[Machine] I read a verse, and Ibn Mas'ud also read it differently. So we went to the Prophet ﷺ , and I said, "Didn't you read the verse like this and this?" He said, "Yes." Ibn Mas'ud said, "Didn't you read it like this and this?" He said, "Yes." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Both of you are correct and beautifiers." I said, "Neither of us is better or more beautiful." He then struck my chest and said, "O Abu Bakr, was I not taught the Quran? Was it taught to me on one letter or two letters?" Then the angel who was with him said, "It was taught to you on two letters." So I said, "On two letters." Then it was asked, "On two letters or three?" So the angel with him said to me, "On three." So I said, "On three." This continued until it reached seven letters. Then the angel said, "There is nothing in it except for a shad and a kaf." I said, "Forgiving, Merciful, All-Knowing, Forbearing, All-Hearing, All-Knowing, Mighty, Wise." Similar to this, unless a verse ends with punishment and mercy, or mercy and punishment. And Ma'mar narrated it from Qatadah, and he sent it.
قَرَأْتُ آيَةً وَقَرَأَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ قِرَاءَةً خِلَافَهَا فَأَتَيْنَا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ أَلَمْ تُقْرِأْنِي آيَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ قَالَ بَلَى قَالَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ أَلَمْ تُقْرِأْنِيهَا كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ قَالَ بَلَى قَالَ كِلَاكُمَا مُحْسِنٌ مُجْمِلٌ قُلْتُ مَا كِلَانَا أَحْسَنَ وَلَا أَجْمَلَ قَالَ فَضَرَبَ فِي صَدْرِي وَقَالَ يَا أُبَيُّ أُقْرِئْتُ الْقُرْآنَ فَقِيلَ لِي عَلَى حَرْفٍ أَمَ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ؟ فَقَالَ الْمَلَكُ الَّذِي مَعِي عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ فَقُلْتُ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ فَقِيلَ لِي عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ أَمْ ثَلَاثَةٍ؟ فَقَالَ لِيَ الْمَلَكُ الَّذِي مَعِي عَلَى ثَلَاثَةٍ فَقُلْتُ ثَلَاثَةٌ حَتَّى بَلَغَ سَبْعَةَ أَحْرُفٍ قَالَ لَيْسَ فِيهَا إِلَّا شَافٍ كَافٍ قُلْتُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ عَلَيْمٌ حَلِيمٌ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ نَحْوُ هَذَا مَا لَمْ يَخْتِمْ آيَةَ عَذَابٍ بِرَحْمَةٍ أَوْ رَحْمَةٍ بِعَذَابٍ وَرَوَاهُ مَعْمَرٌ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ فَأَرْسَلَهُ