Differences between the Masahif of al-Amsar and Its Reasons

I n the 2nd and 3rd centuries AH, it is mentioned 8 books with the subject of the differences of the masahif of al-amsar (Iraq, Sham -Syria- and Hijaz). Although these books have not conveyed us but their subjects (subject matter) is presented (reflected) in the next sources of the science of rasm al-mushaf and qira’at (the method of recitation of the holy Quran). The differences of the rasm-ul-khat (scripts) of the masahif of al-amsar can be divided in to two types: a. the differences do not cause the differences in qira’at (the method of recitation of the holy Quran) like record of “ی” or absence of it in the word of “ائتونی” / “ائتون” b. the differences cause the differences in qira’at (the method of recitation of the holy Quran); it includes the omitting or adding a letter or replacing a letter with the another one. The whole differences in the 2nd type are 54 cases. By now, there is no comprehensive point of view about its reason, time of its revelation and its effects on qira’at (the method of recitation of the holy Quran) or its impressionability from qira’at. Most of the ulama of mutaqaddimin (predecessors) believe that Uthman the 3rd caliph (c. 579 - 17 July 656) ordered to record them in the masahif of Imam but there is not this subject in the traditions (revayah) of collecting the noble Quran at the period of Uthman and from the other side, this work is in conflict with (contradicted) Uthman’s purpose to unite the Umma (Muslim community) in a single mushaf.