# Does a reciter's chain of teachers back to the Prophet prove the Quran's text?

*How much weight does a reciter's chain of huffaz back to the Prophet carry?*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/f2bcgwatu5g/s/20/
- Date: 2020-06-19 · Kind: question · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Dr. Shehzad Saleem | the Preservation of the Quran & the Problem of Qira'at | MindTrap with Mufti#26 (1:36:25–1:37:31)
- Status: a view quoted in order to be discussed, not a position held
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2BcGWatU5g&t=5785s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/f2bcgwatu5g/

**Topics:** Preservation and variant readings; Memorisation and recitation; Guest conversations

**Question as asked:** How much importance do you give to the sanad of the huffaz which traces back to the Prophet, from someone who memorised from someone?

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** A single chain of huffaz only testifies who taught whom and does not authenticate the text on its own; preservation rests on the vast number of people transmitting the same thing, of which one chain is a drop in the ocean.

## Longer summary

A viewer asks how much importance the guest gives to the chains of huffaz, like an ijazah, by which a reciter traces his memorisation teacher by teacher back to the Prophet. The guest answers that its only importance is that the person testifies that his teacher was so-and-so, who read from so-and-so; it has no importance for authenticating the text in its totality, because preservation rests on a vast number of people doing the same thing, so one hafiz taken singly is a drop in the ocean, significant only as part of the greater whole. Mufti Abu Layth says this is very well put.

## Sources and names cited

- Dr Shehzad Saleem (guest)
- sanad (chain of transmission)
- ijazah (authorisation to teach)
- huffaz (memorisers of the Quran)

## Transcript (machine tier, 1:36:25–1:37:31)

[1:36:09] who are married and here we actually have a different approach other than that as far as all the hurdles are concerned we have a specific view and if you would like to talk about it that would be a whole topic but yeah that's absolutely amazing a quick another question going back to the topic by Joe Bloggs Salaam how much importance do you give to the Senate of how FAR's which trace back to the Prophet I is not from someone who memorized from someone so you know in the Quran they also have this Senate as well like an ijazah how much importance and Joe is asking do

[1:36:46] you give to that that's the only importance is that that person is testifying that my teacher was this person and who read it from the other person it does not have any importance as far as authenticating a text in its totality is concerned because you see that preservation is by a vast number of people who are doing the same thing all the fasts taking together one half is taken singularly has no significance because that is like a drop enough among in the ocean so it's like the whole ocean contributing to one to one thing so taking taking it separately would not be of any significance but when it forms

[1:37:25] part of a greater chain of course it has used significance yeah very well said very well said dr. mashallah just somebody had just asked me again I suppose this is just for me they'd asked me about if the criteria was met today would I advocate would I advocate chopping the hand I wouldn't because according to me all of this the Sharia with Makka see it's already changed like trick I have a whole video on trajectory hermeneutics so with in my understanding and that of these my lackeys at work are similarly in the past and these scholars the Sharia who do would have changed so they would be whatever the day and age so today punishment a

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment f2BcGWatU5g/s/20. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/f2bcgwatu5g/s/20/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.