[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