The Prophet's ﷺ eagerness to memorize the Quran and the reassurance of its preservation by Allah

˹regarding˺ the statement of Allah "Move not your tongue concerning (the Quran) to make haste therewith." (Qiyāmah 75:16), he said: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to bear the revelation with great trouble and used to move his lips ˹quickly˺ (along with the inspiration being revealed so that he would not forget).

Ibn ʿAbbās ˹moved his lips saying˺: I am moving my lips in front of you as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to move his." Saʿīd said: I am moving my lips, as I saw Ibn ʿAbbās moving his, while he was moving his own his lips.

˹The narrator added˺ So Allah revealed: "Move not your tongue with it, ˹O Muhammad˺, to hasten with it. Indeed, upon Us is its collection and its recitation." (Qiyāmah 75:16-17). He said: Its collection meaning in your heart so you can recite it. "So when We have recited it ˹through Gabriel˺, then follow its recitation." (Qiyāmah 75:18) He said: listen ˹attentively˺ and remain silent. "Then upon Us is its clarification." (Qiyāmah 75:19) Then upon us is that you recite it. Afterwards, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to listen ˹attentively˺ to Jibrīl (Gabriel) whenever he came, and after Jibrīl left, he used to recite it as he had recited it.  

فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى {لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ} قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُعَالِجُ مِنَ التَّنْزِيلِ شِدَّةً وَكَانَ مِمَّا يُحَرِّكُ شَفَتَيْهِ.

فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَأَنَا أُحَرِّكُهُمَا لَكُمْ كَمَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُحَرِّكُهُمَا. وَقَالَ سَعِيدٌ أَنَا أُحَرِّكُهُمَا كَمَا رَأَيْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ يُحَرِّكُهُمَا فَحَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْهِ.

فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ* إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ} قَالَ جَمْعُهُ لَهُ فِي صَدْرِكَ وَتَقْرَأَهُ {فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ} قَالَ فَاسْتَمِعْ لَهُ وَأَنْصِتْ {ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ} ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا أَنْ تَقْرَأَهُ. فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ إِذَا أَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ اسْتَمَعَ فَإِذَا انْطَلَقَ جِبْرِيلُ قَرَأَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ كَمَا قَرَأَهُ.  

That he asked Saʿid bin Jubair regarding (the statement of Allah). 'Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste therewith.' He said, "Ibn ʿAbbas said that the Prophet ﷺ used to move his lips when the Divine Inspiration was being revealed to him. So the Prophet ﷺ was ordered not to move his tongue, which he used to do, lest some words should escape his memory. 'It is for Us to collect it' means, We will collect it in your chest;' and its recitation' means, We will make you recite it. 'But when We recite it (i.e. when it is revealed to you), follow its recital; it is for Us to explain it and make it clear,' (i.e. We will explain it through your tongue).  

عَنْ قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى {لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ} قَالَ وَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ كَانَ يُحَرِّكُ شَفَتَيْهِ إِذَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ {لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ} يَخْشَى أَنْ يَنْفَلِتَ مِنْهُ {إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ} أَنْ نَجْمَعَهُ فِي صَدْرِكَ وَقُرْآنَهُ أَنْ تَقْرَأَهُ {فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ} يَقُولُ أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ {فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ * ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ} أَنْ نُبَيِّنَهُ عَلَى لِسَانِكَ  

Regarding His (Allah's) Statement:-- 'Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste therewith.' (75.16) And whenever Gabriel descended to Messenger of Allah ﷺ with the Divine Inspiration, Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to move his tongue and lips, and that used to be hard for him, and one could easily recognize that he was being inspired Divinely. So Allah revealed the Verse which occurs in the Surah starting with "I do swear by the Day of Resurrection.' (75.1) i.e. 'Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste then with. It is for Us to collect it (in your mind) (O Muhammad) an give you the ability to recite it 'by heart.' (75.16-17) which means: It is for us to collect it (in your mind) and give you the ability to recite it by heart. And when We have recited it to you (O Muhammad) through Gabriel then follow you its recital. (75.18) means: 'When We reveal it (the Qur'an) to you, Listen to it.' for then: It is for Us to explain it and make it clear to you' (75.19) i.e. It is up to Us to explain it through your tongue. So, when Gabriel came to him, Messenger of Allah ﷺ would listen to him attentively, and as soon as Gabriel left, he would recite the Revelations, as Allah had promised him.  

فِي قَوْلِهِ {لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ} قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا نَزَلَ جِبْرِيلُ بِالْوَحْىِ وَكَانَ مِمَّا يُحَرِّكُ بِهِ لِسَانَهُ وَشَفَتَيْهِ فَيَشْتَدُّ عَلَيْهِ وَكَانَ يُعْرَفُ مِنْهُ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ الآيَةَ الَّتِي فِي {لاَ أُقْسِمُ بِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ} {لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ * إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ * فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ} فَإِذَا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فَاسْتَمِعْ {ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ} قَالَ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا أَنْ نُبَيِّنَهُ بِلِسَانِكَ قَالَ وَكَانَ إِذَا أَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ أَطْرَقَ فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ قَرَأَهُ كَمَا وَعَدَهُ اللَّهُ  

Saʿid bin Jubair reported from Ibn ʿAbbas (regarding the explanation of the Verse: 'Do not move your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste therewith) . He said, "The Prophet ﷺ used to undergo great difficulty in receiving the Divine Inspiration and used to move his lips.' Ibn ʿAbbas said (to Saʿid), "I move them (my lips) as Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to move his lips." And Saʿid said (to me), "I move my lips as I saw Ibn ʿAbbas moving his lips," and then he moved his lips. So Allah revealed:-- '(O Muhammad!) Do not move your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste therewith. It is for Us to collect it and give you (O Muhammad) the ability to recite it. (i.e., to collect it in your chest and then you recite it).' (75.16-17) But when We have recited it, to you (O Muhammad through Gabriel) then follow you its recital.' (75.18) This means, "You should listen to it and keep quiet and then it is upon Us to make you recite it." The narrator added, "So Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to listen whenever Gabriel came to him, and when Gabriel left, the Prophet ﷺ would recite the Qur'an as Gabriel had recited it to him."  

فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى {لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ} قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُعَالِجُ مِنَ التَّنْزِيلِ شِدَّةً وَكَانَ يُحَرِّكُ شَفَتَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِي ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أُحَرِّكُهُمَا لَكَ كَمَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُحَرِّكُهُمَا فَقَالَ سَعِيدٌ أَنَا أُحَرِّكُهُمَا كَمَا كَانَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ يُحَرِّكُهُمَا فَحَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﷻ {لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ * إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ} قَالَ جَمْعُهُ فِي صَدْرِكَ ثُمَّ تَقْرَؤُهُ {فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ} قَالَ فَاسْتَمِعْ لَهُ وَأَنْصِتْ ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا أَنْ تَقْرَأَهُ قَالَ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا أَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ اسْتَمَعَ فَإِذَا انْطَلَقَ جِبْرِيلُ قَرَأَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ كَمَا أَقْرَأَهُ  

" Move not thy tongue therewith" (Ixxv. 16) that when Gabriel brought revelation to him (the Holy Prophet) he moved his tongue and lips (with a view to committing it to memory instantly). This was something hard for him and it was visible (from his face). Then Allah, the Exalted. revealed this a" Move not thy tongue therewith to make haste (in memorising it). Surely on us rests the collecting of it and the reciting of it" (ixxv. 16), i. e. Verily it rests with Us that We would preserve it in your heart and (enable you) to recite it You would recite it when We would recite it and so follow its recitation, and He (Allah) said:" We revealed it, so listen to it attentively. Verily its exposition rests with Us. i. e. We would make it deliver by your tongue." So when Gabriel came to him (to the Holy Prophet), he kept silence, and when he went away he recited as Allah had promised him.  

فِي قَوْلِهِ ﷻ { لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ} قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِذَا نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِ جِبْرِيلُ بِالْوَحْىِ كَانَ مِمَّا يُحَرِّكُ بِهِ لِسَانَهُ وَشَفَتَيْهِ فَيَشْتَدُّ عَلَيْهِ فَكَانَ ذَلِكَ يُعْرَفُ مِنْهُ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى { لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ} أَخْذَهُ { إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ} إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا أَنْ نَجْمَعَهُ فِي صَدْرِكَ وَقُرْآنَهُ فَتَقْرَأُهُ { فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ} قَالَ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فَاسْتَمِعْ لَهُ { إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ} أَنْ نُبَيِّنَهُ بِلِسَانِكَ فَكَانَ إِذَا أَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ أَطْرَقَ فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ قَرَأَهُ كَمَا وَعَدَهُ اللَّهُ  

Concerning the saying of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime: "Move not your tongue concerning to make haste therewith. It is for Us to collect it and to give you the ability to recite it- "The Prophet ﷺ used to suffer a great deal of hardship when the Revelation came to him, and he used to move his lips. Allah said: Move not your tongue concerning to make haste therewith. It is for Us to collect it and to give you the ability to recite it." He said: " (This means) He will gather it in your heart, then you will recite it," And when We have recited it to you, then follow the recitation. He said: "So listen to it and remain silent. So when Jibril came to him, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ listened, and when he left, he would recite it as he had taught him."  

فِي قَوْلِهِ ﷻ { لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ * إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ } قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُعَالِجُ مِنَ التَّنْزِيلِ شِدَّةً وَكَانَ يُحَرِّكُ شَفَتَيْهِ قَالَ اللَّهُ ﷻ { لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ * إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ } قَالَ جَمْعَهُ فِي صَدْرِكَ ثُمَّ تَقْرَأَهُ { فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ } قَالَ فَاسْتَمِعْ لَهُ وَأَنْصِتْ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا أَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ اسْتَمَعَ فَإِذَا انْطَلَقَ قَرَأَهُ كَمَا أَقْرَأَهُ  

[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ used to suffer from the intensity of revelation, so he would move his lips. Ibn Abbas said to me, "I move my lips just as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to move his." Sa'id said to me, "I move my lips just as I saw Ibn Abbas moving his." Then Allah, the Almighty, revealed the verse, "Do not move your tongue with it, [O Muhammad], to hasten with recitation of the Qur'an. Indeed, upon Us is its collection [in your heart] and [to make possible] its recitation." (Quran 75:16-17) He (Allah) collected it in your heart and then we (Allah's creation) recite it. "So listen to it and be silent. Then, indeed, upon Us is its clarification [to you]." (Quran 75:18-19) After that, whenever Gabriel came, he would recite it as I recited it.  

فِي قَوْلِهِ {لَا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ} [القيامة 16] قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُعَالِجُ مِنَ التَّنْزِيلِ شِدَّةً فَكَانَ يُحَرِّكُ شَفَتَيْهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَا أُحَرِّكُ شَفَتَيَّ كَمَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُحَرِّكُ وَقَالَ لِي سَعِيدٌ أَنَا أُحَرِّكُ كَمَا رَأَيْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ يُحَرِّكُ شَفَتَيْهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ ﷻ {لَا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ} [القيامة 17] قَالَ جَمْعَهُ فِي صَدْرِكَ ثُمَّ نَقْرَؤُهُ {فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ} [القيامة 18] فَاسْتَمِعْ لَهُ وَأَنْصِتْ {ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ} [القيامة 19] فَكَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ إِذَا انْطَلَقَ جِبْرِيلُ قَرَأَهُ كَمَا أَقْرَأَهُ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , used to receive the Quran with his tongue and lips, and he would be relieved of its intensity. Then Allah revealed the verse {Do not move your tongue to hasten it}, meaning do not hasten in memorizing it. He says {Indeed, upon Us is its collection and its recitation}, meaning we are responsible for collecting it in your heart and for you to recite it. He says {So when We have recited it}, meaning when We have revealed it. {Then follow its recitation}, meaning listen and pay attention. {Then indeed, upon Us is its explanation}, meaning we will explain it to you with your tongue. So the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , was relieved.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «إِذَا نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِ الْقُرْآنُ تَلَقَّاهُ بِلِسَانِهِ وَشَفَتَيْهِ كَانَ يُعَالِجُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شِدَّةً» فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ ﷻ {لَا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ} يَقُولُ لِتَعْجَلَ بِأَخْذِهِ يَقُولُ {إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ} يَقُولُ جَمْعَهُ أَنْ نَجْمَعَهُ فِي صَدْرِكِ وَأَنْ تَقْرَأَهُ {فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ} فَإِذَا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ {فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ} يَقُولُ فَاسْتَمَعْ وَأَنْصَتْ {ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ} أَنْ نُبَيِّنَهُ بِلِسَانِكَ فاسْتَراحَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ  

Concerning the saying of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime: "Move not your tongue concerning to make haste therewith. It is for Us to collect it and to give you the ability to recite it- "The Prophet ﷺ used to suffer a great deal of hardship when the Revelation came to him, and he used to move his lips. Allah said: Move not your tongue concerning to make haste therewith. It is for Us to collect it and to give you the ability to recite it." He said: " (This means) He will gather it in your heart, then you will recite it," And when We have recited it to you, then follow the recitation. He said: "So listen to it and remain silent. So when Jibril came to him, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ listened, and when he left, he would recite it as he had taught him." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 935)  

فِي قَوْلِهِ {لَا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ} [القيامة 16] قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «يُعَالِجُ مِنَ التَّنْزِيلِ شِدَّةً كَانَ يُحَرِّكُ شَفَتَيْهِ» قَالَ اللهُ {لَا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمَعَهُ} [القيامة 17] وَقُرْآنَهُ قَالَ جَمْعُهُ فِي صَدْرِكَ ثُمَّ تَقْرَؤُهُ {فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ} [القيامة 18] قَالَ فَاسْتَمِعْ لَهُ وَأَنْصِتْ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «إِذَا أَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ اسْتَمَعَ فَإِذَا انْطَلَقَ قَرَأَهُ كَمَا أَقْرَأَهُ»  

Saʿid bin Jubair reported from Ibn ʿAbbas (regarding the explanation of the Verse: 'Do not move your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste therewith) . He said, "The Prophet ﷺ used to undergo great difficulty in receiving the Divine Inspiration and used to move his lips.' Ibn ʿAbbas said (to Saʿid), "I move them (my lips) as Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to move his lips." And Saʿid said (to me), "I move my lips as I saw Ibn ʿAbbas moving his lips," and then he moved his lips. So Allah revealed:-- '(O Muhammad!) Do not move your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste therewith. It is for Us to collect it and give you (O Muhammad) the ability to recite it. (i.e., to collect it in your chest and then you recite it).' (75.16-17) But when We have recited it, to you (O Muhammad through Gabriel) then follow you its recital.' (75.18) This means, "You should listen to it and keep quiet and then it is upon Us to make you recite it." The narrator added, "So Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to listen whenever Gabriel came to him, and when Gabriel left, the Prophet ﷺ would recite the Qur'an as Gabriel had recited it to him." (Using translation from Bukhārī 7524)  

فِي قَوْلِهِ {لَا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ} [القيامة 16] قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُعَالِجُ مِنَ التَّنْزِيلِ شِدَّةً كَانَ يُحَرِّكُ شَفَتَيْهِ قَالَ لِي ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَا أُحَرِّكُهُمَا لَكَ كَمَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُحَرِّكُهُمَا قَالَ سَعِيدٌ وَأَنَا أُحَرِّكُهُمَا كَمَا كَانَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ يُحَرِّكُهُمَا فَحَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ ﷻ {لَا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمَعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ} [القيامة 17] قَالَ جَمْعَهُ فِي صَدْرِكَ ثُمَّ نَقْرَأُهُ {فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ} [القيامة 18] قَالَ فَاسْتَمِعْ وَأَنْصِتْ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِذَا أَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ اسْتَمَعَ فَإِذَا انْطَلَقَ جِبْرِيلُ قَرَأَهُ كَمَا أَقْرَأَهُ