Welcome to Stories of The Seekers, a series exploring the incredible lives of our scholars and their sacrifices for the Deen! 

You’ve probably heard about the famous 10 styles of the Quran; the different ways of reciting it, with variations in how certain words and verses are pronounced etc.

Maybe you’ve even heard some of the names of these styles, and wondered where they came from; Hafs, Shu’bah, Warsh, Qaloon, Khalaf etc.

The recitation of the Quran is a science unto itself, but how much do you know about the scholars who codified this science?

Who were these giants gaining the reward of practically every Muslim reciting the Quran today? What were their stories?

In this article, we look at just 3 examples of the scholars of the Quran, and their incredible life stories.

If you’re a Muslim from North Africa, chances are you owe these men an incredible debt!

It all starts with the teacher…

Nafi’ ibn Abdul Rahman: The Imam of Qur’an in Madinah

Nafi’ ibn Abdul Rahman ibn Abi Nu’aym al-Laythi, known as Abu Ruwaym, was from Madinah, though he originally came from Isfahan. He was born during the time of Abdul Malik ibn Marwan, rahimahullah.

Nafi’ was described as aswadan ha’ikan, very dark-skinned with a radiant smile that would shine like the full moon. He was unbelievable when it came to manners, and he had a wonderful sense of humor.

The Fragrance of the Prophet ﷺ

One of the most remarkable things about Nafi’ was that you could smell musk from his face and mouth when he spoke. His breath was exceptionally pleasant. People would notice this fragrance every time he came to teach Qur’an.

When asked about this, Nafi’ explained that he never actually touched perfume. Rather, he saw the Prophet ﷺ in a dream once, and in that dream the Prophet ﷺ was reciting straight into his mouth, his mouth in front of Nafi’s mouth. He could even feel the breath of the Prophet ﷺ coming to his mouth in the dream. When he woke up from that dream, that smell began to come every time he recited the Qur’an.

People were curious (and quite rude, frankly): “How come your face is shining and you’re so black like this? And what about your manners?” Nafi’ attributed all of this to what happened after he saw the Prophet ﷺ in his dream, shook his hand, and read Qur’an to him.

Qaloon, one of his most famous students, said that Nafi’ was one of the purest people in body, physically, in manners, and among the best reciters, rahimahullah.

His Status in Madinah

Nafi’ was very famous in Madinah, and he was the leader in Qur’anic recitation there. To be the leader of Qur’an in Madinah is extraordinarily difficult because Madinah is where the majority of the Sahaba (Companions) were. For him to achieve this leadership position speaks volumes about his mastery.

That’s why Imam Malik said: “Nafi’ is the imam of the Qur’an in Madinah,” rahimahullah.

Imam Ahmad used to say that the best qira’ah ever was the qira’ah of Nafi’, the qira’ah of Ahl al-Madinah (the people of Madinah).

Al-Layth reported that he made hajj in 113 Hijri, and he found that the imam who led the prayer, the one who taught the Qur’an, and the one everybody admitted was the leader, was Nafi’ ibn Abi Nu’aym, rahimahullah. Scholars like al-Asma’i and Ibn Mujahid all admitted that he was among the greatest scholars of qira’at, rahimahullah.

His Studies and Teaching Philosophy

Nafi’ perfected his recitation of the Qur’an with many tabi’een. In fact, Nafi’ studied the Qur’an under 70 tabi’een (70 successors), including scholars like Ibn Shihab and others.

Al-A’raj, one of his teachers, had recited the Qur’an from Abu Huraira and from Ibn Abbas. Nafi’ taught Qur’an for a very long time, and many people recited Qur’an from him, including Imam Malik, rahimahullah, and others. Among his most famous students were Qaloon and Warsh.

Abu Duhya once asked Nafi’: “O Abu Hurair, do you teach people Qur’an with all the qira’at that you have learned?”

Nafi’ responded: “Subhanallah! Why would anyone prevent themselves from the reward? Yes, I teach people from all the qira’at that I learned, so I can get the reward multiple times.” He would recite a verse with one qira’ah, then with another qira’ah, essentially doubling his reward.

The Critical Principle: Qira’at Are Based on Narration, Not Opinion

One incident stands out as particularly important. A person once came to Nafi’, who was the leader and imam of Qur’an, and said: “Khud alayya al-hadr” (Let me teach you hadr, a fast way of reciting).

Nafi’ said: “What’s hadr? I’ve never heard of that.”

The person replied: “No, no, no, it’s something I invented.”

Nafi’ said: “Read.” The person read.

Then Nafi’ firmly stated: “That’s not how we read. We pronounce the letters carefully. We keep the shaddah, we don’t make tasheel. We don’t make the madd short, and we don’t give some letters madd inappropriately.”

Then came his critical principle: “Listen carefully: we only read the way the leaders of the companions of Muhammad ﷺ read. We don’t read any other way than that. Even if it is afsah lughat al-arab (the most pure Arabic), even if it’s the most correct from an Arabic perspective, even if it’s perfectly correct linguistically, we don’t read this way. Our Qur’an is only taken from narrations, not based on Arabic language.”

This is an essential narration for understanding the concept of qira’at and the concept of ahruf. The qira’at are not about someone who is skilled in Arabic making their own style based on linguistic understanding. It is only what the sahaba taught the tabi’een, and only what the sahaba took from the Prophet ﷺ. The recitation is based on what was heard and transmitted, not on opinion, understanding, or different interpretations of Arabic language.

His Weakness in Hadith

Nafi’ was also known for riwayat al-hadith (narrating hadith), but he reported very few ahadith. However, his narration in hadith was criticized. Imam Ahmad said: “Take Qur’an from him, but not hadith.”

This is why there are no narrations from Nafi’ in the kutub al-sitta (the six major hadith collections), because the majority of the muhaddithin (hadith scholars) did not accept his narration in hadith.

His Death and Final Advice

Nafi’ died in Madinah in 169 or 170 Hijri. Upon his death, he gathered his children, and they asked him: “Father, give us a wasiyah (advice or reminder) before you die.”

Look at the people of Qur’an. When they think of advice, they think of Qur’an. Nafi’ recited a verse to them, saying: “Have taqwa of Allah and make sure that what’s between yourselves is righteous and good. Obey Allah and His Messenger if you truly believe.”

What a powerful verse, especially for siblings, because they can fight with one another and have disagreements. He wanted them to always be reconciled with one another, maintaining good and excellent relationships with each other.

Qaloon: The Excellent One

His name was Isa ibn Mina ibn Wardhan. From his name, you can tell he came from a Christian or Roman background. He was a mawla (freed slave) of the Ibn Zahra family, and he became known as “Qaloon“.

“Qaloon” is a Roman word that means “excellent.” 

Qaloon’s teacher in qira’ah was Nafi’, who was also his stepfather. He studied intensively under Nafi’ and became highly specialized in his recitation. Nafi’ gave him the nickname “Qaloon” because he recited so well. Nafi’ would gesture with his hand and say “Qaloon!” meaning “you’re perfect” or “excellent,” making the hand gesture for excellence.

Divine Providence in His Family History

Qaloon’s grandfather was originally taken as a prisoner in war. Think about how Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has planned things. His grandfather was taken as a prisoner, never imagining that his grandson would leave an incredible legacy in the recitation of the Qur’an, which would benefit the entire Muslim world.

SubhanAllah, what a remarkable turn of events.

His Miraculous Hearing Condition

Something extraordinary about Qaloon was that he was shadid us-samam (extremely hard of hearing). He could barely hear anything. People could bring a trumpet and blow it right next to him, and he wouldn’t notice it. People would scream, and he wouldn’t hear them.

But when the Qur’an was recited, he could hear it perfectly. This was something incredibly strange about him, rahimahullah. Even if someone raised their voice talking about other matters, he wouldn’t hear it (hatta law turfa sotak la ghayata lam yasmaa), but when the Qur’an was recited, he knew it immediately.

He used to correct people’s recitation just by looking at their lips. Through the movement of their lips, he could tell when they made mistakes, rahimahullah ta’ala.

His Studies and Excellence

Al-Dhahabi, rahimahullah, called him “the Muqri of Madinah, the student of Nafi’, the great Imam Abu Musa Isa ibn Mina.” He was one of the seven famous qurra (the seven reciters), rahimahullah ta’ala.

Qaloon was very dear to Nafi’. He read the Qur’an with Nafi’ many times and wrote down his recitation, compiling it in a mushaf until he perfected Nafi’s recitation.

When asked how many times he recited the Qur’an with Nafi’, Qaloon said: “I don’t know. What I know is that I spent 20 years reciting the Qur’an with him.”

He also recited with Ali ibn Abi Jathar and Isa ibn Wardhan, rahimahullah ta’ala. Many people recited the Qur’an from Qaloon, including al-Kasa’i, Ibrahim al-Madani, and many other scholars.

His Hadith Narration

Qaloon also narrated hadith, and many people narrated from him. However, al-Dhahabi, rahimahullah, said he was not as excellent in hadith as he was in Qur’an. His hadith narrations are not authentic by themselves, but they can serve as backup or supporting evidence for other narrators.

He died in Madinah in 220 Hijri. Al-Dhahabi said this is the correct date.

Warsh: The Voice of an Angel

His Background and Appearance

The second famous student of Nafi’ was Warsh. He was an Egyptian scholar who traveled to Madinah to study under Nafi’. Warsh was born in 110 Hijri.

He was called “Warsh” because he was the complete opposite of Nafi’ in appearance. He was very, very white. “Warsh” means milk or cream, referring to how white his complexion was, like milk.

Warsh is also the name of a famous bird that’s a little chubby. Because he was somewhat overweight, he may have been called Warsh for this reason as well. One time his sheikh called him “Warshan” because he was a bit heavy.

There’s actually a book collecting all the scholars who were known to be overweight, and Warsh is included in it. One time, Warsh decided to lose weight. When he lost the weight, his sheikh used to call him “two Warsh,” then when he saw him thinner, he’d say “this is one Warsh now.”

Warsh was described as white with blue eyes and blonde hair. He wasn’t very tall, but he was very big and filled out, masha’Allah. His theobes (robes) used to be very short because of his size. And his recitation was absolutely beautiful.

The Remarkable Story of His Studies

When Warsh came to Madinah, he had only a short period of time to study. He sought out Nafi’ and tried to find a way to study with him. People told him: “Nafi’ only teaches five or ten verses per session. You’re not going to be able to complete your studies.”

Warsh thought: “This is very difficult. How am I going to be able to read with him?” But he was determined. He found someone close to Nafi’ and approached him in the masjid, explaining: “This man has come all the way from Egypt to study with you, and he has only a short period of time. Would you please give him a chance?”

There were many people waiting in line to read with Nafi’. If Warsh waited in line, he wouldn’t even get to read. But through this intermediary, Nafi’ allowed him to read.

Nafi’ said: “Read ten verses.” Warsh read the ten verses.

The Voice That Changed Everything

When the people of Madinah heard his recitation, they exclaimed: “This cannot be a human being! That’s an angel studying the Qur’an! That’s the voice of an angel!”

One student turned to Warsh and said: “You’re here to make a complete khatm (finishing) before you leave, right?”

Warsh said: “Yes.”

The student said: “I donate my 20 verses to you. I’m not going to read today. I’m staying in Madinah. I’m not going anywhere.” He gave Warsh his 20 verses.

Then another student said: “And I give my 20 verses.”

The first student’s generosity was followed by many others. Everyone started donating their time slots, their 20 verses, until Warsh was able to make khatm al-Qur’an several times. He completed more than one full reading of the Qur’an with Nafi’ in this short period, all because everybody donated their time.

The Legacy of Small Contributions

Here’s something profound to understand: those students who donated their time to Warsh may have never made it into the history books. Maybe they’re not famous. But they are great leaders, and they contributed tremendously.

Millions of people recite the Qur’an according to Warsh throughout all of North Africa. This is because of those people who donated their time.

The famous qira’ah associated with Warsh is specifically his transmission from Nafi’, not from other teachers he studied with in Egypt. “Warsh from Nafi'” became one of the most widespread recitations in the Muslim world, all because of one small act of generosity that rippled through history.

Never underestimate what you can contribute.

His Life and Teaching

Warsh was young when he came to study. He loved Nafi’, rahimahullah, so much. He stayed for a couple of months in Madinah and learned multiple complete readings. Then he returned to Egypt to teach the qira’ah.

As for hadith, there are no known narrations from Warsh in hadith collections. His contribution was specifically in the field of Qur’anic recitation.

His Death

Warsh died in Egypt in 197 Hijri at 87 years old. He was buried in al-Qarafa al-Sughra, a cemetery in Cairo.

May Allah raise the ranks of those who preserve the Quran and those who teach it!