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. (Using translation from Muslim 821a)  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ عِنْدَ أَضَاَةِ بَنِي غِفَارٍ قَالَ فَأَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تُقْرِئَ أُمَّتَكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ قَالَ أَسْأَلُ اللهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِي لَا تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الثَّانِيَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تُقْرِئَ أُمَّتَكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ فَقَالَ أَسْأَلُ اللهَ مُعَافَاتَهُوَمَغْفِرَتَهُ إِنَّ أُمَّتِي لَا تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ الثَّالِثَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تُقْرِئَ أُمَّتَكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى ثلاثة أَحْرُفٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَسْأَلُ اللهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ فَإِنَّ أُمَّتِي لَا تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ جَاءَ الرَّابِعَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللهُ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تُقْرِئَ أُمَّتَكَ الْقُرْآَنَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ فَأَيُّمَا حَرْفٍ قَرَءُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَدْ أَصَابُوا  

[Machine] That Gabriel ﷺ came to the Prophet ﷺ while he was with the Abbasids and said, "O Muhammad, indeed Allah commands you to recite this Quran to your Ummah on one letter." So the Prophet ﷺ said, "I ask Allah for His forgiveness and mercy, or His assistance and mercy. Ask Him for them to be relieved, as they will not be able to bear that." Then Gabriel left and came back again, saying, "Indeed, Allah commands you to recite this Quran to your Ummah on two letters." The Prophet ﷺ responded with the same answer. Then Gabriel left and returned once more, saying, "Indeed, Allah commands you to recite this Quran to your Ummah on three letters." And the Prophet ﷺ gave the same response. Then Gabriel left and returned again, saying, "Indeed, Allah commands you to recite this Quran to your Ummah on seven letters. Whoever recites a letter from it, they will receive the reward of reciting it."  

أَنَّ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَهُوَ بِأَضَاةِ بَنِي غِفَارَ فَقَالَ «يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تُقْرِئَ أُمَّتَكَ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ وَاحِدٍ فَقَالَ ﷺ أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ أَوْ مَعُونَتَهُ وَمُعَافَاتَهُ سَلْ لَهُمُ التَّخْفِيفَ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَنْ يُطِيقُوا ذَلِكَ فَانْطَلَقَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تُقْرِئَ أُمَّتَكَ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ فَقَالَ أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ أَوْ مَعُونَتَهُ وَمُعَافَاتَهُ سَلْ لَهُمُ التَّخْفِيفَ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَنْ يُطِيقُوا ذَلِكَ فَانْطَلَقَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تُقْرِئَ أُمَّتَكَ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَحْرُفٍ قَالَ أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ أَوْ مَعُونَتَهُ وَمُعَافَاتَهُ سَلْ لَهُمُ التَّخْفِيفَ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَنْ يُطِيقُوا ذَاكَ قَالَ فَانْطَلَقَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنَّ تَقْرَأَ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ فَمَنْ قَرَأَ حَرْفًا مِنْهَا فَهُوَ كَمَا قَرَأَ»  

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. (Using translation from Muslim 821a)  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ عِنْدَ أَضَاةِ بَنِي غِفَارٍ فَأَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تُقْرِئَ أُمَّتَكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ قَالَ «أَسْأَلُ اللهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِي لَا تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ» ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الثَّانِيَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تُقْرِئَ أُمَّتَكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ قَالَ «أَسْأَلُ اللهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِي لَا تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ» ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الثَّالِثَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تُقْرِئَ أُمَّتَكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَحْرُفٍ قَالَ «أَسْأَلُ اللهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ فَإِنَّ أُمَّتِي لَا تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ» ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ الرَّابِعَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ «اللهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تُقْرِئَ أُمَّتَكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ فَأَيُّمَا حَرْفٍ قَرَءُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَدْ أَصَابُوا» قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ مَنْصُورٌ خَالَفَ الْحَكَمَ فِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ رَوَاهُ عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ مُرْسَلًا  

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. (Using translation from Muslim 821a)   

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ وَهُوَ عِنْدَ أَضَاةِ بَنِي غِفَارٍ قَالَ إِنَّ اللهَ ﷻ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْتَ وَأُمَّتَكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَسْأَلُ اللهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ إِنَّ أُمَّتِي لَا تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللهَ ﷻ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْتَ وَأُمَّتَكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنَّ أُمَّتِي لَا تُطِيقُ هَذَا ثُمَّ عَادَ فَقَالَ اللهُ ﷻ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْتَ وَأُمَّتَكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَحْرُفٍ قَالَ أَسْأَلُ اللهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ إِنَّ أُمَّتِي لَا تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللهَ ﷻ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْتَ وَأُمَّتَكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ أِيُّ حَرْفٍ قَرَءُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَدْ أَصَابُوا  

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. (Using translation from Muslim 821a)   

"أتانى جبريلُ فقال: إن الله يأمُرُكَ أن تُقْرِئ أُمّتك القُرآن على حرفٍ، فقلت: أسألُ الله معافاته ومَغْفِرته، فإنَّ أمتى لا تُطيق ذلك، ثم أتانى الثانيةَ فقال إِنَّ الله يَأمُرُكَ أنْ تُقْرأَ أُمَّتَكَ القُرآنَ عَلَي حَرْفَيْنِ، أَسْألُ الله مُعَافَاته وَمَغْفِرتِه وإِنّ أُمَّتىِ لا تُطَيقُ ذَلِكَ ثم جَاءَنِى الثَّالثَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الله يأمُرُكَ انْ تُقْرِأَ أُمَّتَكَ الْقُرآنَ عَلَىَ ثَلاَثةِ أَحرَفٍ، فقلت: أسألُ الله معافاته ومغفرته، وإنّ أمتى لا تطيق ذلك، ثم جاءنى الرابعة فقال: إن الله يأمرك أن تقرئ أمتك القرآن على سبعة أحرف، فأيُّما حرفٍ قرءوا عليه فقد أصابوا".  

"أَنَّ النَّبِىَّ ﷺ كَانَ عِنْدَ أَضَاةِ بَنِى غِفَارٍ فَأَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ فَقَالَ: الله يَأمُرُكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأ أُمَّتُكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَقَالَ: أَسْأَلُ الله مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ، وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِى لاَ تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الثَّانِيَةَ فَقَالَ: إِنَّ الله يَأمُرُكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ أمَّتُكَ الْقُرآنَ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ، فَقَالَ: أَسْأَلُ الله مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ، وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِى لاَ تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ الثَّالِثَةَ فَقَالَ: إِنَّ الله يَأمُرُكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ أُمَّتُكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى ثَلاَثَةِ أَحْرَفٍ، فَقَالَ أَسْأَلُ الله مُعافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِى لاَ تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ الرَّابِعَةَ فَقالَ: إِنَّ الله يَأمْرُكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ أُمَّتُكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ فَأيُّمَا حَرْفٍ قَرَأُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَدْ أَصَابُوا".  

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  

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»  

[Machine] I was in the mosque when a man entered and recited a reading that I disapproved of. Then another man entered and recited a different reading than his companion's. We all got up and went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , and I said, "O Messenger of Allah, this man recited a reading that I disapproved of, and then this man entered and recited a reading different from his companion's." The Prophet ﷺ said to both of them, "Recite." They recited, and he said, "Both of you are correct." When the Prophet ﷺ said what was difficult for me to bear, as I was still a new convert to Islam, the man who had overwhelmed me struck my chest, causing me to sweat and making me feel as if I were seeing Allah separately. I said, "O Messenger of Allah, my Lord has sent me a message to recite the Quran perfectly, but I asked Him to make it easy for my Ummah (community). He then sent me a message to recite it on two letters, but again I asked Him to make it easy for my Ummah. He finally sent me a message to recite it on seven letters, and with each repetition, there is a matter of importance that I must answer." He said, "What did you say in response?" I said, "O Allah, forgive my Ummah. O Allah, forgive my Ummah." And I saved the third repetition for a day that the creation would desire me until the Day of Judgment, referring to the day of the Prophet's ascension (Isra' and Mi'raj), when Allah honored him.  

كُنْتُ فِي الْمَسْجِدَ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ آخَرُ فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ فَقُمْنَا جَمِيعًا فَدَخَلْنَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ هَذَا قَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ هَذَا فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً غَيْرَ قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ اقْرَآ فَقَرَآ قَالَ أَصَبْتُمَا فَلَمَّا قَالَ لَهُمَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الَّذِي قَالَ كَبُرَ عَلَيَّ وَلَا إِذْ كُنْتُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَلَمَّا رَأَى الَّذِي غَشِيَنِي ضَرَبَ فِي صَدْرِي فَفِضْتُ عَرَقًا وَكَأَنَّمَا أَنْظُرُ إِلَى اللهِ فَرَقًا فَقَالَ يَا أُبَيُّ إِنَّ رَبِّي أَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ أَنْ اقْرَأِ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَرَدَدْتُ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتِي فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ أَنْ اقْرَأْهُ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ فَرَدَدْتُ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتِي فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ أَنْ اقْرَأْهُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ وَلَكَ بِكُلِّ رَدَّةٍ مَسْأَلَةٌ تَسْأَلُنِيهَا قَالَ قُلْتُ اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأُمَّتِي اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأُمَّتِي وَأَخَّرْتُ الثَّالِثَةَ لِيَوْمٍ يَرْغَبُ إِلَيَّ فِيهِ الْخَلْقُ حَتَّى إِبْرَاهِيمَ  

[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  

[Machine] "I was sitting in the mosque when a man entered and recited a verse that I disliked. Then another man entered and recited a different verse than his companion. After completing the prayer, they both went to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, this man recited a verse that I disliked, and the other one recited a different verse than his companion.' The Prophet ﷺ told them, 'Recite.' So they recited, and he said, 'You both did well, or he said, 'You both did correctly.' When the one whom the Prophet ﷺ had spoken to heard this, he felt proud, and when the Prophet ﷺ saw what happened to him, he hit his chest. It was as if I was seeing my Lord with a gap. The Prophet ﷺ then said, 'O Ubayy, my Lord has sent me with the command to recite the Quran in a certain way. I initially pleaded with Him to make it easier upon my Ummah, but He insisted that I recite it in seven different ways. For every recitation, I will be rewarded individually on the Day of Resurrection.' I said, 'O Allah, forgive my Ummah.' Then I postponed the second recitation until a day when creation will express their desire for it, even if it means delaying it until the Day of Judgment."  

كُنْتُ جَالِسًا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ آخَرُ فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى الصَّلَاةَ دَخَلَا جَمِيعًا عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذَا قَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ الْآخَرُ قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «اقْرَآ» فَقَرَآ «أَحْسَنْتُمَا أَوْ قَالَ أَصَبْتُمَا» قَالَ فَلَمَّا قَالَ لَهُمَا الَّذِي قَالَ كَبُرَ عَلَيَّ فَلَمَّا رَأَى النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مَا غَشِيَنِي ضَرَبَ فِي صَدْرِي فَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى رَبِّي فَرَقًا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «يَا أُبَيُّ إِنَّ رَبِّي أَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ أَنِ اقْرَأِ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَرَدَدْتُ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتِي مَرَّتَيْنِ فَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ أَنِ اقْرَأْهُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ وَلَكَ بِكُلِّ رَدَّةٍ رَدَدْتُهَا مَسْأَلَتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَقُلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأُمَّتِي ثُمَّ أَخَّرْتُ الثَّانِيَةَ إِلَى يَوْمٍ يَرْغَبُ إِلَيَّ فِيهِ الْخَلْقُ حَتَّى أَبْرَهَمُ»  

[Machine] I was sitting in the mosque when a man entered and read a recitation that I disliked. Then another man entered and read a recitation different from his companion's. After they left, we entered upon the Messenger of Allah and I said, "O Messenger of Allah, this man read a recitation that I disliked and then he read a recitation different from his companion's." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to the man, "Read." So he recited. Then he said to the other man, "Read." So he recited. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "You have done well or you have succeeded." When I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ approving of both of them, I became satisfied in my heart and wished that I had remained ignorant (of my opinion). He said: "When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw what had happened to me, he struck me lightly on my chest with his hand until I saw Allah as a light, then he said, 'O Ubayy bin Ka'b, indeed my Lord has commanded me to recite the Quran in a specific manner.' I replied, 'O Lord, make it easy for my Ummah.' So he made it easy for me once. I said, 'O Lord, make it easy for my Ummah.' So he made it easy for me once again. I said, 'O Lord, make it easy for my Ummah.' So he made it easy for me three times. Each time, I requested something and he granted it. I said, 'O Allah, forgive my Ummah, O Allah, forgive my Ummah.' And I delayed the third request until the Day of Resurrection, when the creation will be eagerly seeking something from me, even Ibrahim ﷺ .  

كُنْتُ جَالِسًا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ جَاءَ آخَرُ فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَا دَخَلْنَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ قَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ هَذَا قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لِلرَّجُلِ اقْرَأْ فَقَرَأَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِلْآخَرِ اقْرَأْ فَقَرَأَ فَقَالَ أَحْسَنْتُمَا أَوْ أَصَبْتُمَا فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ حَسَّنَ شَأْنَهُمَا سَقَطَ فِي نَفْسِي وَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ قَالَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَا غَشِيَنِي ضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ فِي صَدْرِي فَفِضْتُ عَرَقًا وَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى اللهِ فَرَقًا ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أُبَيُّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ إِنَّ رَبِّي أَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ أَنْ أَقْرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ قَالَ فَرَدَدْتُ عَلَيْهِ يَا رَبِّ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتِي فَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ الثَّانِيَةَ أَنْ أَقْرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَبِّ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتِي فَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ الثَّالِثَةَ أَنِ اقْرَأْ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ وَلَكَ بِكُلِّ رَدَّةٍ رُدِدْتَهَا مَسْأَلَةٌ تَسْأَلَنِيهَا فَقُلْتُ اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأُمَّتِي اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأُمَّتِي وَأَخَّرْتُ الثَّالِثَةَ إِلَى يَوْمٍ يَرْغَبُ إِلَيَّ فِيهِ الْخَلْقُ حَتَّى إِبْرَاهِيمُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ  

"كُنْتُ فِى الْمَسْجِدِ فَدَخَلَ رَجُل يُصَلِّى فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ دَخَلَ آخَرُ فَقَرأَ قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ، فَلَمَّا قَضَيْنَا الصَّلاَةَ دَخَلْنَا جَمِيعًا عَلَى رَسُولِ الله ﷺ فَقُلْتُ: إِنَّ هَذَا قَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْه، وَدَخَلَ آخَرُ فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قَرِاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ، فَأمَرَهُمَا رَسُولُ الله ﷺ فَقَرَأ، فَحَسَّنَ النَّبِىُّ ﷺ شَأنَهُمَا فَسُقِطَ فِى نَفْسِى مِنَ التَّكْذِيبِ وَلاَ إِذْ كُنْتُ فِى الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ (*)، فَلَمَّا رَأَى رَسُولُ الله ﷺ مَا قَدْ غَشِيَنِى، ضَرَبَ فِى صَدْرِى فَفِضْتُ عَرَقًا وَكأَنَّمَا أَنْظُرُ إِلَى الله فَرَقًا، فَقَالَ لِى يَا أُبَىُّ إِنَّ رَبِّى - ﷻ - أَرْسَلَ إِلَىَّ أَنْ اقْرَأ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَرَدَدْتُ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتِى فَرَدَّ إِلَىَّ الثانَيةَ اقْرَأهُ علىَ حْرفَيْن، فَرَدَدَتُ إليه أنْ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتي فردَّ إلىَّ الثَّالِثَةَ أَنْ أقَرأهُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ وَلكَ بِكُلِّ رَدَّةٍ رَدَدْتَهَا مَسئَلَةٌ تَسْأَلُنِيهَا فَقُلتُ: الَّلهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لأُمَّتِى، الَّلهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لأُمَّتِى وَأَخَّرْتُ الثَّالِثَةَ لِيَوْمٍ يرْغَبُ إِلَىَّ الْخَلْقُ كُلُّهُمْ حَتَّى إِبْرَاهِيمُ".  

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  

" What I did in secret." And in the hadith narrated by Ibn 'Uyaina there is some addition.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَمَّا حَدِيثُ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ فَاتَّفَقَ لَفْظُهُ مَعَ حَدِيثِ مَالِكٍ لَمْ يَخْتَلِفَا إِلاَّ فِي حَرْفَيْنِ قَالَ ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ مَكَانَ قَيَّامُ قَيِّمُ وَقَالَ وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَأَمَّا حَدِيثُ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ فَفِيهِ بَعْضُ زِيَادَةٍ وَيُخَالِفُ مَالِكًا وَابْنَ جُرَيْجٍ فِي أَحْرُفٍ  

We were in the company of Abdullah b 'Amr that we made a mention of a hadith from Abdullah b. Mas'ud; thereupon he said: That is a person whose love ever remains (fresh in my heart) after I heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: Learn Qur'an from four persons: Ibn Umm 'Abd, i e. Abdullah b. Mas'ud and he started from his name-then Ubayy b. Ka'b and Mu'adh b Jabal. Zuhri did not make a mention of the words yaquluhu in his narration  

إِنَّ ذَاكَ الرَّجُلَ لاَ أَزَالُ أُحِبُّهُ بَعْدَ شَىْءٍ سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُهُ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ اقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ مِنْ أَرْبَعَةِ نَفَرٍ مِنِ ابْنِ أُمِّ عَبْدٍ فَبَدَأَ بِهِ وَمِنْ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ وَمِنْ سَالِمٍ مَوْلَى أَبِي حُذَيْفَةَ وَمِنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ وَحَرْفٌ لَمْ يَذْكُرْهُ زُهَيْرٌ قَوْلُهُ يَقُولُهُ  

"I had no confusion in my mind from that time I embraced Islam, except when I recited a verse and another man recited it differently. I said: 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught me this.' And the other man said: 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught me too.' So I went to the Prophet ﷺ and said: 'O Prophet of Allah, did you not teach me such and such a verse?' He said: 'Yes.' The other man said: 'Did you not teach me such and such a verse?' He said: 'Yes. Jibril and Mika'il, peace be upon them, came to me, and Jibril sat on my right and Mika'il on my left. Jibril, peace be upon him, said: "Recite the Quran with one way of recitation.' Mika'il said: 'Teach him more, teach him more- until there were seven modes of recitation, each of which is good and sound.'"  

مَا حَاكَ فِي صَدْرِي مُنْذُ أَسْلَمْتُ إِلاَّ أَنِّي قَرَأْتُ آيَةً وَقَرَأَهَا آخَرُ غَيْرَ قِرَاءَتِي فَقُلْتُ أَقْرَأَنِيهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَقَالَ الآخَرُ أَقْرَأَنِيهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ أَقْرَأْتَنِي آيَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا قَالَ نَعَمْ وَقَالَ الآخَرُ أَلَمْ تُقْرِئْنِي آيَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ أَتَيَانِي فَقَعَدَ جِبْرِيلُ عَنْ يَمِينِي وَمِيكَائِيلُ عَنْ يَسَارِي فَقَالَ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ اقْرَإِ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ قَالَ مِيكَائِيلُ اسْتَزِدْهُ اسْتَزِدْهُ حَتَّى بَلَغَ سَبْعَةَ أَحْرُفٍ فَكُلُّ حَرْفٍ شَافٍ كَافٍ  

[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ read a verse to me and I read it back to him differently from how Ubay ibn Ka'b recited it. So I asked him, "Who recited it to you?" He said, "The Prophet ﷺ recited it to me." I said, "By Allah, I recited it to you this way and that way." Ubay said, "I do not have in my heart any Islam that I had that day." So I went to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah, did you not recite this verse to me like this and that?" He said, "Yes." I said, "But he claims that I recited it to him like this and that." He struck his hand on my chest and it went away. Then I did not find anything from him afterwards. Then the Prophet ﷺ said, "Jibreel and Mika'il came to me and Jibreel said, 'Recite the Qur'an precisely.' Mika'il said, 'Increase it for him.' He said, 'Recite it with two letters,' and he said, 'Increase it for him until it reached seven letters.' He said, 'Every letter is a reward.'"  

أَقْرَأَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ آيَةً وَأَقْرَأَهَا آخَرَ غَيْرَ قِرَاءَةِ أُبَيٍّ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ أَقْرَأَكَهَا؟ قَالَ أَقْرَأَنِيهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ قُلْتُ وَاللهِ لَقَدْ أَقْرَأَنِيهَا كَذَا وَكَذَا قَالَ أُبَيٌّ فَمَا تَخَلَّجَ فِي نَفْسِي مِنَ الْإِسْلَامِ مَا تَخَلَّجَ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَلَمْ تُقْرِئْنِي آيَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ قَالَ بَلَى قَالَ فَإِنَّ هَذَا يَدَّعِي أَنَّكَ أَقْرَأْتَهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ فِي صَدْرِي فَذَهَبَ ذَاكَ فَمَا وَجَدْتُ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا بَعْدُ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَتَانِي جِبْرِيلُ وَمِيكَائِيلُ فَقَالَ جِبْرِيلُ اقْرَأِ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَقَالَ مِيكَائِيلُ اسْتَزِدْهُ قَالَ اقْرَأْهُ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ قَالَ اسْتَزِدْهُ حَتَّى بَلَغَ سَبْعَةَ أَحْرُفٍ قَالَ كُلٌّ شَافٍ كَافٍ  

[Machine] "A man recited a verse, and I recited it in a different way. So I asked him, 'Who taught you this?' He said, 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited it to me.' I then went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, did you recite this verse to me, such and such?' He replied, 'Yes.' The man asked, 'Did you recite it to me, such and such?' He said, 'Yes, indeed. Gabriel and Michael came to me. Gabriel sat on my right and Michael on my left. Gabriel said, 'O Muhammad, recite the Quran with precision.' Michael said, 'Increase in it.' So I said, 'Give me more.' He said, 'Recite it with two letters.' Michael then said, 'Increase in it, until it reached seven letters.' And he said, 'Recite it with seven letters, each one is distinct and clear.'"  

قَرَأَ رَجُلٌ آيَةً وَقَرَأْتُهَا عَلَى غَيْرِ قِرَاءَتِهِ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ أَقْرَأَكَ هَذِهِ؟ فَقَالَ أَقْرَأَنِيهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَقْرَأْتَنِي آيَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ قَالَ «نَعَمْ» قَالَ الرَّجُلُ أَقْرَأْتَنِي كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ قَالَ «نَعَمْ إِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ أَتَيَانِي فَجَلَسَ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَنْ يَمِينِي وَمِيكَائِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَنْ يَسَارِي فَقَالَ جِبْرِيلُ يَا مُحَمَّدُ اقْرَأِ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَقَالَ مِيكَائِيلُ اسْتَزِدْهُ فَقُلْتُ زِدْنِي فَقَالَ اقْرَأْهُ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ فَقَالَ مِيكَائِيلُ اسْتَزِدْهُ حَتَّى بَلَغَ سَبْعَةَ أَحْرُفٍ وَقَالَ اقْرَأْهُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ كُلٌّ شَافٍ كَافٍ»  

"I had no confusion in my mind from that time I embraced Islam, except when I recited a verse and another man recited it differently. I said: 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught me this.' And the other man said: 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught me too.' So I went to the Prophet ﷺ and said: 'O Prophet of Allah, did you not teach me such and such a verse?' He said: 'Yes.' The other man said: 'Did you not teach me such and such a verse?' He said: 'Yes. Jibril and Mika'il, peace be upon them, came to me, and Jibril sat on my right and Mika'il on my left. Jibril, peace be upon him, said: "Recite the Quran with one way of recitation.' Mika'il said: 'Teach him more, teach him more- until there were seven modes of recitation, each of which is good and sound.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 941)  

مَا حَاكَ فِي صَدْرِي مُنْذُ أَسْلَمْتُ إِلَّا أَنِّي قَرَأْتُ آيَةً وَقَرَأَهَا آخَرُ غَيْرَ قِرَاءَتِي فَقُلْتُ أَقْرَأَنِيهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَقَالَ الْآخَرُ أَقْرَأَنِيهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَقْرَأْتَنِي آيَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ قَالَ «نَعَمْ» وَقَالَ الْآخَرُ أَلَمْ تُقْرِئْنِي آيَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ قَالَ «نَعَمْ إِنَّ» جِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ أَتَيَانِي فَقَعَدَ جِبْرِيلُ عَنْ يَمِينِي وَمِيكَائِيلُ عَنْ يَسَارِي فَقَالَ جِبْرِيلُ اقْرَأِ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَقَالَ مِيكَائِيلُ بَلِ اسْتَزِدْهُ حَتَّى بَلَغَ سَبْعَةَ أَحْرُفٍ فَكُلُّ حَرْفٍ شَافٍ كَافٍ  

[Machine] "What has been troubling me since I converted is that I read a verse and then a man reads it differently than I did. So I said, 'Read it to me, O Messenger of Allah.' He said, 'Read it to me, O Prophet of Allah.' So we went to the Messenger of Allah and I said, 'You read me a verse like this and like that.' The Messenger of Allah said, 'Yes.' The man said, 'You read me a verse like this and like that.' The Messenger of Allah said, 'Yes.' The Messenger of Allah said, 'Indeed, Jibril and Mika'il (peace be upon them) came to me. Jibril came and sat on my right side, and Mika'il sat on my left side.' Jibril said, 'Recite the Quran slowly.' Mika'il said, 'Increase it.' So I said, 'Increase it, and it increased.' Jibril said, 'Recite the Quran with two letters.' Mika'il said, 'Increase it.' So I said, 'Increase it.' Jibril said, 'Recite the Quran with three letters.' Mika'il said, 'Increase it.' So he said, 'Recite the Quran with seven letters, all of which are rich and complete.'"  

«مَا حَاكَ فِي صَدْرِي مُنْذُ أَسْلَمْتُ إِلَّا أَنِّي قَرَأْتُ آيَةً فَقَرَأَهَا رَجُلٌ عَلَى غَيْرِ قِرَاءَتِي» فَقَالَ أَقْرَأَنِيهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ هَكَذَا فَقُلْتُ أَقْرَأَنِي النَّبِيُّ ﷺ هَكَذَا فَأَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ أَقْرَأْتَنِي آيَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «نَعَمْ» فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ أَقْرَأْتَنِي آيَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «نَعَمْ» فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «إِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلَامُ أَتَيَانِي فَعَمَدَ جِبْرِيلُ فَقَعَدَ عَنْ يَمِينِي وَقَعَدَ مِيكَائِيلُ عَنْ شِمَالِي» فَقَالَ جِبْرِيلُ اقْرَأْ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَقَالَ مِيكَائِيلُ اسْتَزِدْهُ فَقُلْتُ «زِدْنِي فَزَادَنِي» فَقَالَ جِبْرِيلُ «اقْرَأِ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ» فَقَالَ مِيكَائِيلُ «اسْتَزِدْهُ» فَقُلْتُ «زِدْنِي» فَقَالَ جِبْرِيلُ «اقْرَأِ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَحْرُفٍ حَتَّى بَلَغَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ» فَقَالَ مِيكَائِيلُ «اسْتَزِدْهُ» فَقَالَ «اقْرَأِ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ كُلُّهَا شَافٍ كَافٍ»  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught me a surah, and when I was sitting in the masjid I heard a man reciting it in a way that was different from mine. I said to him: 'Who taught you this surah?' He said: 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ.' I said: 'Stay with me until we go to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.' So we came to him and I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, this man recites a surah that you taught me differently.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Recite, O Ubayy.' So I recited it, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me: 'You have done well.' Then he said to the man: 'Recite.' So he recited it and it was different to my recitation. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him: 'You have done well.' Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'O Ubayy, the Quran has been revealed with seven different modes of reciation, all of which are good and sound."  

أَقْرَأَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ سُورَةً فَبَيْنَا أَنَا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ جَالِسٌ إِذْ سَمِعْتُ رَجُلاً يَقْرَؤُهَا يُخَالِفُ قِرَاءَتِي فَقُلْتُ لَهُ مَنْ عَلَّمَكَ هَذِهِ السُّورَةَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ لاَ تُفَارِقْنِي حَتَّى نَأْتِيَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذَا خَالَفَ قِرَاءَتِي فِي السُّورَةِ الَّتِي عَلَّمْتَنِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ اقْرَأْ يَا أُبَىُّ فَقَرَأْتُهَا فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَحْسَنْتَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِلرَّجُلِ اقْرَأْ فَقَرَأَ فَخَالَفَ قِرَاءَتِي فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَحْسَنْتَ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا أُبَىُّ إِنَّهُ أُنْزِلَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ كُلُّهُنَّ شَافٍ كَافٍ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ مَعْقِلُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ لَيْسَ بِذَلِكَ الْقَوِيِّ  

"I heard Iyas bin 'Umar" - and on one occasion he said: "Ibn 'Abd - say: 'I heard the Messenger of Allah forbid the sale of water."  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَنْهَى عَنْ بَيْعِ الْمَاءِ قَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ لَمْ أَفْقَهْ عَنْهُ بَعْضَ حُرُوفِ أَبِي الْمِنْهَالِ كَمَا أَرَدْتُ  

"If one of you is not sure about his prayer, let him estimate what he thinks is most likely to be correct and complete the prayer on that basis, then let him prostrate twice."  

يَرْفَعُهُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا شَكَّ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي صَلاَتِهِ فَلْيَتَحَرَّ الَّذِي يَرَى أَنَّهُ الصَّوَابُ فَيُتِمَّهُ ثُمَّ يَعْنِي يَسْجُدُ سَجْدَتَيْنِ وَلَمْ أَفْهَمْ بَعْضَ حُرُوفِهِ كَمَا أَرَدْتُ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Ubayy, I was asked to recite the Qur'an and I was asked: 'In one mode or two modes?' The angel that accompanied me said: 'Say, in two modes', I said: 'In two modes', I was asked again: 'In two or three modes'. The matter reached up to seven modes. He then said: 'Each mode is sufficiently health-giving, whether you utter 'all-hearing and all-knowing' or instead 'all-powerful and all-wise'. This is valid until you finish the verse indicating punishment on mercy and finish the verse indicating mercy on punishment."  

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَا أُبَىُّ إِنِّي أُقْرِئْتُ الْقُرْآنَ فَقِيلَ لِي عَلَى حَرْفٍ أَوْ حَرْفَيْنِ فَقَالَ الْمَلَكُ الَّذِي مَعِي قُلْ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ قُلْتُ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ فَقِيلَ لِي عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةٍ فَقَالَ الْمَلَكُ الَّذِي مَعِي قُلْ عَلَى ثَلاَثَةٍ قُلْتُ عَلَى ثَلاَثَةٍ حَتَّى بَلَغَ سَبْعَةَ أَحْرُفٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَيْسَ مِنْهَا إِلاَّ شَافٍ كَافٍ إِنْ قُلْتَ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا مَا لَمْ تَخْتِمْ آيَةَ عَذَابٍ بِرَحْمَةٍ أَوْ آيَةَ رَحْمَةٍ بِعَذَابٍ  

[Machine] I read a verse and Ibn Mas'ud recited it differently, so I went to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "Didn't you recite to me the verse like this and that?" He replied, "Yes." Then Ibn Mas'ud said, "Didn't you recite it to me like this and that?" He replied, "Yes, both of you are correct, excellent in recitation." I then asked him to teach me the Quran and he struck my chest and said, "O Ubayy bin Ka'b, I was taught the Quran, and I recited it to you precisely." I said, "On two letters." He asked, "On two letters or three?" The angel with me said, "On three." So I said, "On three," until it reached seven letters, from which there is no other interpretation except for 'Shafin' and 'Kafin' if I say 'Ghafur-ur-Rahim' or 'Samī`an `Alīman' or 'Alīman Samī`an'. Thus, Allah will continue to do so unless you end a verse of punishment with mercy or a verse of mercy with punishment.  

قَرَأْتُ آيَةً وَقَرَأَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ خِلَافَهَا فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ أَلَمْ تُقْرِئْنِي آيَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ قَالَ بَلَى فَقَالَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ أَلَمْ تُقْرِئْنِيهَا كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ فَقَالَ بَلَى كِلَاكُمَا مُحْسِنٌ مُجْمِلٌ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فَضَرَبَ صَدْرِي فَقَالَ يَا أُبَيُّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ إِنِّي أُقْرِئْتُ الْقُرْآنَ فَقُلْتُ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ فَقَالَ عَلَىحَرْفَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثَةٍ؟ فَقَالَ الْمَلَكُ الَّذِي مَعِي عَلَى ثَلَاثَةٍ فَقُلْتُ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةٍ حَتَّى بَلَغَ سَبْعَةَ أَحْرُفٍ لَيْسَ مِنْهَا إِلَّا شَافٍ كَافٍ إِنْ قُلْتَ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا أَوْ قُلْتَ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا أَوْ عَلِيمًا سَمِيعًا فَاللهُ كَذَلِكَ مَا لَمْ تَخْتِمْ آيَةَ عَذَابٍ بِرَحْمَةٍ أَوْ آيَةَ رَحْمَةٍ بِعَذَابٍ  

[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  

"قَرَأتُ آيَةً، وَقَرأَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ خِلاَفَهَا، فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِىَّ ﷺ فَقُلتُ: أَلَمْ تُقْرِئْنِى كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ قَالَ: بَلَى، فَقَالَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ: أَلَمْ تُقْرِئنِى كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ قَالَ: بَلَى كلاَكُمَا مُحْسِنٌ مُجْمِلٌ، فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: فَضَرَبَ فِى صدْري، وَقَالَ: يَا أُبَىُّ بْنُ كَعْبٍ: إِنِّى أُقْرِئْتُ الْقُرْآنَ فِقِيلَ لي: عَلَى حَرْفٍ أَوْ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ، فَقَالَ الْمَلَكُ الَّذِى مَعِى عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ، فَقُلتُ: عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ، قَالَ: عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَة، فَقَالَ الْمَلكُ الَّذِى مَعِى: عَلَى ثَلاَثَةٍ، فَقَالَ: عَلَى ثَلاَثَةٍ حَتَّى بَلَغَ سَبْعَةَ أَحْرُفٍ لَيْسَ مِنْهَا إلَّا شَافٍ كَافٍ إنْ قُلْتَ: غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا، أَوْ قُلتَ: سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا، أَوْ عَلِيمًا سَمِيعًا، فَالله كَذَلِكَ مَا لَمْ تَخْتِمْ آيةَ عَذَابٍ بِرَحْمَةٍ، أوْ آيَةَ رَحْمَةٍ بِعَذَابٍ".  

The tradition has also been transmitted by Jabir through a different chain of narrators. He narrated this tradition and added the words “he recited in two rak’ahs the surah relating to Unity of Allaah” and “Say, O disbelievers” to the Qur’anic verse “And take the station of Abraham as a place of prayer. “. This version has ‘Ali said in Kufah. The narrator said “My father said Jabir did not say these words. I went to complain (against Fatimah). He then narrated the story of Fatimah.”  

فَذَكَرَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ وَأَدْرَجَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ عِنْدَ قَوْلِهِ { وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى } قَالَ فَقَرَأَ فِيهَا بِالتَّوْحِيدِ وَ { قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ } وَقَالَ فِيهِ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ؓ بِالْكُوفَةِ قَالَ أَبِي هَذَا الْحَرْفُ لَمْ يَذْكُرْهُ جَابِرٌ فَذَهَبْتُ مُحَرِّشًا وَذَكَرَ قِصَّةَ فَاطِمَةَ ؓ  

These modes of reading aimed at the same point, not different in respect of lawful and unlawful.  

الزُّهْرِيُّ إِنَّمَا هَذِهِ الأَحْرُفُ فِي الأَمْرِ الْوَاحِدِ لَيْسَ تَخْتَلِفُ فِي حَلاَلٍ وَلاَ حَرَامٍ  

"A man asked Abdullah bin Mas'ud about this phrase: 'Ghairi asin' or is it Yasin? So he said: 'You can recite all of the Quran besides this [phrase]?' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Indeed a people recite it, disbursing it like Ad-Daqqa are dispersed, without it passing their throats. Indeed I am aware of the surahs that are comparable which the Messenger of Allah would recite together.'" He said: "So we told Alqamah to ask him (what they were). He said: "Twenty surahs from the Mufassal from which the Prophet would combine, reciting every two Surah in a Rak'ah.'"  

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ عَنْ هَذَا الْحَرْفِ (غَيرِ آسِنٍ) أَوْ يَاسِنٍ قَالَ كُلَّ الْقُرْآنِ قَرَأْتَ غَيْرَ هَذَا الْحَرْفِ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ إِنَّ قَوْمًا يَقْرَءُونَهُ يَنْثُرُونَهُ نَثْرَ الدَّقَلِ لاَ يُجَاوِزُ تَرَاقِيَهُمْ إِنِّي لأَعْرِفُ السُّوَرَ النَّظَائِرَ الَّتِي كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقْرِنُ بَيْنَهُنَّ قَالَ فَأَمَرْنَا عَلْقَمَةَ فَسَأَلَهُ فَقَالَ عِشْرُونَ سُورَةً مِنَ الْمُفَصَّلِ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقْرِنُ بَيْنَ كُلِّ سُورَتَيْنِ فِي رَكْعَةٍ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ met Jibra'il and said: 'O Jibra'il! I have been sent to an illiterate nation among whom are the elderly woman, the old man, the boy and the girl, and the man who cannot read a book at all.' He said: 'O Muhammad! Indeed the Qur'an was revealed in seven modes.'"  

لَقِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ جِبْرِيلَ فَقَالَ يَا جِبْرِيلُ إِنِّي بُعِثْتُ إِلَى أُمَّةٍ أُمِّيِّينَ مِنْهُمُ الْعَجُوزُ وَالشَّيْخُ الْكَبِيرُ وَالْغُلاَمُ وَالْجَارِيَةُ وَالرَّجُلُ الَّذِي لَمْ يَقْرَأْ كِتَابًا قَطُّ قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّ الْقُرْآنَ أُنْزِلَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عُمَرَ وَحُذَيْفَةَ بْنِ الْيَمَانِ وَأُمِّ أَيُّوبَ وَهِيَ امْرَأَةُ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ وَسَمُرَةَ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَأَبِي جُهَيْمِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ الصِّمَّةِ وَعَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ وَأَبِي بَكْرَةَ  

[Machine] A man asked Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari about a woman who left her daughter, her granddaughter, and her sister. Abu Musa replied, "Half is for the daughter and the sister." He then said, "Go to Ibn Mas'ud, for he will follow me." They went to Ibn Mas'ud and informed him of Abu Musa's statement. Ibn Mas'ud said, "I have gone astray then, for I am not among the guided ones. I will judge according to the decree of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ." Shu'bah said, "I found this letter written, and I will judge accordingly. Half is for the daughter, and a sixth for the granddaughter of the son. This completes two-thirds, and what remains is for the sister." They went to Abu Musa and informed him of Ibn Mas'ud's statement. Abu Musa replied, "Do not ask me about anything as long as this ink is among you."  

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا مُوسَى الْأَشْعَرِيَّ عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ تَرَكَتِ ابْنَتَهَا وَابْنَةَ ابْنِهَا وَأُخْتَهَا؟ فَقَالَ النِّصْفُ لِلِابْنَةِ وَلِلْأُخْتِ النِّصْفُ وَقَالَ ائْتِ ابْنَ مَسْعُودٍ فَإِنَّهُ سَيُتَابِعُنِي قَالَ فَأَتَوْا ابْنَ مَسْعُودٍ فَأَخْبَرُوهُ بِقَوْلِ أَبِي مُوسَى فَقَالَ لَقَدْ ضَلَلْتُ إِذًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَلَأَقْضِيَنَّ فِيهَا بِقَضَاءِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ شُعْبَةُ وَجَدْتُ هَذَا الْحَرْفَ مَكْتُوبًا لَأَقْضِيَنَّ فِيهَا بِقَضَاءِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ لِلِابْنَةِ النِّصْفُ وَلِابْنَةِ الِابْنِ السُّدُسُ تَكْمِلَةَ الثُّلُثَيْنِ وَمَا بَقِيَ فَلِلْأُخْتِ فَأَتَوْا أَبَا مُوسَى فَأَخْبَرُوهُ بِقَوْلِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى لَا تَسْأَلُونِي عَنْ شَيْءٍ مَا دَامَ هَذَا الْحَبْرُ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِكُمْ  

[Machine] "I sought refuge with Abdullah upon learning about the copies of the Qur'an. We entered upon him, and a man from the people said, 'We did not come to you as visitors, but rather we came to you upon hearing this news.' Abdullah then said, 'Verily, the Qur'an was revealed to your Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through seven avenues, upon seven letters or he said upon seven alphabets. And indeed, the previous scriptures used to be revealed from one gate, upon one letter.'"  

فَزِعْتُ فِيمَنْ فَزِعَ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللهِ فِي الْمَصَاحِفِ فَدَخَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ إِنَّا لَمْ نَأْتِكَ زَائِرِينَ وَلَكِنْ جِئْنَاكَ حِينَ رَاعَنَا هَذَا الْخَبَرُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْقُرْآنَ نَزَلَ عَلَى نَبِيِّكُمْ ﷺ مِنْ سَبْعَةِ أَبْوَابٍ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ أَوْ قَالَ حُرُوفٍ وَإِنَّ الْكِتَابَ قَبْلَهُ كَانَ يَنْزِلُ مِنْ بَابٍ وَاحِدٍ عَلَى حَرْفٍ وَاحِدٍ  

[Machine] I met Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-Aas and I asked him to tell me about the description of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the Torah. He said, "By Allah, he is described in the Torah with his characteristics as mentioned in the Quran: 'O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner' (Quran 33:45). He is a protection for the unlettered people. And you are my servant and my messenger. I named you 'Al-Mutawakkil' (The one who relies on Allah). You are not rude, harsh, or abusive in the markets." Yunus said, "And he is not abusive in the markets or insulting. He does not repel evil with evil, but rather forgives and pardons. He will not die until he completes the mission of straightening the crooked nation that they may say, 'There is no deity except Allah,' and open the eyes of the blind, the ears of the deaf, and the hearts of the sealed." Ata' said, "I met Ka'ab and asked him about their differences in wording, and they did not differ except that Ka'ab would say in his language, 'the blind eyes, the deaf ears, and the sealed hearts.' Yunus said, 'The sealed hearts.'"  

لَقِيتُ عَبْدَ اللهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِي فَقُلْتُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ صِفَةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ فَقَالَ أَجَلْ وَاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمَوْصُوفٌ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ بِصِفَتِهِ فِي الْقُرْآنِ {يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا} [الأحزاب 45] وَحِرْزًا لِلْأُمِّيِّينَ وَأَنْتَ عَبْدِي وَرَسُولِي سَمَّيْتُكَ الْمُتَوَكِّلَ لَسْتَ بِفَظٍّ وَلَا غَلِيظٍ وَلَا سَخَّابٍ بِالْأَسْوَاقِ قَالَ يُونُسُ وَلَا صَخَّابٍ فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ وَلَا يَدْفَعُ السَّيِّئَةَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ وَلَكِنْ يَعْفُو وَيَغْفِرُ وَلَنْ يَقْبِضَهُ حَتَّى يُقِيمَ بِهِ الْمِلَّةَ الْعَوْجَاءَ بِأَنْ يَقُولُوا لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ فَيَفْتَحَ بِهَا أَعْيُنًا عُمْيًا وَآذَانًا صُمًّا وَقُلُوبًا غُلْفًا قَالَ عَطَاءٌ لَقِيتُ كَعْبًا فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَمَا اخْتَلَفَا فِي حَرْفٍ إِلَّا أَنَّ كَعْبًا يَقُولُ بِلُغَتِهِ أَعْيُنًا عُمُومَى وَآذَانًا صُمُومَى وَقُلُوبًا غُلُوفَى قَالَ يُونُسُ غُلْفَى  

[Machine] I met Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As and asked him to tell me about the description of the Messenger of Allah in the Torah. He said, "Indeed, he is described in the Torah with some of his qualities in the Furqan: O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner." (Surah Al-Ahzab 45) "And a guardian for the illiterate." You are My slave and My Messenger, I named you the Trusting One. You are not rude, harsh, or loud in the markets. You do not repay evil with evil, but rather you forgive and pardon. I will not take your soul until I establish through you the crooked religion, and the people say, 'There is no god but Allah,' and open with it the eyes of the blind, the ears of the deaf, and the hearts of the closed." Ata ibn Yasar, may Allah have mercy on him, said, "Then I met Ka'b al-Habr and asked him, and they did not differ in anything except that Ka'b said, 'the blind eyes' and 'the closed hearts.' "  

لَقِيتُ عَبْدَ اللهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ ؓ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ صِفَةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ فَقَالَ أَجَلْ وَاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمَوْصُوفٌ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ بِبَعْضِ صِفَتِهِ فِي الْفُرْقَانِ {يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا} [الأحزاب 45] وَحِرْزًا لِلْأُمِّيِّينَ أَنْتَ عَبْدِي وَرَسُولِي سَمَّيْتُكَ الْمُتَوَكِّلَ لَيْسَ بِفَظٍّ وَلَا غَلِيظٍ وَلَا صَخَّابٍ بِالْأَسْوَاقِ وَلَا يَدْفَعُ السَّيِّئَةَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ وَلَكِنْ يَعْفُو وَيَغْفِرُ وَلَنْ أَقْبِضَهُ حَتَّى أُقِيمَ بِهِ الْمِلَّةَ الْعَوْجَاءَ وَأَنْ يَقُولُوا لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَفْتَحَ بِهِ أَعْيُنًا عُمْيًا وَآذَانًا صُمًّا وَقُلُوبًا غُلْفًا قَالَ عَطَاءُ بْنُ يَسَارٍ رَحِمَهُ اللهُ ثُمَّ لَقِيتُ كَعْبَ الْحَبْرَ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَمَا اخْتَلَفَا فِي حَرْفٍ إِلَّا أَنَّ كَعْبًا يَقُولُ أَعْيُنًا عَمَوِيًّا وَقُلُوبًا غُلُوفًا وَآذَانًا صُمُومًا  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The Quran was revealed with seven Ahruf (recitations). Whichever one you recite, you have done well."  

إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ نَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ أَيُّهَا قَرَأْتَ أَجْزَأَكَ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: The Quran was revealed with seven dialects, so whichever of them you recite, you are correct.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ نَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ أَيَّهَا قَرَأْتَ أَجْزَأَكَ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The Quran was revealed in three different dialects. Affaan said it was revealed once."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ نَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَحْرُفٍ قَالَ عَفَّانُ مَرَّةً أُنْزِلَ الْقُرْآنُ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The Qur'an was revealed with seven different readings."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ نَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The Quran was revealed in seven dialects, all of them knowledgeable, wise, forgiving, and merciful."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أُنْزِلَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا  

[Machine] I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "The Quran was revealed in seven dialects/variations."  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ أُنْزِلَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The Quran was revealed with seven dialects."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أُنْزِلَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The Quran was revealed with seven dialects."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «أُنْزِلَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ»  

[Machine] From the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he said: "The Qur'an was revealed with seven dialects."  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ «أُنْزِلَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The Quran was revealed with seven different readings, and for each verse there is an apparent meaning and an implied meaning."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «أُنْزِلَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ لِكُلِّ آيَةٍ مِنْهَا ظَهْرٌ وَبَطْنٌ»  

[Machine] That the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The Quran was revealed in seven dialects. Differences of opinion within the Quran constitute disbelief."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ «أُنْزِلَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ الْمِرَاءُ فِي الْقُرْآنِ كُفْرٌ»  

"أُنْزِل القرآنُ على سبعةِ أحرفٍ، أيَّها قرأت أَصَبْتَ".  

[Machine] I heard Mu'awiyah deliver a sermon on this pulpit, saying, "Learn that there is no obstacle to what Allah gives, no giver of what Allah withholds, and the one who seeks good through Allah will be granted understanding in religion." I heard these words from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on these occasions.  

سَمِعْتُ مُعَاوِيَةَ يَخْطُبُ عَلَى هَذَا الْمِنْبَرِ يَقُولُ تَعَلَّمُنَّ أَنَّهُ لَا مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَى وَلَا مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعَ اللهُ وَلَا يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْهُ الْجَدُّ مَنْ يُرِدِ اللهُ بِهِ خَيْرًا يُفَقِّهْهُ فِي الدِّينِ سَمِعْتُ هَذِهِ الْأَحْرُفَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْأَعْوَادِ  

[Machine] I heard Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan giving a sermon in Madinah, saying, "You should know, O people, that there is no withholder for what Allah gives, and no giver for what Allah withholds. And no one benefits from striving hard in the cause of Allah, except the one whom Allah intends good for and grants understanding in religion." I heard these words from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on these occasions.  

سَمِعْتُ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنَ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ يَخْطُبُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ يَقُولُ لَتَعْلَمُنَّ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنَّهُ لَا مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَى اللهُ وَلَا مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعَ اللهُ وَلَا يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْهُ الْجَدُّ مَنْ يُرِدِ اللهُ بِهِ خَيْرًا يُفَقِّهْهُ فِي الدِّينِ سَمِعْتُ هَذِهِ الْأَحْرُفَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْأَعْوَادِ