Quran Reciters Were Quran Teachers and Interpreters in Early Islamic Period

An academic board member of Al-Mustafa International University said reciters of the Quran in the early years after the advent of Islam were also Quran teachers, interpreters and Mubalighs (propagators).

“Qara’at today means reciting the Quran only but what was meant by Qara’at in the early years after the advent of Islam was much more than that,” Hojat-ol-Islam Mehdi Rostamnejad told IQNA.

He said Quran reciters in that period were indeed Quranic figures and had mastery over Quranic issues.

Hojat-ol-Islam Rostamnejad quoted verse 121 of Surah Al-Baqarah “ Those to whom We have given the Book recite it with its true recital. They [are the ones who] believe in it. And whoever disbelieves in it - it is they who are the losers,” elaborating on what it means by “true recital”.

He stressed that Qara’at is not limited to reading the Quran but also includes contemplating the Holy Book’s teachings and acting upon them.

The scholar said there are many Hadiths by the Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS), especially Imam Ali (AS), Imam Baqer (AS) and Imam Sadeq (AS) that highlight the need for contemplating and implementing the Quranic teachings.

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