IMĀLAH RECITATION: THE INTERACTION BETWEEN LINGUISTIC RULES AND QIRĀ’ĀT TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF IMAM AL-SUYŪṬĪ

Abstract

Imalah is one of the forms of variation in Qur’anic recitation (qira’at), characterized by the inclination of the fathah or alif sound toward the sound of ya’. This phenomenon is not only related to the phonological aspects of the Arabic language but is also closely connected to the transmission and narration of qira’at. This study aims to explain the definition of imalah, the linguistic factors underlying its occurrence, and the relationship between linguistic rules and the transmission of qira’at in determining imalah recitations. This study employs a library research method by referring to sources on Qur’anic recitation and ‘Ulum al-Qur’an, particularly Al-Itqan fi ‘Ulum al-Qur’an by Jalaluddin al-Suyuti and other supporting literature. The results show that imalah is influenced by several linguistic factors, including the origin of alif from ya’, the influence of kasrah, and phonetic harmony at the end of verses. Although linguistic rules can be used to explain the characteristics and reasons for the occurrence of imalah, the acceptability of a particular recitation ultimately depends on an authentic qira’at transmission. Therefore, linguistic rules function as a means of understanding the phenomenon of imalah, while transmission serves as the primary basis for establishing Qur’anic recitation.