The Quran in the Shu‘ba and Hafs ‘an ‘Asim riwaya

Shu‘ba and Hafs ‘an ‘Asim refers to recitations that combine the two transmissions of the reading of ‘Asim ibn Abi al-Najud, the leading reader of Kufa: that of Shu‘ba (714–809; 95–193 AH) and that of Hafs (709–796; 90–180 AH), the most widespread today. The reciter follows ‘Asim's reading and, wherever the two transmitters differ, gives the variant of each.

‘Asim (d. 745; 127 AH) succeeded Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami as the leading reader of Kufa; Ibn al-Jazari describes him as combining eloquence, precision and the finest voice. According to a report preserved by the biographers, he taught Hafs the reading he had from al-Sulami, going back to ‘Ali, and Shu‘ba the one he had from Zirr ibn Hubaysh, going back to Ibn Mas‘ud. Both studied directly with him, and Hafs was also his stepson.

The two transmitters agree on essentials: a medium madd, the basmala between surahs, Māliki yawmi d-dīn with a long alif. According to al-Dhahabi, however, they differ in more than five hundred words. Shu‘ba says ruḍwān where Hafs says riḍwān, huzu’an with a hamza where Hafs says huzuwan, applies imala to ramā (8:17) and does not make Hafs's four short pauses (sakt).

Reciters who have recorded it include Mohamed Shaaban Abu Qarn.