The established historical understanding of the verb uqqitat in verse 11 of Sūrah al-Mursalāt, which derives it from the root w-q-t (to appoint a time), has recently been challenged by an unconventional etymological hypothesis suggesting the root is q-t-t (to annihilate). Aiming to resolve this exegetical controversy, this research employs a methodology of qualitative content analysis and logical-linguistic reasoning. The study’s methodological innovation lies in applying the science of Quranic readings
‘Ilm al-Qirā’āt) not merely as a descriptive discipline, but as a "falsification tool". The findings demonstrate that the canonical reading of Abū ‘Amr al-Baṣrī as
wuqqitat (with an explicit wāw) acts as empirical evidence and a falsifiability test, definitively proving the authenticity of the w-q-t root. As no linguistic pathway can explain the presence of a
wāw in a word derived from the root q-t-t, the unconventional hypothesis is thoroughly refuted. This paper ultimately concludes that
‘Ilm al-Qirā’āt is a powerful control mechanism within Quranic hermeneutics that can serve a decisive function in validating etymological interpretations and preventing exegetical chaos.