Dates & Background:

Approximate Life: Often dated to the early 2nd century AH, with his death around 138 AH (approximately 755 CE).
• Teachers & Training: A product of the Kufa school—a center famed for its linguistic scholarship—‘Āsim ibn Abī al-Najūd of Kufa was taught by leading scholars of his region and became a central figure in the development of Quranic recitation.

He was a distinguished Quran reciter from among the Successors (Tabi’un), having met 24 of the Prophet’s Companions. Known for his exceptional knowledge of Quranic recitation, Arabic language, and grammar, Imam Aasim became the leading Quran reciter of his time. For over 50 years, he served as the Imam of the Quran reciters in Kufa, succeeding his teacher, Abu Abdur-Rahman al-Sulami. Both men, who were blind, were known for their beautiful voices and mastery of the Quran. Imam Aasim passed away in 127 AH.

Imam Aasim narrated Hadiths from some of the companions, and his narrations are included in the six major Hadith collections.

What He Was Famous For & Characteristics:
• His recitation is celebrated for its balanced modulation, clarity, and beauty.
• Emphasized both strict phonetic accuracy and a melodious delivery, a synthesis that made his method particularly appealing.

Popularity:
• The reading of ‘Āsim, especially as transmitted by one of his narrators, Hafs, became the most widespread form globally. Today, it is the standard text in many printed Qur’ān editions, particularly in Egypt, South Asia, and beyond.

Narrators (Rawīyān):

• Shu‘bah:
  • Characteristics: Known for his exacting reproduction of ‘Āsim’s style, Shu‘bah’s transmission safeguarded the specific vocal nuances and rhythmic details of this method.
• Hafs:
  • Characteristics: Hafs’s narration is now the most widely adopted across the Muslim world. His rendition is celebrated for its clarity and fluidity, and it has been instrumental in standardizing Quranic recitation in printed texts worldwide.

Today, the Hafs transmission of ʿĀsim’s method is overwhelmingly prevalent in regions such as the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, Turkey, and South Asia, making it arguably the most popular qirā’āt worldwide.