I was in the mosque when a man entered and prayed and recited (the Qur'in) in a style to which I objected. Then another man entered (the mosque) and recited in a style different from that of his companion. When we had finished the prayer, we all went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said to him: This man recited in a style to which I objected, and the other entered and recited in a style different from that of his companion. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked them to recite and so they recited, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ expressed approval of their affairs (their modes of recitation). and there occurred In my mind a sort of denial which did not occur even during the Days of Ignorance. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw how I was affected (by a wrong idea), he struck my chest, whereupon I broke into sweating and felt as though I were looking at Allah with fear. He (the Holy Prophet) said to me: Ubayy. a message was sent to me to recite the Qur'an in one dialect, and I replied: Make (things) easy for my people. It was conveyed to me for the second time that it should be recited in two dialects. I again replied to him: Make affairs easy for my people. It was again conveyed to me for the third time to recite in seven dialects And (I was further told): You have got a seeking for every reply that I sent you, which you should seek from Me. I said: O Allah! forgive my people, forgive my people, and I have deferred the third one for the day on which the entire creation will turn to me, including even Ibrahim (peace be upon him) (for intercession).  

كُنْتُ فِي المَسْجِدِ، فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ يُصَلِّي، فَقَرَأ قِراءَةً أنْكَرْتُها عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ دَخَلَ آخَرُ فَقَرَأ قِراءَةً سِوى قَراءَةِ صاحِبِهِ، فَلَمّا قَضَيْنا الصَّلاةَ دَخَلْنا جَمِيعًا عَلى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ، فَقُلْتُ: إنَّ هَذا قَرَأ قِراءَةً أنْكَرْتُها عَلَيْهِ، ودَخَلَ آخَرُ فَقَرَأ سِوى قِراءَةِ صاحِبِهِ، فَأمَرَهُما رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ، فَقَرَآ، فَحَسَّنَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ شَأْنَهُما، فَسَقَطَ فِي نَفْسِي مِنَ التَّكْذِيبِ، ولا إذْ كُنْتُ فِي الجاهِلِيَّةِ، فَلَمّا رَأى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ ما قَدْ غَشِيَنِي، ضَرَبَ فِي صَدْرِي، فَفِضْتُ عَرَقًا وكَأنَّما أنْظُرُ إلى اللهِ ﷻ فَرَقًا، فَقالَ لِي: «يا أُبَيُّ أُرْسِلَ إلَيَّ أنِ اقْرَأِ القُرْآنَ عَلى حَرْفٍ، فَرَدَدْتُ إلَيْهِ أنْ هَوِّنْ عَلى أُمَّتِي، فَرَدَّ إلَيَّ الثّانِيَةَ اقْرَأْهُ عَلى حَرْفَيْنِ، فَرَدَدْتُ إلَيْهِ أنْ هَوِّنْ عَلى أُمَّتِي، فَرَدَّ إلَيَّ الثّالِثَةَ اقْرَأْهُ عَلى سَبْعَةِ أحْرُفٍ، فَلَكَ بِكُلِّ رَدَّةٍ رَدَدْتُكَها مَسْألَةٌ تَسْألُنِيها، فَقُلْتُ: اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأُمَّتِي، اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأُمَّتِي، وأخَّرْتُ الثّالِثَةَ لِيَوْمٍ يَرْغَبُ إلَيَّ الخَلْقُ كُلُّهُمْ، حَتّى إبْراهِيمُ ﷺ»  

[Machine] I was in the mosque when a man entered and prayed, reciting a verse that I disliked. Then another man entered and prayed, reciting a different verse than his companion. After we finished the prayer, we went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and I said, "O Messenger of Allah, this man recited a verse that I disliked, and then this man entered and recited a verse other than his companion." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to both of them, "Recite." So they recited. Then he said, "You both did well." In my heart, I denied [his words], as if I was still in the time of ignorance [before Islam]. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw what had covered me, he struck my chest, causing me to sweat and it felt as if I were looking at my Lord with distinctness. He said to me, "O Ubayy, indeed my Lord has sent to me and told me to recite upon a letter, so I replied, 'Make it easy for my Ummah.' He replied to me, 'I have made it easy for your Ummah for reciting upon two letters.' So I replied, 'Make it easy for my Ummah.' He replied to me, 'I have made it easy for your Ummah for reciting upon three letters.' So I replied, 'Make it easy for my Ummah.' He replied to me, 'I have made it easy for your Ummah for reciting upon seven letters.' And for every repetition, I will give you what you ask." So I said, "O Allah, forgive my Ummah, O Allah, forgive my Ummah." And I delayed the third one for a day that people desire to be near to me — the Day of Judgement — until even Ibrahim ﷺ finds enjoyment in me. This is the rest of the narration from Anas ibn Malik, from Ubayy ibn Ka'b.  

كُنْتُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ فَصَلَّى فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَصَلَّى فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ فَلَمَّا قَضَيْنَا الصَّلَاةَ دَخَلْنَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ هَذَا قَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ فَدَخَلَ هَذَا فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ اقْرَءُوا فَقَرَءُوا فَقَالَ قَدْ أَحْسَنْتُمْ فَسَقَطَ فِي نَفْسِي مِنَ التَّكْذِيبِ وَلَا إِذْ كُنْتُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَلَمَّا رَأَى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَا قَدْ غَشِيَنِي ضَرَبَ صَدْرِي قَالَ فَفِضْتُ عَرَقًا وَكَأَنَّمَا أَنْظُرُ إِلَى رَبِّي فَرَقًا فَقَالَ لِي أُبَيٌّ إِنَّ رَبِّي أَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ لِي اقْرَأْ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَرَدَدْتُ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتِي فَرَدَّ إِلَيَّ أَنْاقْرَأْ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ فَرَدَدْتُ إِلَيْهِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ أَنْ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتِي فَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ أَنْ اقْرَأْ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ وَلَكَ بِكُلِّ رَدَّةٍ رَدَدْتُكَهَا سُؤْلَكَ أُعْطِيكَهَا فَقُلْتُ اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأُمَّتِي اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأُمَّتِي وَأَخَّرْتُ الثَّالِثَةَ لِيَوْمٍ يَرْغَبُ إِلَيَّ فِيهِ الْخَلْقُ حَتَّى إِبْرَاهِيمَ بَقِيَّةُ حَدِيثِ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ عَنْ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ  

[Machine] "I was sitting in the mosque when a man entered and recited a verse that I disliked. Then another man entered and recited a different verse than his companion. After completing the prayer, they both went to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, this man recited a verse that I disliked, and the other one recited a different verse than his companion.' The Prophet ﷺ told them, 'Recite.' So they recited, and he said, 'You both did well, or he said, 'You both did correctly.' When the one whom the Prophet ﷺ had spoken to heard this, he felt proud, and when the Prophet ﷺ saw what happened to him, he hit his chest. It was as if I was seeing my Lord with a gap. The Prophet ﷺ then said, 'O Ubayy, my Lord has sent me with the command to recite the Quran in a certain way. I initially pleaded with Him to make it easier upon my Ummah, but He insisted that I recite it in seven different ways. For every recitation, I will be rewarded individually on the Day of Resurrection.' I said, 'O Allah, forgive my Ummah.' Then I postponed the second recitation until a day when creation will express their desire for it, even if it means delaying it until the Day of Judgment."  

كُنْتُ جَالِسًا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ آخَرُ فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى الصَّلَاةَ دَخَلَا جَمِيعًا عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذَا قَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ الْآخَرُ قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «اقْرَآ» فَقَرَآ «أَحْسَنْتُمَا أَوْ قَالَ أَصَبْتُمَا» قَالَ فَلَمَّا قَالَ لَهُمَا الَّذِي قَالَ كَبُرَ عَلَيَّ فَلَمَّا رَأَى النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مَا غَشِيَنِي ضَرَبَ فِي صَدْرِي فَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى رَبِّي فَرَقًا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «يَا أُبَيُّ إِنَّ رَبِّي أَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ أَنِ اقْرَأِ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَرَدَدْتُ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتِي مَرَّتَيْنِ فَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ أَنِ اقْرَأْهُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ وَلَكَ بِكُلِّ رَدَّةٍ رَدَدْتُهَا مَسْأَلَتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَقُلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأُمَّتِي ثُمَّ أَخَّرْتُ الثَّانِيَةَ إِلَى يَوْمٍ يَرْغَبُ إِلَيَّ فِيهِ الْخَلْقُ حَتَّى أَبْرَهَمُ»  

[Machine] I was sitting in the mosque when a man entered and read a recitation that I disliked. Then another man entered and read a recitation different from his companion's. After they left, we entered upon the Messenger of Allah and I said, "O Messenger of Allah, this man read a recitation that I disliked and then he read a recitation different from his companion's." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to the man, "Read." So he recited. Then he said to the other man, "Read." So he recited. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "You have done well or you have succeeded." When I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ approving of both of them, I became satisfied in my heart and wished that I had remained ignorant (of my opinion). He said: "When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw what had happened to me, he struck me lightly on my chest with his hand until I saw Allah as a light, then he said, 'O Ubayy bin Ka'b, indeed my Lord has commanded me to recite the Quran in a specific manner.' I replied, 'O Lord, make it easy for my Ummah.' So he made it easy for me once. I said, 'O Lord, make it easy for my Ummah.' So he made it easy for me once again. I said, 'O Lord, make it easy for my Ummah.' So he made it easy for me three times. Each time, I requested something and he granted it. I said, 'O Allah, forgive my Ummah, O Allah, forgive my Ummah.' And I delayed the third request until the Day of Resurrection, when the creation will be eagerly seeking something from me, even Ibrahim ﷺ .  

كُنْتُ جَالِسًا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ جَاءَ آخَرُ فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَا دَخَلْنَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ قَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ هَذَا قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لِلرَّجُلِ اقْرَأْ فَقَرَأَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِلْآخَرِ اقْرَأْ فَقَرَأَ فَقَالَ أَحْسَنْتُمَا أَوْ أَصَبْتُمَا فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ حَسَّنَ شَأْنَهُمَا سَقَطَ فِي نَفْسِي وَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ قَالَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَا غَشِيَنِي ضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ فِي صَدْرِي فَفِضْتُ عَرَقًا وَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى اللهِ فَرَقًا ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أُبَيُّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ إِنَّ رَبِّي أَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ أَنْ أَقْرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ قَالَ فَرَدَدْتُ عَلَيْهِ يَا رَبِّ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتِي فَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ الثَّانِيَةَ أَنْ أَقْرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَبِّ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتِي فَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ الثَّالِثَةَ أَنِ اقْرَأْ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ وَلَكَ بِكُلِّ رَدَّةٍ رُدِدْتَهَا مَسْأَلَةٌ تَسْأَلَنِيهَا فَقُلْتُ اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأُمَّتِي اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأُمَّتِي وَأَخَّرْتُ الثَّالِثَةَ إِلَى يَوْمٍ يَرْغَبُ إِلَيَّ فِيهِ الْخَلْقُ حَتَّى إِبْرَاهِيمُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ  

"كُنْتُ فِى الْمَسْجِدِ فَدَخَلَ رَجُل يُصَلِّى فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ دَخَلَ آخَرُ فَقَرأَ قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ، فَلَمَّا قَضَيْنَا الصَّلاَةَ دَخَلْنَا جَمِيعًا عَلَى رَسُولِ الله ﷺ فَقُلْتُ: إِنَّ هَذَا قَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْه، وَدَخَلَ آخَرُ فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قَرِاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ، فَأمَرَهُمَا رَسُولُ الله ﷺ فَقَرَأ، فَحَسَّنَ النَّبِىُّ ﷺ شَأنَهُمَا فَسُقِطَ فِى نَفْسِى مِنَ التَّكْذِيبِ وَلاَ إِذْ كُنْتُ فِى الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ (*)، فَلَمَّا رَأَى رَسُولُ الله ﷺ مَا قَدْ غَشِيَنِى، ضَرَبَ فِى صَدْرِى فَفِضْتُ عَرَقًا وَكأَنَّمَا أَنْظُرُ إِلَى الله فَرَقًا، فَقَالَ لِى يَا أُبَىُّ إِنَّ رَبِّى - ﷻ - أَرْسَلَ إِلَىَّ أَنْ اقْرَأ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَرَدَدْتُ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتِى فَرَدَّ إِلَىَّ الثانَيةَ اقْرَأهُ علىَ حْرفَيْن، فَرَدَدَتُ إليه أنْ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتي فردَّ إلىَّ الثَّالِثَةَ أَنْ أقَرأهُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ وَلكَ بِكُلِّ رَدَّةٍ رَدَدْتَهَا مَسئَلَةٌ تَسْأَلُنِيهَا فَقُلتُ: الَّلهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لأُمَّتِى، الَّلهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لأُمَّتِى وَأَخَّرْتُ الثَّالِثَةَ لِيَوْمٍ يرْغَبُ إِلَىَّ الْخَلْقُ كُلُّهُمْ حَتَّى إِبْرَاهِيمُ".  

"إِنَّ ربِّى تباركَ وتَعالَى أَرْسَلَ إِلىَّ أَن اقْرأْ القرآنَ عَلَى حرف فَرَدَدْتُ إِليه أَنْ هَوِّنْ علَى أُمَّتِى، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلىَّ أَن اقْرَأْهُ، علَى حَرْفَيْنِ فَرَدَدْتُ إِليه أَنْ هوِّنْ على أُمَّتى، فَأَرْسَل إِلىَّ أَن اقْرأْهُ علَى سبعةِ أَحْرُفٍ، ولَكَ بِكُلِّ رَدَّةِ مسْأَلةٌ تسْأَلنيهَا، قُلْتُ: اللهمَّ اغْفرْ لأُمَّتِى، اللهمَّ اغْفرْ لأُمَّتِى، وَأَخَّرْتُ الثَّالِثَةَ لِيْومٍ يَرْغَبُ إِلىَّ فيهِ الخلقُ حتَّى إِبْراهيمُ".