The Different Recitations of the Qur'an

Question :

Some people say that the different recitations of the Qur'an represent a disparity, meaning that a second kind of recitation sometimes entails a second meaning. This verse is often given as an example:
"And on the day of Resurrection, We shall bring out for him a book which he will find wide open." Please explain.

Answer:

It is authentically established from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that the Qur'an was revealed in seven Huruf, or in other words, in seven different Arabic dialects, to make it easy for Arabs who spoke a different dialect to recite the Qur'an, a facilitation that signifies Allah's mercy for His servants. That the Qur'an was revealed in seven dialects is beyond question- it is reported by so many people that it is an established fact. All of these recitations are revelation from the All-Wise.

These recitations do not confound each other, nor are there distortions among them, nor contradictions. Rather one of them attests to the other, and explains its meaning. And when the meanings of these recitations are categorized, it is seen that each of them has a ruling that supports the objective of the Shari'ah, and the welfare of the servant, with harmony of their meanings, consolidating their strength and organizing it into a unified complete legislating wisdom, having no contradictions or conflict between them.

This results in them complementing each other, one completing the meaning of the other not contradicting it with a harmony that shows the close link between one part of the Qur'an and another, between one purpose of the Shari'ah and another, between one Islamic ruling and another - all pointing to the perfection of the Islamic Shari'ah. You mentioned this verse as an example in your question:
"And We have fastened every man's deeds to his neck, and on the day of Resurrection, We shall bring out for him a book which he will find (Yalqahu) wide open."

In one recitation, it is read, Yalqahu; which means "On the Day of Judgement, We shall bring out a book for him - meaning pages on which his deeds were recorded it will be conveyed to where he is, opened, he will take it in his right hand if he is to be happy, and with his left if he is to be miserable."

In another recitation it is, Yulagahu; which means "On the Day of Judgement, We shall bring out a book for him - meaning pages on which his deeds were recorded and it will be given to him where he is, opened." So the meaning of each recitation agrees in the end with the other. For the one who is given the book, is one whom it has reached, and the one the book reached is the one that it was given to.

Similarly in the case of Allah's saying:
"In their hearts is a disease of doubt and hypocrisy and Allah has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they used to tell lies (Yakthibun)."

The first recitation is read Yakthibun, which means that they used to lie against Allah and the believers. Another recitation is Yukathibun, which means that they used to deny the Messen- gers when one of Allah's servants delivered the revelation to them. So the meaning in one of the recitations does not contradict the other, nor detract from it rather each of them. mentions some of the traits of the hypocrites. The first described them as lying about news from Allah and His Messengers and about the people, and the second described them as denying the Shari'ah and every truth that was revealed to Allah's Messengers. Indeed the hypocrites lied and denied.

From this it is clear that the different recitations came from what was revealed by Allâh with wisdom, they were not the result of any distortions or changes. They are not characterized by any problems, contradictions, or conflicts, rather their meanings and objectives agree, and Allâh is the one who guides us to do what is right.