'Asim Koofi

Abu Bakr ‘Aasim Ibn Abi al-Najud al-'Asadi (died 745 CE / 127 AH), commonly known as ‘Aasim ibn Abi al-Najud, was, according to Islamic tradition, one of the seven primary transmitters of the Qira'at, or variant readings of the Qur'an. Of Arab origin, his method of reciting the Qur'an as transmitted by Hafs is the most common and popular way of reciting the holy book in the Muslim world in general.

Though he lived much of his life in Kufa, he was associated with Banu Asad ibn Khuzaymah due to a pact. His fellow recitation transmitter Abu 'Amr ibn al-'Ala' also studied under him.

Despite being from Kufa, Aasim's reading was not popular there at first. Unlike most reciters in Kufa, he did not accept the pre-Uthmanic style of the Qur'an written by the companion of the Prophet, Abdullah ibn Masud;

He died in the year 745 CE, corresponding to the year 127 AH. Other variants orthography include :

رواية ورش عن نافعرواية حفص عن عاصم Ḥafs Warsh Chapter and Verse يَعْمَلُونَ تَعْمَلُونَ you do they do Al-Baqara 2:85 وًأَوْصّى وَوَصَّى enjoined instructed Al-Baqara 2:132 سَارِعُوا وَسَارِعُوا And hasten to Hasten to Al 'imran 3:133 مَا تَنَزَّلُ مَا نُنَزِّلُ we do not send down... they do not come down... Al-Ḥijr 15:8 قُل قَالَ he said say! Al-Anbiyā' 21:4 كَثِيرًا كَبِيرًا mighty multitudinous Al-Aḥzāb 33:68 بِمَا فَبِمَا then it is what it is what Al-Shura 42:30 نُدْخِلْهُ يُدْخِلْهُ he makes him enter we make him enter Al-Fatḥ 48:17

Another major difference between Hafs and Warsh recitation of the Quran is the pronunciation of the words. Modern Qurans have diacritical marks (known as Tashkil) and in some cases pronouncing the word differently could imply different meaning. Here are some examples:

رواية ورش عن نافعرواية حفص عن عاصم Ḥafs Warsh Chapter and Verse مَلِكِ مَالِكِ Owner King Al-Fatihah Q1:4 (Q1:3 in Warsh) يٌكَذّبُونَ يَكْذِبُونَ they lie they were lied to (or) they deny Al-Baqara Q2:10 (Q2:9 in Warsh) قُتِلَ قَاتَلَ And many a prophet fought And many a prophet was killed Al 'imran Q3:146 سَاحِرَانِ سِحْرَانِ two works of magic two magicians Al-Qasas Q28:48