Why was the word "Ibrahim" written without a "ya" in Surat Al-Baqarah, while it was written with a "ya" in the rest of the surahs of the Holy Quran?
The word "Ibrahim" appears in the Quran with two spellings: "Ibrahim" without a ya in Surah Al-Baqarah only in the mushafs of Iraq and Syria, and "Ibrahim" with the ya affirmed in the rest of the surahs. Ibn Amer recited "Ibraham" with an alif in thirty-three places, while the other reciters recited it with a ya in all places. "Ibraham" is a Hebrew word, and it has been said that the Uthmanic mushaf showed this difference in spelling in Surah Al-Baqarah for several reasons, including:
- To indicate the two recitations (with alif and ya).
- Because Surah Al-Baqarah discusses the Children of Israel who pronounced it "Ibraham."
- Because the two pronunciations are two languages, and the alif was omitted in Al-Baqarah to clarify this.
- To align with the spelling of the Syrian mushafs which omitted the ya in Surah Al-Baqarah.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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