning from those who were martyred to all those who actively fought.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Bazzi, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Qalun, Qunbul, Shu'bah, Warsh

Muhammad 47:15

مَّثَلُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِي وُعِدَ ٱلۡمُتَّقُونَۖ فِيهَآ أَنۡهَٰرٞ مِّن مَّآءٍ غَيۡرِ ءَاسِنٖ وَأَنۡهَٰرٞ مِّن لَّبَنٖ لَّمۡ يَتَغَيَّرۡ طَعۡمُهُۥ وَأَنۡهَٰرٞ مِّنۡ خَمۡرٖ لَّذَّةٖ لِّلشَّـٰرِبِينَ وَأَنۡهَٰرٞ مِّنۡ عَسَلٖ مُّصَفّٗىۖ وَلَهُمۡ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ وَمَغۡفِرَةٞ مِّن رَّبِّهِمۡۖ كَمَنۡ هُوَ خَٰلِدٞ فِي ٱلنَّارِ وَسُقُواْ مَآءً حَمِيمٗا فَقَطَّعَ أَمۡعَآءَهُمۡ

A parable of the Garden which is promised to the ones who guard (themselves): In it (there are) rivers of water without pollution, and rivers of milk – its taste does not change – and rivers of wine – delicious to the drinkers – and rivers of purified honey. In it (there is) every (kind of) fruit for them, and forgiveness from their Lord. (Are they) like those who remain in the Fire? They are given boiling water to drink, and it cuts their insides (to pieces).

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

ءَاسِنٖ

pollution

Variant Reading

أَسِنٖ

staling

The Hafs recitation uses the active participle 'āsin' (polluted/stagnant), whereas the variant uses the adjective form 'asin' (staling/altered). The difference is in the inclusion of the Alif, slightly shifting the morphological form while retaining a similar core meaning.

Read by:

Bazzi, Qunbul

Al-Fath 48:15

سَيَقُولُ ٱلۡمُخَلَّفُونَ إِذَا ٱنطَلَقۡتُمۡ إِلَىٰ مَغَانِمَ لِتَأۡخُذُوهَا ذَرُونَا نَتَّبِعۡكُمۡۖ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُبَدِّلُواْ كَلَٰمَ ٱللَّهِۚ قُل لَّن تَتَّبِعُونَا كَذَٰلِكُمۡ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ مِن قَبۡلُۖ فَسَيَقُولُونَ بَلۡ تَحۡسُدُونَنَاۚ بَلۡ كَانُواْ لَا يَفۡقَهُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا

The ones who stayed behind will say, when you set out to take spoils, ‘Let us follow you.’ They want to change the word of God. Say: ‘You will not follow us. So God has said before.’ They will say, ‘No! You are jealous of us.’ No! They have not understood, except for a little.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

كَلَٰمَ

word

Variant Reading

كَلِمَٰتِ

Words

The recitation changes from the singular 'kalam' (word) to the plural 'kalimat' (words).

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

Al-Hujurat 49:10

إِنَّمَا ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ إِخۡوَةٞ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَ أَخَوَيۡكُمۡۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُرۡحَمُونَ

Only the believers are brothers, so set (things) right between your two brothers, and guard (yourselves) against God, so that you may receive mercy.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

أَخَوَيۡكُمۡ

your two brothers

Variant Reading

إِخۡوَتِكُمۡ

your pl brothers

The Hafs reading uses the dual form 'akhawaykum' (your two brothers), whereas the variant reading (such as that of Ya'qub) uses the plural form 'ikhwatikum' (your brothers).

Read by:

Rawh, Ruways

Adh-Dhariyat 51:24

هَلۡ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيۡفِ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٱلۡمُكۡرَمِينَ

Has the story come to you of the honored guests of Abraham?

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ

Abraham

Variant Reading

إِبْرَاهَامَ

Abraham's

The variant (recited by Hisham) changes the spelling and pronunciation of the Prophet's name from Ibrahim (إبراهيم) to Ibraham (إبراهام). The English translation remains functionally the same.

Read by:

Hisham

Adh-Dhariyat 51:44

فَعَتَوۡاْ عَنۡ أَمۡرِ رَبِّهِمۡ فَأَخَذَتۡهُمُ ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ وَهُمۡ يَنظُرُونَ

But they disdained the command of their Lord, and the thunderbolt took them while they were looking on,

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

ٱلصَّٰعِقَةُ

the thunderbolt

Variant Reading

ٱلصَّعۡقَةُ

the strike of lightning

The Hafs reading uses 'ٱلصَّٰعِقَةُ' (the thunderbolt), which is an active noun form. The variant omits the Alif to read 'ٱلصَّعۡقَةُ' (the strike of lightning/blast), changing it to a verbal noun of instance (masdar marrah) that indicates a single, sudden strike.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i

At-Tur 52:21

وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَٱتَّبَعَتۡهُمۡ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم بِإِيمَٰنٍ أَلۡحَقۡنَا بِهِمۡ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمۡ وَمَآ أَلَتۡنَٰهُم مِّنۡ عَمَلِهِم مِّن شَيۡءٖۚ كُلُّ ٱمۡرِيِٕۭ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٞ

(For) those who believe, and whose descendants followed them in belief, We shall join their descendants with them, and We shall not deprive them of any of their deeds. Each person (is held) in pledge for what he has earned.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

وَٱتَّبَعَتۡهُمۡ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم

whose descendants followed them

Variant Reading

وَأَتۡبَعۡنَٰهُمۡ ذُرِّيَّٰتِهِم

whom We followed (with) their offspring(s)

The verb changes from 3rd-person feminine singular ('descendants followed') to 1st-person plural ('We followed/joined'). Consequently, the word for 'descendants' changes from a singular nominative subject to a plural accusative object.

Read by:

Duri Abu 'Amr, Susi

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ذُرِّيَّتُهُم

descendants

Variant Reading

ذُرِّيَّاتُهُم

offspring(s)

The word is read as a collective singular noun (ذُرِّيَّتُهُم) in Hafs, and as a plural noun with an added Alif (ذُرِّيَّاتُهُم) in the variant, emphasizing multiple lineages or generations.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Rawh, Ruways

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ذُرِّيَّتَهُمۡ

their descendants

Variant Reading

ذُرِّيَّٰتِهِمْ

their offspring(s)

The word is read as a singular noun in Hafs and as a plural noun in the variant.

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Warsh

An-Najm 53:37

وَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٱلَّذِي وَفَّىٰٓ

and Abraham, who paid (his debt) in full?

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

وَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ

Abraham

Variant Reading

وَإِبۡرَٰهَامَ

Abraham (as opposed to Ibrahim)

The variant reads the Prophet's name as 'Ibraham' (with an alif) instead of 'Ibrahim' (with a ya'), representing a dialectal variation in the pronunciation of the name.

Read by:

Hisham

Ar-Rahman 55:78

تَبَٰرَكَ ٱسۡمُ رَبِّكَ ذِي ٱلۡجَلَٰلِ وَٱلۡإِكۡرَامِ

Blessed (be) the name of your Lord, full of splendor and honor.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Grammatical Case Change
Original (Hafs)

ذِي

full of

Variant Reading

ذُو

which possesses

The word changes from the genitive 'dhi' (describing the Lord) to the nominative 'dhu' (describing the Name).

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan

Al-Waqi'ah 56:75

۞فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ

I swear by the fallings of the stars

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

بِمَوَٰقِعِ

fallings

Variant Reading

بِمَوْقِعِ

location

The Hafs reading uses the plural form 'بِمَوَٰقِعِ' (fallings or locations), whereas the variant reads it as the singular 'بِمَوْقِعِ' (location), altering the vowelization and omitting the Alif.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

Al-Hadid 57:23

لِّكَيۡلَا تَأۡسَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ مَا فَاتَكُمۡ وَلَا تَفۡرَحُواْ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمۡۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخۡتَالٖ فَخُورٍ

so that you may not grieve over what eludes you, nor gloat about what has come to you. God does not love anyone who is arrogant (and) boastful,

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

ءَاتَىٰكُمۡ

has come to you

Variant Reading

أَتَىٰكُمۡ

has come to you

Hafs reads with a long 'a' (Form IV 'آتَى', meaning 'He gave you', though translated here as 'has come'), whereas the variant reads with a short 'a' (Form I 'أَتَى', meaning 'it came to you'). This shifts the literal subject from Allah (who gives) to the worldly gains themselves (which come).

Read by:

Duri Abu 'Amr, Susi

Al-Hadid 57:26

وَلَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوحٗا وَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَجَعَلۡنَا فِي ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا ٱلنُّبُوَّةَ وَٱلۡكِتَٰبَۖ فَمِنۡهُم مُّهۡتَدٖۖ وَكَثِيرٞ مِّنۡهُمۡ فَٰسِقُونَ

Certainly We sent Noah and Abraham, and We placed among his descendants the prophetic office and the Book. Yet (there was only the occasional) one of them who was (rightly) guided, but many of them were wicked.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا

his descendants

Variant Reading

ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا

their offspring

The discrepancy is a translation artifact rather than a textual variant. The Hafs Arabic 'ذريتهما' is dual ('their descendants'), which is inaccurately translated as singular ('his') in the first text. The second translation accurately reflects the dual/plural ('their').

Read by:

Hisham

Al-Mujadila 58:8

أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ نُهُواْ عَنِ ٱلنَّجۡوَىٰ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا نُهُواْ عَنۡهُ وَيَتَنَٰجَوۡنَ بِٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡعُدۡوَٰنِ وَمَعۡصِيَتِ ٱلرَّسُولِۖ وَإِذَا جَآءُوكَ حَيَّوۡكَ بِمَا لَمۡ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ ٱللَّهُ وَيَقُولُونَ فِيٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَوۡلَا يُعَذِّبُنَا ٱللَّهُ بِمَا نَقُولُۚ حَسۡبُهُمۡ جَهَنَّمُ يَصۡلَوۡنَهَاۖ فَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ

Do you not see those who were forbidden from secret talk, (and) then return to what they were forbidden, and converse secretly in sin and enmity and disobedience to the messenger? And when they come to you, they greet you with what God does not greet you with, and they say within themselves, ‘If only God would punish us for what we say.’ Gehenna will be enough for them, where they will burn – and it is an evil destination!

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

وَيَتَنَٰجَوۡنَ

and converse secretly

Variant Reading

وَيَنتَجُونَ

They converse with one another secretly

Hafs reads the verb in Form VI (wayatanājawna), emphasizing mutual conversation, whereas the variant reads it in Form VIII (wayantajūna), meaning to hold a secret counsel.

Read by:

Khalaf, Khallad, Ruways

Al-Mujadila 58:11

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمۡ تَفَسَّحُواْ فِي ٱلۡمَجَٰلِسِ فَٱفۡسَحُواْ يَفۡسَحِ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡۖ وَإِذَا قِيلَ ٱنشُزُواْ فَٱنشُزُواْ يَرۡفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمۡ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ دَرَجَٰتٖۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرٞ

You who believe! When it is said to you ‘Make room in the assemblies,’ make room! God will make room for you. And when it is said, ‘Rise up,’ rise up! God will raise in rank those of you who have believed and those who have been given knowledge. God is aware of what you do.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ٱلۡمَجَٰلِسِ

assemblies

Variant Reading

اِ۬لْمَجْلِسِ

assembly

Hafs reads the word in the plural form ('assemblies'), whereas the variant reads it in the singular form ('assembly').

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

Al-Hashr 59:14

لَا يُقَٰتِلُونَكُمۡ جَمِيعًا إِلَّا فِي قُرٗى مُّحَصَّنَةٍ أَوۡ مِن وَرَآءِ جُدُرِۭۚ بَأۡسُهُم بَيۡنَهُمۡ شَدِيدٞۚ تَحۡسَبُهُمۡ جَمِيعٗا وَقُلُوبُهُمۡ شَتَّىٰۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ قَوۡمٞ لَّا يَعۡقِلُونَ

They will not fight against you all together, except in fortified towns or from behind walls. Their violence among themselves is (so) harsh, you (might) think them all (united) together, but their hearts are divided. That is because they are a people who have no sense.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

جُدُرٍ

walls

Variant Reading

جِدَٰرٍ

a wall

The word changes from the plural 'judur' (walls) to the singular 'jidaar' (a wall), slightly altering the description of their fortifications.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Qunbul, Susi

Al-Mumtahanah 60:4

قَدۡ كَانَتۡ لَكُمۡ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٞ فِيٓ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ إِذۡ قَالُواْ لِقَوۡمِهِمۡ إِنَّا بُرَءَـٰٓؤُاْ مِنكُمۡ وَمِمَّا تَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَفَرۡنَا بِكُمۡ وَبَدَا بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمُ ٱلۡعَدَٰوَةُ وَٱلۡبَغۡضَآءُ أَبَدًا حَتَّىٰ تُؤۡمِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَحۡدَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَوۡلَ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ لَأَسۡتَغۡفِرَنَّ لَكَ وَمَآ أَمۡلِكُ لَكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَيۡءٖۖ رَّبَّنَا عَلَيۡكَ تَوَكَّلۡنَا وَإِلَيۡكَ أَنَبۡنَا وَإِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ

There was a good example for you in Abraham, and those who were with him, when they said to their people, ‘Surely we are free of you and what you serve instead of God. We repudiate you, and between us and you enmity has shown itself, and hatred forever, until you believe in God alone’ – except for Abraham’s saying to his father: ‘I shall indeed ask forgiveness for you, but I have no power from God to (benefit) you at all’ – ’Our Lord, in You we put our trust, to You we turn (in repentance), and to You is the (final) destination.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ

Abraham

Variant Reading

إِبۡرَٰهَامَ

Abraham

A dialectal variation in the pronunciation and spelling of the proper name, changing from 'Ibrahim' to 'Ibraham' (changing the Ya to an Alif).

Read by:

Hisham

As-Saf 61:6

وَإِذۡ قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ يَٰبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَـٰٓءِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيۡكُم مُّصَدِّقٗا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ ٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةِ وَمُبَشِّرَۢا بِرَسُولٖ يَأۡتِي مِنۢ بَعۡدِي ٱسۡمُهُۥٓ أَحۡمَدُۖ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ قَالُواْ هَٰذَا سِحۡرٞ مُّبِينٞ

And (remember) when Jesus, son of Mary, said, ‘Sons of Israel! Surely I am the messenger of God to you, confirming what was before me of the Torah, and bringing good news of a messenger who will come after me, whose name will be Aḥmad.’ Then, when he brought them the clear signs, they said, ‘This is clear magic.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

سِحۡرٞ

magic

Variant Reading

سَاحِرٞ

sorcerer

The word changes from the verbal noun 'sihr' (magic) to the active participle 'sahir' (sorcerer), shifting the focus of the accusation from the miracles themselves to the person performing them.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

As-Saf 61:14

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُوٓاْ أَنصَارَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَا قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ لِلۡحَوَارِيِّـۧنَ مَنۡ أَنصَارِيٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ قَالَ ٱلۡحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحۡنُ أَنصَارُ ٱللَّهِۖ فَـَٔامَنَت طَّآئِفَةٞ مِّنۢ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَـٰٓءِيلَ وَكَفَرَت طَّآئِفَةٞۖ فَأَيَّدۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ عَلَىٰ عَدُوِّهِمۡ فَأَصۡبَحُواْ ظَٰهِرِينَ

You who believe! Be the helpers of God, as Jesus, son of Mary, said to the disciples, ‘Who will be my helpers to God?’ The disciples said, ‘We will be the helpers of God.’ One contingent of the Sons of Israel believed, and (another) contingent disbelieved. So We supported those who believed against their enemy, and they were the ones who prevailed.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Grammatical Case Change
Original (Hafs)

أَنصَارَ ٱللَّهِ

helpers of God

Variant Reading

أَنصَاراٗ لِّلهِ

supporters for Allah

The Hafs reading uses a genitive construct (idafah) without tanween, whereas the variant uses an accusative indefinite noun with tanween, followed by the preposition 'li' (for).

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Susi, Warsh

At-Tahrim 66:12

وَمَرۡيَمَ ٱبۡنَتَ عِمۡرَٰنَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَحۡصَنَتۡ فَرۡجَهَا فَنَفَخۡنَا فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِنَا وَصَدَّقَتۡ بِكَلِمَٰتِ رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَكَانَتۡ مِنَ ٱلۡقَٰنِتِينَ

And Mary, daughter of ‘Imrān, who guarded her private part: We breathed into it some of Our spirit, and she affirmed the words of her Lord and His Books, and became one of the obedient.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

وَكُتُبِهِۦ

His Books

Variant Reading

وَكِتَٰبِهِۦ

His Scripture

The Hafs reading uses the plural form 'kutubihi' (His Books), whereas the variant reading uses the singular form 'kitābihi' (His Book/Scripture).

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Bazzi, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Qalun, Qunbul, Shu'bah, Warsh

Al-Ma'arij 70:32

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِأَمَٰنَٰتِهِمۡ وَعَهۡدِهِمۡ رَٰعُونَ

and those who keep their pledges and their promise(s),

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

لِأَمَٰنَٰتِهِمۡ

their pledges

Variant Reading

لِأَمَٰنَتِهِمُۥ

their trustworthiness

Hafs reads the noun in the plural form (amānātihim, 'their pledges'), while the variant reads it in the singular form (amānatihim, 'their trustworthiness').

Read by:

Bazzi, Qunbul

Al-Ma'arij 70:33

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِشَهَٰدَٰتِهِمۡ قَآئِمُونَ

and who stand by their testimonies,

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

بِشَهَٰدَٰتِهِمۡ

testimonies

Variant Reading

بِشَهَٰدَتِهِمْ

testimony

The word changes from the plural form (testimonies) in Hafs to the singular form (testimony) in the variant.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Qalun, Qunbul, Shu'bah, Susi, Warsh

Al-Jinn 72:20

قُلۡ إِنَّمَآ أَدۡعُواْ رَبِّي وَلَآ أُشۡرِكُ بِهِۦٓ أَحَدٗا

Say: ‘I call only on my Lord, and I do not associate anyone with Him.’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

قُلۡ

Say

Variant Reading

قَالَ

He said

The word changes from the second-person imperative 'Say' (qul) to the third-person past tense 'He said' (qaala), shifting the verse from a direct command to a narrative statement.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Idris, Ishaq, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

Al-Muzzammil 73:6

إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ ٱلَّيۡلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطۡـٔٗا وَأَقۡوَمُ قِيلًا

Surely the first part of the night – it is more efficacious and more suitable for speaking.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

وَطۡـٔٗا

efficacious

Variant Reading

وِطَآءٗ

suitable

Hafs reads 'waṭ'an' (a Form I verbal noun meaning treading, impression, or efficacious), while the variant reads 'wiṭā'an' (a Form III verbal noun meaning agreement or conformity). This changes the meaning from the night prayer being more efficacious or heavy, to it bringing greater harmony between the heart and the tongue.

Read by:

Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Susi

Al-Mursalat 77:30

ٱنطَلِقُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ ظِلّٖ ذِي ثَلَٰثِ شُعَبٖ

Depart to a three-branched shadow

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

ٱنطَلِقُوٓاْ

Depart

Variant Reading

ٱنطَلِقُواْ

Yet they cannot will, unless Allah wills.

In the Arabic text, the only difference is the omission of the madd sign over the alif/waw (a tajweed variation for qasr al-munfasil). However, the provided Variant English is completely mismatched and corresponds to a different verse (e.g., 76:30), creating a complete semantic replacement in the English text.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Qunbul, Susi

An-Naba 78:33

وَكَوَاعِبَ أَتۡرَابٗا

and full-breasted (maidens), (all) of the same age,

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

وَكَوَاعِبَ أَتۡرَابٗا

and full-breasted (maidens), (all) of the same age

Variant Reading

وَكَوَاعِبَ أَتْرَاباٗ

as if they are herds of yellow camels

The Arabic text provided only contains a minor orthographic difference (sukoon placement/tanween style), but the variant English translation corresponds to a completely different verse (Surah Al-Mursalat 77:33), whereas the Hafs text is from Surah An-Naba 78:33. This indicates a data alignment error in the source.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Shu'bah, Susi, Warsh

An-Nazi'at 79:11

أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَٰمٗا نَّخِرَةٗ

When we were rotten bones?’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

نَّخِرَةٗ

rotten

Variant Reading

نَاخِرَةٗ

worn out

The variant adds an Alif to form the active participle 'nākhirah' (worn out/hollow bones making a sound), replacing the adjective 'nakhirah' (rotten/decayed). The variant recitation also drops the initial interrogative hamza ('idhā' instead of 'a-idhā').

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Qalun, Rawh, Warsh

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

نَّخِرَةٗ

rotten

Variant Reading

نَّاخِرَةٗ

hollow

The variant adds an Alif to form the active participle (nākhirah), shifting the meaning from 'rotten/decayed' to 'hollow' (bones through which the wind blows and makes a sound).

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Ruways

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

نَّخِرَةٗ

rotten

Variant Reading

نَّاخِرَةٗ

hollow

The variant adds an alif, changing the morphological pattern of the word from an adjective (nakhirah) meaning 'rotten/decayed' to an active participle (nākhirah) meaning 'hollow' or 'porous' (such that wind whistles through the bones).

Read by:

Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Shu'bah

At-Takwir 81:24

وَمَا هُوَ عَلَى ٱلۡغَيۡبِ بِضَنِينٖ

He is not grudging of the unseen.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

بِضَنِينٖ

grudging

Variant Reading

بِظَنِينٖ

accused

The substitution of the letter ẓāʾ (ظ) for ḍād (ض) changes the root, altering the meaning from 'stingy/grudging' (withholding knowledge) to 'accused/suspected'.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Qunbul, Ruways, Susi

Ash-Shams 91:15

وَلَا يَخَافُ عُقۡبَٰهَا

He was not afraid of its outcome.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

وَلَا

He was not

Variant Reading

فَلَا

so He does not

The conjunction وَ (wa, meaning 'and' or indicating state) is changed to فَ (fa, meaning 'so' or 'then'), shifting the relationship with the previous verse to explicitly indicate a consequence.

Read by:

Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Warsh