Applying Linguistic Interpretation in the Works of Abu Hatam Al-Sajistānī, Focused on the Variant Readings of the Qur’an

Among the most prominent Iranian Muslim figures and philologers in the third century was Abu Hatam Al-Sajistānī (d. 255/876). He played an important role in promoting Qur’anic sciences. His professional skill in Qur’anic sciences was “variant readings” (qirā’āt), in which he had complete authority. Based on a descriptive-analytical method, in this research, the attempt has been made to answer the question “how and for what reasons did he use the components of lexical interpretation to choose the best reading?” A careful attention of this subject helps us to explain the reason for the authority of a reading and also to compare his views and thoughts with other readers and narrators of the science of reading. Findings show that Sajistānī’s Qur’anic struggles were carried out in four sections of pronunciation, phonology, etymology, and semantics. His method mostly focused on words, explaining the meanings of words, attention to conjugational and syntactic issues, expression style, as well as special concern to the pronunciation of the Qur’an. For each of his views, he provided a scientific argument that in some cases was in line with the views of other readers and commentators and sometimes opposed it.