[seven] Readings [of the Quran] and its exegetical preference from Nasafi's point of view in the commentary of Madarik Al-Tanzil

Abu al-Barakat al-Nasafi, one of the commentators of the eighth century in his commentary ‘Madarik Al-Tanzil and Haqa’iq Al-Ta'wil’, while relying on the seven out of ten famous readers, quotes from Ya'qub and Khalaf. As such he quotes from unknown readers such as Hassan and A’mash. He has referred to the readings of the Companions such as Ibn Mas'ud and Ibn Abbas. From among the most frequently narrated readings, according to the Sunni view, Nasafi prefers Asim's reading to Makki's, Basari and Nafi’s readings. Nasafi has used three types of preferences in his commentary ‘Madarik Al-Tanzil and Haqa’iq Al-Ta'wil’ and has relied on his preferences over Arabic, rhetorical and contextual rules and criteria. He has relied on seven criteria to choose and prefer any reading. In the meantime, he ignores the common standard for accuracy of a reading which is its frequency. Thus, he has sometimes preferred the unknown reading to the most frequently narrated reading.