The Epistemological Foundations of Qur’anic Exegesis Related to Qirāʾāt

The subject of the foundational principles (mabādiʿ) of Qur’anic exegesis constitutes one of the significant issues within the science of tafsīr, to which scholars have paid attention since the early periods, and which continues to be further examined and discussed in the contemporary era. Some of these foundational principles of tafsīr are connected with the science of Qirāʾāt (variant Qur’anic readings). It is evident that before engaging in exegesis, a commentator (mufassir) must adopt a theoretical position in this field and base their interpretation upon that foundation. This study seeks to examine those foundational principles of tafsīr that are related to the Qirāʾāt of the Qur’an, and—through a descriptive and analytical method—it explores three key principles: the alleged tawātur (mass-transmission) of the Qirāʾāt, the concept of the Qur’an having been revealed upon seven aḥruf (letters or modes), and the view that exegetical authority depends upon a single reading. The findings of the research indicate that the claim of tawātur of the Qirāʾāt is not tenable; hence, it cannot serve as a sound epistemological foundation for Qur’anic exegesis. Furthermore, the ḥadīths concerning the revelation of the Qur’an upon seven aḥruf—in addition to being unreliable in Shīʿī sources—are also doubtful in their chains of transmission within Sunni sources, and ambiguous in meaning. They can only be accepted in the sense of variations in dialectal pronunciation. In addition, the authority (ḥujjiyyah) of ʿĀṣim’s reading is devoid of sufficient supporting evidence and does not correspond with historical documentation. Therefore, a commentator should pay attenti