When we were in Suffa, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out and said: Which of you would like to go out every morning to Buthan or al-'Aqiq and bring two large she-camels without being guilty of sin or without severing the ties of kinship? We said: Messenger of Allah, we would like to do it. Upon this he said: Does not one of you go out in the morning to the mosque and teach or recite two verses from the Book of Allah. the Majestic and Glorious? That is better for him than two she-camels, and three verses are better (than three she-camels). and four verses are better for him than four (she-camels), and to on their number in camels.  

خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَنَحْنُ فِي الصُّفَّةِ فَقَالَ أَيُّكُمْ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَغْدُوَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ إِلَى بُطْحَانَ أَوْ إِلَى الْعَقِيقِ فَيَأْتِيَ مِنْهُ بِنَاقَتَيْنِ كَوْمَاوَيْنِ فِي غَيْرِ إِثْمٍ وَلاَ قَطْعِ رَحِمٍ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نُحِبُّ ذَلِكَ قَالَ أَفَلاَ يَغْدُو أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَيَعْلَمَ أَوْ يَقْرَأَ آيَتَيْنِ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ ﷻ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ نَاقَتَيْنِ وَثَلاَثٌ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ ثَلاَثٍ وَأَرْبَعٌ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَرْبَعٍ وَمِنْ أَعْدَادِهِنَّ مِنَ الإِبِلِ  

Recite the Qur'an, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite It. Recite the two bright ones, al-Baqara and Surah Al 'Imran, for on the Day of Resurrection they will come as two clouds or two shades, or two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading for those who recite them. Recite Surah al-Baqara, for to take recourse to it is a blessing and to give it up is a cause of grief, and the magicians cannot confront it. (Mu'awiya said: It has been conveyed to me that here Batala means magicians.)  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ اقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ شَفِيعًا لأَصْحَابِهِ اقْرَءُوا الزَّهْرَاوَيْنِ الْبَقَرَةَ وَسُورَةَ آلِ عِمْرَانَ فَإِنَّهُمَا تَأْتِيَانِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كَأَنَّهُمَا غَمَامَتَانِ أَوْ كَأَنَّهُمَا غَيَايَتَانِ أَوْ كَأَنَّهُمَا فِرْقَانِ مِنْ طَيْرٍ صَوَافَّ تُحَاجَّانِ عَنْ أَصْحَابِهِمَا اقْرَءُوا سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ فَإِنَّ أَخْذَهَا بَرَكَةٌ وَتَرْكَهَا حَسْرَةٌ وَلاَ تَسْتَطِيعُهَا الْبَطَلَةُ قَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ الْبَطَلَةَ السَّحَرَةُ  

" It has been conveyed to me..." have not been mentioned.  

حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ وَكَأَنَّهُمَا فِي كِلَيْهِمَا وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ قَوْلَ مُعَاوِيَةَ بَلَغَنِي  

On the Day of Resurrection the Qur'an and those who acted according to it will be brought with Surah al-Baqara and AI 'Imran preceding them. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ likened them to three things, which I did not forget afterwards. He (the Holy Prophet) likened them to two clouds, or two black canopies with light between them, or like two flocks of birds in ranks pleading for one who recited them.  

سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ يُؤْتَى بِالْقُرْآنِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَأَهْلِهِ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ بِهِ تَقْدُمُهُ سُورَةُ الْبَقَرَةِ وَآلُ عِمْرَانَ وَضَرَبَ لَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثَلاَثَةَ أَمْثَالٍ مَا نَسِيتُهُنَّ بَعْدُ قَالَ كَأَنَّهُمَا غَمَامَتَانِ أَوْ ظُلَّتَانِ سَوْدَاوَانِ بَيْنَهُمَا شَرْقٌ أَوْ كَأَنَّهُمَا حِزْقَانِ مِنْ طَيْرٍ صَوَافَّ تُحَاجَّانِ عَنْ صَاحِبِهِمَا  

This is a gate opened in heaven today which had never been opened before. Then when an angel descended through it, he said: This is an angel who came down to the earth who had never come down before. He greeted and said: Rejoice in two lights given to you which have not been given to any prophet before you: Fatihat al-Kitab and the concluding verses of Surah al-Baqara. You will never recite a letter from them for which you will not be given (a reward).  

بَيْنَمَا جِبْرِيلُ قَاعِدٌ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ سَمِعَ نَقِيضًا مِنْ فَوْقِهِ فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ هَذَا بَابٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فُتِحَ الْيَوْمَ لَمْ يُفْتَحْ قَطُّ إِلاَّ الْيَوْمَ فَنَزَلَ مِنْهُ مَلَكٌ فَقَالَ هَذَا مَلَكٌ نَزَلَ إِلَى الأَرْضِ لَمْ يَنْزِلْ قَطُّ إِلاَّ الْيَوْمَ فَسَلَّمَ وَقَالَ أَبْشِرْ بِنُورَيْنِ أُوتِيتَهُمَا لَمْ يُؤْتَهُمَا نَبِيٌّ قَبْلَكَ فَاتِحَةُ الْكِتَابِ وَخَوَاتِيمُ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ لَنْ تَقْرَأَ بِحَرْفٍ مِنْهُمَا إِلاَّ أُعْطِيتَهُ  

I met Abu Mas'ud near the House (Ka'ba) and said to him: A hadith has been conveyed to me on your authority about the two (concluding verses of Surah al-Baqara. He said: Yes. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ (in fact) said: Anyone who recites the two verses at the end of Surah al-Baqara at night, they would suffice for him.  

لَقِيتُ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ فَقُلْتُ حَدِيثٌ بَلَغَنِي عَنْكَ فِي الآيَتَيْنِ فِي سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الآيَتَانِ مِنْ آخِرِ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ مَنْ قَرَأَهُمَا فِي لَيْلَةٍ كَفَتَاهُ  

This hadith has been narrated by Mansur with the same chain of transmitters.  

عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ  

If anyone recites the two verses at the end of Surah al-Baqara at night, they would suffice for him 'Abd al-Rahman said: I met Abu Mas'ud and he was circumambulating the House (of Allah) and asked him about this (tradition) and he narrated it to me from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ قَرَأَ هَاتَيْنِ الآيَتَيْنِ مِنْ آخِرِ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ كَفَتَاهُ قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَلَقِيتُ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ وَهُوَ يَطُوفُ بِالْبَيْتِ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَحَدَّثَنِي بِهِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ  

A hadith like this has been narrated by Abu Mas'ud from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ through another chain of transmitters.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مِثْلَهُ  

It is through another chain of transmitters that this hadith has been reported by Abu Mas'ud from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مِثْلَهُ  

If anyone learns by heart the first ten verses of the Surah al-Kahf, he will be protected from the Dajjal.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ حَفِظَ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ مِنْ أَوَّلِ سُورَةِ الْكَهْفِ عُصِمَ مِنَ الدَّجَّالِ  

At the end of Surah al-Kahf, but Hammam said: At the beginning of Surah al-Kahf.  

هِشَامٌ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: O Abu' al-Mundhir, do you know the verse from the Book of Allah which, according to you, is the greatest? I said: Allah and His Apostle ﷺ know best. He again said: Abu'l-Mundhir, do you know the verse from the Book of Allah which, according to you, is the greatest? I said: Allah, there is no god but He, the Living, the Eternal. Thereupon he struck me on my breast and said: May knowledge be pleasant for you, O Abu'l-Mundhir!  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ أَتَدْرِي أَىُّ آيَةٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ مَعَكَ أَعْظَمُ قَالَ قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ يَا أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ أَتَدْرِي أَىُّ آيَةٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ مَعَكَ أَعْظَمُ قَالَ قُلْتُ اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَىُّ الْقَيُّومُ قَالَ فَضَرَبَ فِي صَدْرِي وَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لِيَهْنِكَ الْعِلْمُ أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ  

Is any one of you incapable of reciting a third of the Qur'an in a night? They (the Companions) asked: How could one recite a third of the Qur'an (in a night)? Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: "'Say: He is Allah, One' (Qur'an. cxii) is equivalent to a third of the Qur'an."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ أَيَعْجِزُ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ فِي لَيْلَةٍ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ قَالُوا وَكَيْفَ يَقْرَأْ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ ؟ قَالَ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ تَعْدِلُ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ  

He (the Messenger of Allah) said: Allah divided the Qur'an into three parts, and he made:" Say: He, Allah is One." one part out of the (three) parts of the Qur'an.  

عَنْ قَتَادَةَ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَفِي حَدِيثِهِمَا مِنْ قَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَزَّأَ الْقُرْآنَ ثَلاَثَةَ أَجْزَاءٍ فَجَعَلَ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ جُزْءًا مِنْ أَجْزَاءِ الْقُرْآنِ  

Get together. for I am going to recite one-third of the Qur'an before you. And those who could get together gathered there. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out and recited:" Say: He, Allah, is One." He then entered (his house). Some of us said to the others: Perhaps there has been some news from the heaven on account of which he has gone Inside (the house). The Apostle of Allah ﷺ again came out and said: I told you that I was going to recite one-third of the Qur'in; keep in mind, this (Surah Ikhlas) is equivalent to one-third of the Qur'an.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ احْشِدُوا فَإِنِّي سَأَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكُمْ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ فَحَشَدَ مَنْ حَشَدَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَرَأَ { قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ} ثُمَّ دَخَلَ فَقَالَ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ إِنِّي أُرَى هَذَا خَبَرٌ جَاءَهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَذَاكَ الَّذِي أَدْخَلَهُ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنِّي قُلْتُ لَكُمْ سَأَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكُمْ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ أَلاَ إِنَّهَا تَعْدِلُ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out to us and said: I am going to recite before you one-third of the Qur'an. He (the Holy Prophet) then recited:" Say: He is Allah, One--Allah, the Eternal," to the end of the Surah.  

خَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكُمْ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ فَقَرَأَ { قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ * اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ} حَتَّى خَتَمَهَا  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent a man in charge of an expedition and he would recite for his Companions during their prayer, ending (recitation) with:" Say, He is God, One." When they returned mention was made of it to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He (the Holy Prophet) told them to ask him why he had done like that. So they asked him and he said: Verily, it is an attribute of the Compassionate One, and (for this reason) I love to recite it. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ thereupon said: Inform him that Allah loves him.  

عَنْ أُمِّهِ عَمْرَةَ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ وَكَانَتْ فِي حَجْرِ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَعَثَ رَجُلاً عَلَى سَرِيَّةٍ وَكَانَ يَقْرَأُ لأَصْحَابِهِ فِي صَلاَتِهِمْ فَيَخْتِمُ بِ { قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ} فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوا ذُكِرَ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ سَلُوهُ لأَىِّ شَىْءٍ يَصْنَعُ ذَلِكَ فَسَأَلُوهُ فَقَالَ لأَنَّهَا صِفَةُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَأَنَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَقْرَأَ بِهَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَخْبِرُوهُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّهُ  

What wonderful verses have been sent down today. the like of which has never been seen! They are:" Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the dawn," and" Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of men."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَلَمْ تَرَ آيَاتٍ أُنْزِلَتِ اللَّيْلَةَ لَمْ يُرَ مِثْلُهُنَّ قَطُّ { قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ} وَ { قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ}  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me: There have been sent down to me verses the like of which had never been seen before. They are the Mu'awwadhatain.  

لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أُنْزِلَ أَوْ أُنْزِلَتْ عَلَىَّ آيَاتٌ لَمْ يُرَ مِثْلُهُنَّ قَطُّ الْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ  

This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters directly from the Companions of Muhammad ﷺ.  

عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ وَفِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي أُسَامَةَ عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ وَكَانَ مِنْ رُفَعَاءِ أَصْحَابِ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ  

Envy is not justified but in case of two persons only: one who, having been given (knowledge of) the Qur'an by Allah, recites it during the night and day (and also acts upon it) and a man who, having been given wealth by God, spends it during the night and the day (for the welfare of others. seeking the pleasure of the Lord).  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ لاَ حَسَدَ إِلاَّ فِي اثْنَتَيْنِ رَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْقُرْآنَ فَهُوَ يَقُومُ بِهِ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَآنَاءَ النَّهَارِ وَرَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالاً فَهُوَ يُنْفِقُهُ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَآنَاءَ النَّهَارِ  

Envy is not justified but in case of two persons only: one who, having been given (knowledge of) the Qur'an by Allah, recites it during the night and during the day (and acts upon it), and the person who, having been given wealth by God, gives it in charity during the night and the day.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ حَسَدَ إِلاَّ عَلَى اثْنَتَيْنِ رَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ هَذَا الْكِتَابَ فَقَامَ بِهِ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَآنَاءَ النَّهَارِ وَرَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالاً فَتَصَدَّقَ بِهِ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَآنَاءَ النَّهَارِ  

There should be no envy but only in case of two persons: one having been endowed with wealth and power to spend it in the cause of Truth, and (the other) who has been endowed with wisdom and he decides cases with the help of it and teaches it (to others).  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ حَسَدَ إِلاَّ فِي اثْنَتَيْنِ رَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالاً فَسَلَّطَهُ عَلَى هَلَكَتِهِ فِي الْحَقِّ وَرَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ حِكْمَةً فَهُوَ يَقْضِي بِهَا وَيُعَلِّمُهَا  

Whom have you appointed as collector over the people of the valley? He said: Ibn Abza. He said: Who is Ibn Abza? He said: He is one of our freed slaves. He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: So you have appointed a freed slave over them. He said: He is well versed In the Book of Allah. the Exalted and Great, and he is well versed In the commandments and injunctions (of the Shari'ah). 'Umar said: So the Prophet ﷺ said: By this Book, Allah would exalt some peoples and degrade others.  

إِنَّهُ قَارِئٌ لِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ ﷻ وَإِنَّهُ عَالِمٌ بِالْفَرَائِضِ قَالَ عُمَرُ أَمَا إِنَّ نَبِيَّكُمْ ﷺ قَدْ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَرْفَعُ بِهَذَا الْكِتَابِ أَقْوَامًا وَيَضَعُ بِهِ آخَرِينَ  

This hadith has been narrated by Zuhri through another chain of transmitters.  

عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ  

I heard Hisham b. Hakim b. Hizam reciting Surah al-Furqan in a style different from that in which I used to recite it, and in which Messenger of Allah ﷺ had taught me to recite it. I was about to dispute with him (on this style) but I delayed till he had finished that (the recitation). Then I caught hold of his cloak and brought him to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: Messenger of Allah, I heard this man reciting Surah al-Furqan in a style different from the one in which you taught me to recite. Upon this the Messenger of Allah ﷺ told (me) to leave him alone and asked him to recite. He then recited in the style in which I beard him recite it. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said: Thus was it sent down. He then told me to recite and I recited it, and he said: Thus was it sent down. The Qur'an was sent down in seven dialects. So recite what seems easy therefrom.  

سَمِعْتُ هِشَامَ بْنَ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ يَقْرَأُ سُورَةَ الْفُرْقَانِ عَلَى غَيْرِ مَا أَقْرَؤُهَا وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَقْرَأَنِيهَا فَكِدْتُ أَنْ أَعْجَلَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَمْهَلْتُهُ حَتَّى انْصَرَفَ ثُمَّ لَبَّبْتُهُ بِرِدَائِهِ فَجِئْتُ بِهِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ هَذَا يَقْرَأُ سُورَةَ الْفُرْقَانِ عَلَى غَيْرِ مَا أَقْرَأْتَنِيهَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَرْسِلْهُ اقْرَأْ فَقَرَأَ الْقِرَاءَةَ الَّتِي سَمِعْتُهُ يَقْرَأُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ هَكَذَا أُنْزِلَتْ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِيَ اقْرَأْ فَقَرَأْتُ فَقَالَ هَكَذَا أُنْزِلَتْ إِنَّ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ أُنْزِلَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ  

" I heard Hisham b. Hakim reciting Surah al-Furqan during the lifetime of Messenger of Allah ﷺ." The rest is the same but with this addition:" I was about to catch hold of him in prayer, but I exercised patience till he pronounced salutation.  

سَمِعْتُ هِشَامَ بْنَ حَكِيمٍ يَقْرَأُ سُورَةَ الْفُرْقَانِ فِي حَيَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَزَادَ فَكِدْتُ أُسَاوِرُهُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَتَصَبَّرْتُ حَتَّى سَلَّمَ  

This hadith has been transmitted by Zuhri.  

عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ كَرِوَايَةِ يُونُسَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ  

Gabriel taught me to recite in one style. I replied to him and kept asking him to give more (styles), till he reached seven modes (of recitation). Ibn Shibab said: It has reached me that these seven styles are essentially one, not differing about what is permitted and what is forbidden.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ أَقْرَأَنِي جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَرَاجَعْتُهُ فَلَمْ أَزَلْ أَسْتَزِيدُهُ فَيَزِيدُنِي حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ تِلْكَ السَّبْعَةَ الأَحْرُفَ إِنَّمَا هِيَ فِي الأَمْرِ الَّذِي يَكُونُ وَاحِدًا لاَ يَخْتَلِفُ فِي حَلاَلٍ وَلاَ حَرَامٍ  

This hadith has been narrated by Zuhri with the same chain of trans- mitters.  

عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ  

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»  

Ubayy b. Ka'b reported that he was sitting in a mosque that a person entered it and he observed prayer, and made recitation, the rest of the hadith is the same.  

أَنَّهُ كَانَ جَالِسًا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ إِذْ دَخَلَ رَجُلٌ فَصَلَّى فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً وَاقْتَصَّ الْحَدِيثَ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ نُمَيْرٍ  

Allah has commanded you to recite to your people the Qur'an in one dialect. Upon this he said: I ask from Allah pardon and forgiveness. My people are not capable of doing it. He then came for the second time and said: Allah has commanded you that you should recite the Qur'an to your people in two dialects. Upon this he (the Holy prophet) again said: I seek pardon and forgiveness from Allah, my people would not be able to do so. He (Gabriel) came for the third time and said: Allah has commanded you to recite the Qur'an to your people in three dialects. Upon this he said: I ask pardon and forgiveness from Allah. My people would not be able to do it. He then came to him for the fourth time and said: Allah has commanded you to recite the Qur'an to your people in seven dialects, and in whichever dialect they would recite, they would be right.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ عِنْدَ أَضَاةِ بَنِي غِفَارٍ قَالَ فَأَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ أُمَّتُكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَقَالَ أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِي لاَ تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الثَّانِيَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ أُمَّتُكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ فَقَالَ أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِي لاَ تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ الثَّالِثَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ أُمَّتُكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى ثَلاَثَةِ أَحْرُفٍ فَقَالَ أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِي لاَ تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ الرَّابِعَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ أُمَّتُكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ فَأَيُّمَا حَرْفٍ قَرَءُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَدْ أَصَابُوا  

This hadith has been narrated by Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters.  

حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ  

Abu 'Abd al-Rahman, how do you recite this word (alif) or (ya)? Would you read It as: min ma'in ghaira asin or au min ma'in ghaira ghaira yasin. (al-Qur'an, xlvii. 15)? 'Abdullah said: You (seem to) have memorised the whole of the Qur'an except this. He (again) said: I recite all the mufassal surahs in one rak'ah. Upon this 'Abdullah said: (You must have been reciting It) hastily like the recitation of poetry. Verily. there are people who recite the Qur'an, but it does not go down beyond their collar bones. It is (a fact with the Qur'an) that it is beneficial only when it settles in the heart and is rooted deeply in it. The best of (the acts) in prayer are bowing and prostration. I am quite aware of the occasions when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ combined together two surahs in every rak'ah. 'Abdullah then stood up and went out with 'Alqama following in his footstep. He said Ibn Numair had told him that the narration was like that:" A person belonging to Banu Bajila came to 'Abdullah," and he did not mention (the name of) Nahik b. Sinan.  

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ نَهِيكُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ كَيْفَ تَقْرَأُ هَذَا الْحَرْفَ أَلِفًا تَجِدُهُ أَمْ يَاءً مِنْ مَاءٍ غَيْرِ آسِنٍ أَوْ مِنْ مَاءٍ غَيْرِ يَاسِنٍ قَالَ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَكُلَّ الْقُرْآنِ قَدْ أَحْصَيْتَ غَيْرَ هَذَا قَالَ إِنِّي لأَقْرَأُ الْمُفَصَّلَ فِي رَكْعَةٍ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ هَذًّا كَهَذِّ الشِّعْرِ إِنَّ أَقْوَامًا يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ لاَ يُجَاوِزُ تَرَاقِيَهُمْ وَلَكِنْ إِذَا وَقَعَ فِي الْقَلْبِ فَرَسَخَ فِيهِ نَفَعَ إِنَّ أَفْضَلَ الصَّلاَةِ الرُّكُوعُ وَالسُّجُودُ إِنِّي لأَعْلَمُ النَّظَائِرَ الَّتِي كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقْرُنُ بَيْنَهُنَّ سُورَتَيْنِ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ ثُمَّ قَامَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ فَدَخَلَ عَلْقَمَةُ فِي إِثْرِهِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَقَالَ قَدْ أَخْبَرَنِي بِهَا قَالَ ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي بَجِيلَةَ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَلَمْ يَقُلْ نَهِيكُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ  

A person came to 'Abdullah, who was called Nahik b. Sinan, and the rest of the hadith is the same but for this:" Alqama came to him ('Abdullah b. Mas'ud) and we said to him: Ask him about the manners in which he combined (two surahs) in one rak'ah. So he went to him and asked him and then came to us and said: Twenty are the mufassal surahs in the compilation (of the Qur'an) made by 'Abdullah."  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ فَجَاءَ عَلْقَمَةُ لِيَدْخُلَ عَلَيْهِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُ سَلْهُ عَنِ النَّظَائِرِ الَّتِي كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقْرَأُ بِهَا فِي رَكْعَةٍ فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَسَأَلَهُ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا فَقَالَ عِشْرُونَ سُورَةً مِنَ الْمُفَصَّلِ فِي تَأْلِيفِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ  

" I know the manners in which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited the two surahs in one rak'ah and then twenty surahs in ten rak'ahs."  

حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ فِي هَذَا الإِسْنَادِ بِنَحْوِ حَدِيثِهِمَا وَقَالَ إِنِّي لأَعْرِفُ النَّظَائِرَ الَّتِي كَانَ يَقْرَأُ بِهِنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ اثْنَتَيْنِ فِي رَكْعَةٍ عِشْرِينَ سُورَةً فِي عَشْرِ رَكَعَاتٍ  

One day we went to 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud after we had observed the dawn prayer and we paid salutation at the door. He permitted us to enter, but we stayed for a while at the door, when the slave-girl came out and said: Why don't you come in? So we went in and (we found 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud) sitting and glorifying Allah (i. e. he was busy in dhikr) and he said: What obstructed you from coming in though you had been granted permission for it? We said: There was nothing (behind it) but we entertained the idea that some inmate of the house might be sleeping. He said: Do you presume any idleness on the part of the family of Ibn Umm 'Abd (the mother of Abdullah b. Mas'ud)? He was again busy with the glorification of Allah till he thought that the sun had risen. He said: Girl, see whether (the sun) has arisen. She glanced but it had not risen (by that time). He was again busy with the glorification (of Allah) and he (again) thought that the sun had arisen. She glanced (and confirmed) that, it had risen. Upon this he ('Abdullah b. Mas'ud) said: Praise be to Allah Who did not call us to account for our sins today. Mahdi said: I think that he said, He did not destroy us for our sins. One among the people said: I recited all the mufassal surahs during the night. 'Abdullah said: (You must have recited them) like the (recitation) of poetry. I heard (the Holy Prophet) combining (the sarahs) and I remember the combinations which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made In the recitation (of surahs). These were constituted of eighteen mufassal surahs and two surahs (commencing with) Ha-Mim.  

أَلاَ تَدْخُلُونَ فَدَخَلْنَا فَإِذَا هُوَ جَالِسٌ يُسَبِّحُ فَقَالَ مَا مَنَعَكُمْ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا وَقَدْ أُذِنَ لَكُمْ فَقُلْنَا لاَ إِلاَّ أَنَّا ظَنَنَّا أَنَّ بَعْضَ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ نَائِمٌ قَالَ ظَنَنْتُمْ بِآلِ ابْنِ أُمِّ عَبْدٍ غَفْلَةً قَالَ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ يُسَبِّحُ حَتَّى ظَنَّ أَنَّ الشَّمْسَ قَدْ طَلَعَتْ فَقَالَ يَا جَارِيَةُ انْظُرِي هَلْ طَلَعَتْ قَالَ فَنَظَرَتْ فَإِذَا هِيَ لَمْ تَطْلُعْ فَأَقْبَلَ يُسَبِّحُ حَتَّى إِذَا ظَنَّ أَنَّ الشَّمْسَ قَدْ طَلَعَتْ قَالَ يَا جَارِيَةُ انْظُرِي هَلْ طَلَعَتْ فَنَظَرَتْ فَإِذَا هِيَ قَدْ طَلَعَتْ فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَقَالَنَا يَوْمَنَا هَذَا فَقَالَ مَهْدِيٌّ وَأَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ وَلَمْ يُهْلِكْنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا قَالَ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ قَرَأْتُ الْمُفَصَّلَ الْبَارِحَةَ كُلَّهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ هَذًّا كَهَذِّ الشِّعْرِ إِنَّا لَقَدْ سَمِعْنَا الْقَرَائِنَ وَإِنِّي لأَحْفَظُ الْقَرَائِنَ الَّتِي كَانَ يَقْرَؤُهُنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ مِنَ الْمُفَصَّلِ وَسُورَتَيْنِ مِنْ آلِ حم  

A person from Banu Bajila who was called Nabik b. Sinan came to Abdullah and said: I recite mufassal surahs in one rak'ah. Upon this 'Abdullah said: (You recite) like the recitation of poetry. I know the manner in which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited two surahs in one rak'ah.  

إِنِّي أَقْرَأُ الْمُفَصَّلَ فِي رَكْعَةٍ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ هَذًّا كَهَذِّ الشِّعْرِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ النَّظَائِرَ الَّتِي كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقْرَأُ بِهِنَّ سُورَتَيْنِ فِي رَكْعَةٍ  

A person came to 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud and said: I recited all the mufassal surahs in one rak'ah during the night. 'Abdullah said: You must have recited hastily like the recitation of poetry. 'Abdullah said: I remember well the manner in which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to combine them, and he then mentioned twenty of the mufassal surahs, and (their combinations in) two in every rak'ah.  

إِنِّي قَرَأْتُ الْمُفَصَّلَ اللَّيْلَةَ كُلَّهُ فِي رَكْعَةٍ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ هَذًّا كَهَذِّ الشِّعْرِ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَرَفْتُ النَّظَائِرَ الَّتِي كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقْرُنُ بَيْنَهُنَّ قَالَ فَذَكَرَ عِشْرِينَ سُورَةً مِنَ الْمُفَصَّلِ سُورَتَيْنِ سُورَتَيْنِ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ  

I saw a man asking Aswad b. Yazid who taught the Qur'an in the mosque: How do you recite the verse (fahal min muddakir) whether (the word muddakir) Is with (d) or (dh)? He (Aswad) said: It was with (d). I heard Abdullah b. Mas'ud saying that he had heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ reciting (muddakir) with (d).  

كَيْفَ تَقْرَأُ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ فَهَلْ مِنْ مُدَّكِرٍ أَدَالاً أَمْ ذَالاً قَالَ بَلْ دَالاً سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ مَسْعُودٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ مُدَّكِرٍ دَالاً  

Ishaq is reported to have said on the authority of Aswad who quoted on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite these words as (fahal min muddakir).  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقْرَأُ هَذَا الْحَرْفَ فَهَلْ مِنْ مُدَّكِرٍ  

Is there anyone among you who recites according to the recitation of Abdullah? I said: Yes, it is I. He again said: How did you hear 'Abdullah reciting this verse: (wa'l-lail-i-idha yaghsha = when the night covers)? He ('Alqama) said: I heard him reciting it (like this) (wa'l-lail-i-idha yaghsha) wa-dhakar wal untha = when the night covers and the males and the females). Upon this he said: By Allah, I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ reciting in this way, but they (the Muslims of Syria) desire us to recite: (wa ma khalaqa), but I do not yield to their desire.  

قَدِمْنَا الشَّامَ فَأَتَانَا أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ فَقَالَ: أَفِيكُمْ أَحَدٌ يَقْرَأُ عَلَى قِرَاءَةِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ؟ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ أَنَا۔ قَالَ: فَكَيْفَ سَمِعْتَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ يَقْرَأُ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ {وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى}؟ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُهُ يَقْرَأُ {وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى * وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى} قَالَ: وَأَنَا وَاللَّهِ هَكَذَا سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقْرَؤُهَا وَلَكِنْ هَؤُلاَءِ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ أَقْرَأَ {وَمَا خَلَقَ} فَلاَ أُتَابِعُهُمْ۔  

'Alqama came to Syria and entered the mosque and prayed there and then went to a (place where people were sitting in a) circle and he sat therein. Then a person came there and I perceived that the people were annoyed and perturbed (on this arrival). and he sat on my side and then said: Do you remember how 'Abdullah used to recite (the Qur'an)? And then the rest of the hadith was narrated.  

أَتَى عَلْقَمَةُ الشَّامَ فَدَخَلَ مَسْجِدًا فَصَلَّى فِيهِ ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى حَلْقَةٍ فَجَلَسَ فِيهَا قَالَ فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ فَعَرَفْتُ فِيهِ تَحَوُّشَ الْقَوْمِ وَهَيْئَتَهُمْ قَالَ فَجَلَسَ إِلَى جَنْبِي ثُمَّ قَالَ أَتَحْفَظُ كَمَا كَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَقْرَأُ فَذَكَرَ بِمِثْلِهِ  

I met Abu Darda', and he said to me: To which country do you belong? I said: I am one of the people of Iraq. He again said: To which city? I replied: City of Kufa. He again said: Do you recite according to the recitation of 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud? I said: Yes. He said: Recite this verse (By the night when it covers) So I recited it: (By the night when it covers, and the day when it shines, and the creating of the male and the female). He laughed and said: I have heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ reciting like this.  

لِي مِمَّنْ أَنْتَ قُلْتُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ قَالَ مِنْ أَيِّهِمْ قُلْتُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ قَالَ هَلْ تَقْرَأُ عَلَى قِرَاءَةِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَاقْرَأْ { وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى} قَالَ فَقَرَأْتُ { وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى * وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّى * وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى} قَالَ فَضَحِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ هَكَذَا سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقْرَؤُهَا  

This hadith has been narrated by another chain of transmitters.  

أَتَيْتُ الشَّامَ فَلَقِيتُ أَبَا الدَّرْدَاءِ فَذَكَرَ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ عُلَيَّةَ  

Abu Huraira is reported to have said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prohibited to observe prayer after the 'Asr prayer till the sun is set, and after the dawn till the sun rises.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَهَى عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ حَتَّى تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ وَعَنِ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الصُّبْحِ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ  

I heard it from so many Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and one among them is 'Umar b. Khattab, and he is most dear to me among them that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prohibited observing of prayer after the dawn prayer till the sun rose and after the 'Asr till the sun set.  

سَمِعْتُ غَيْرَ وَاحِدٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْهُمْ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ وَكَانَ أَحَبَّهُمْ إِلَىَّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَهَى عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الْفَجْرِ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ وَبَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ حَتَّى تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ  

This hadith has been narrated by Qatada with the same chain of transmitters with a minor alteration of words.  

أَنَّ فِي حَدِيثِ سَعِيدٍ وَهِشَامٍ بَعْدَ الصُّبْحِ حَتَّى تَشْرُقَ الشَّمْسُ