The companions of ʿAbdullah (bin Masʿud) came to Abu Darda', (and before they arrived at his home), he looked for them and found them. Then he asked them,: 'Who among you can recite (Qur'an) as ʿAbdullah recites it?" They replied, "All of us." He asked, "Who among you knows it by heart?" They pointed at 'Alqama. Then he asked Alqama. "How did you hear ʿAbdullah bin Masʿud reciting Surat Al-Lail (The Night)?" Alqama recited: 'By the male and the female.' Abu Ad-Darda said, "I testify that I heard me Prophet reciting it likewise, but these people want me to recite it:-- 'And by Him Who created male and female.' but by Allah, I will not follow them."
قَدِمَ أَصْحَابُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَى أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ فَطَلَبَهُمْ فَوَجَدَهُمْ فَقَالَ أَيُّكُمْ يَقْرَأُ عَلَى قِرَاءَةِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ كُلُّنَا قَالَ فَأَيُّكُمْ يَحْفَظُ وَأَشَارُوا إِلَى عَلْقَمَةَ قَالَ كَيْفَ سَمِعْتَهُ يَقْرَأُ {وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى} قَالَ عَلْقَمَةُ {وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى} قَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقْرَأُ هَكَذَا وَهَؤُلاَءِ يُرِيدُونِي عَلَى أَنْ أَقْرَأَ {وَمَا خَلَقَ الذَّكَرَ وَالأُنْثَى} وَاللَّهِ لاَ أُتَابِعُهُمْ