A Critical and Analytical Study of Goldziher’s Objections on Qur’anic Readings (Qirā’āt Qur’āniyyah)

قرات قرآنیہ پر گولڈ زیہر کے اعتراضات کا تحقیقی و تنقیدی جائزہ

Abstract

The science of Qur’anic readings (Qirāʾāt) occupies a highly significant and foundational position within Islamic scholarship, for the correct recitation of the Qur’an, its pronunciation, the accuracy of its words, and the determination of its meanings all depend on this discipline. However, various Orientalists raised objections against its historical and transmitted foundations, among whom Ignaz Goldziher is particularly prominent. He attempted to cast doubt on the diversity of the Qirāʾāt, the reasons behind this variation, and the methods of transmission, portraying them as later scholarly developments rather than an integral part of the original revelation. A critical and analytical study of this topic seeks to examine the background, nature, and arguments of these objections to determine whether Goldziher’s claims possess genuine academic merit or merely reflect Orientalist interpretations. Such an investigation not only helps in understanding Goldziher’s methodological approach but also highlights the authentic status of Qirāʾāt, their tawātur (mass-transmission), historical continuity, and the strong framework of their narration, thereby further demonstrating the practical manifestation of the divine promise of the Qur’an’s preservation.