A Historical and Hadith-Based Approach to the Disagreement over the Pronunciation of " Mālik" / " Malik" in Sunni and Shi ite Interpretations

There is disagreement over the pronunciation of the word “Mālik” in the Qur’an 1:4. Some read it as Mālik, while others pronounce it as Malik. As the Qur’an itself shows, in actual fact “Mālik” (owner) and “Malik” (king) are the same because Allah is Mālik of Mulk (owner of kingdom), which is the same as Malik (king). Therefore, “Mālik” seems more correct. In this essay, a historical approach to the Sunni and Shi’ite interpretations will reveal the beginning point of the debates over the pronunciation of this word. After a survey of the exegetical views and their method of argumentation, it will also be seen whether the exegetes’ stance towards these issues has been substantial. This review did not help in choosing a correct position. However, according to the Qur’anic evidence, the more famous pronunciation (i.e. “Mālik”) will be prioritized.