The Phenomenon of Hamzah in Qur’anic Readings in al-Biqāʿī’s Naẓm al-Durar: An Analytical Study

Abstract

This study investigates the treatment of the hamza (glottal stop) in Qur’anic readings as presented by al-Biqāʿī in his exegetical work, Naẓm al-Durar fī Tanāsub al-Āyāt wa al-Suwar. The hamza represents a significant phonetic phenomenon that reflects the richness of Arabic and the diversity of its dialects, while variations in its realization provide important insights into the relationship between phonetic performance, linguistic variation, and Qur’anic interpretation. The study aims to examine al-Biqāʿī’s methodology in explaining readings involving the hamza and to identify the linguistic and phonetic principles underlying his analysis.Employing a descriptive-analytical approach, the study surveys relevant passages in Naẓm al-Durar, analyzes al-Biqāʿī’s explanations, and compares them with the views of leading scholars of Arabic linguistics, Qur’anic readings, and exegesis. Particular attention is given to dialectal variation in the realization and facilitation of the hamza and to its phonetic and semantic implications. The findings demonstrate that al-Biqāʿī adopts an integrative approach combining Qur’anic exegesis, Arabic linguistic analysis, and the science of Qur’anic readings. His treatment draws upon the linguistic heritage of scholars such as Sībawayh, Ibn Jinnī, al-Farrāʾ, and al-Zajjāj, while linking phonetic realization to the semantic and contextual dimensions of Qur’anic discourse. The study further shows that variations involving the hamza constitute a legitimate manifestation of Arabic dialectal diversity rather than a source of semantic contradiction. These variations may enrich interpretive possibilities and broaden linguistic understanding. The study concludes that al-Biqāʿī’s treatment of the hamza provides a valuable model for integrating classical linguistic scholarship with phonetic analysis and recommends further research into phonetic phenomena in Naẓm al-Durar.