'Umar bin Al-Khattab said: "I heard Hisham bin Hakim reciting Surat Al-Furqan during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)..." and he quoted a similar Hadith (as no. 1899) and added: "I was about to grab hold of him while he was praying, but I restrained myself until he had finished."

وَحَدَّثَنِى حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ أَخْبَرَنِى يُونُسُ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ أَخْبَرَنِى عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ أَنَّ الْمِسْوَرَ بْنَ مَخْرَمَةَ وَعَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ عَبْدٍ الْقَارِىَّ أَخْبَرَاهُ أَنَّهُمَا سَمِعَا عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ هِشَامَ بْنَ حَكِيمٍ يَقْرَأُ سُورَةَ الْفُرْقَانِ فِى حَيَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم-. وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَزَادَ فَكِدْتُ أُسَاوِرُهُ فِى الصَّلاَةِ فَتَصَبَّرْتُ حَتَّى سَلَّمَ.

Ibn 'Abbas narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "Jibril - peace be upon him - recited to me with one mode of recitation, but I asked him to recite it in another way, and I kept asking him for more, and he gave me more, until there were seven modes of recitation." Ibn Shihab said: "I heard that these seven modes of recitation are essentially one, and there is no difference between them concerning lawful and unlawful."

وَحَدَّثَنِى حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ أَخْبَرَنِى يُونُسُ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ حَدَّثَنِى عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ أَنَّ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ « أَقْرَأَنِى جِبْرِيلُ - عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ - عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَرَاجَعْتُهُ فَلَمْ أَزَلْ أَسْتَزِيدُهُ فَيَزِيدُنِى حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ ». قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ بَلَغَنِى أَنَّ تِلْكَ السَّبْعَةَ الأَحْرُفَ إِنَّمَا هِىَ فِى الأَمْرِ الَّذِى يَكُونُ وَاحِدًا لاَ يَخْتَلِفُ فِى حَلاَلٍ وَلاَ حَرَامٍ.

It was narrated that Ubayy bin Ka'b said: "I was in the Masjid, and a man came in and offered prayers, and (in it) he recited in a manner which I found strange. Then another man came in and recited in a manner different from his companion. When we had finished the prayer, we all entered upon the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) and I said: 'This man recited in a manner which I found strange, then another man came in and recited in a manner different from his companion.' The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) told them to recite, and they did so, and the Prophet (s.a.w) expressed his approval. I felt in my heart a kind of doubt such as I had never felt even during the Jahiliyyah. When the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) saw that I was affected and had broken into a sweat, as if I was looking at Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, with fear, he said to me: 'O Ubayy, it was conveyed to me that I should recite the Qur'an in one mode of recitation, and I replied: Make it easy for my Ummah. It was conveyed to me the second time that I should recite it in two modes of recitation. I replied: Make it easy for my Ummah. It was conveyed to me the third time that I should recite it in seven modes of recitation, and: For each time you replied, you may ask Me for something. I said: O Allah, forgive my Ummah; O Allah, forgive my Ummah, and I have delayed the third one for the Day when all of mankind will tum to me, even Ibrahim, peace be upon him."'

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِى حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِى خَالِدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِى لَيْلَى عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَنْ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ فِى الْمَسْجِدِ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ يُصَلِّى فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ آخَرُ فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ فَلَمَّا قَضَيْنَا الصَّلاَةَ دَخَلْنَا جَمِيعًا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ هَذَا قَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ وَدَخَلَ آخَرُ فَقَرَأَ سِوَى قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ فَأَمَرَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَقَرَءَا فَحَسَّنَ النَّبِىُّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- شَأْنَهُمَا فَسُقِطَ فِى نَفْسِى مِنَ التَّكْذِيبِ وَلاَ إِذْ كُنْتُ فِى الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَلَمَّا رَأَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- مَا قَدْ غَشِيَنِى ضَرَبَ فِى صَدْرِى فَفِضْتُ عَرَقًا وَكَأَنَّمَا أَنْظُرُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَرَقًا فَقَالَ لِى « يَا أُبَىُّ أُرْسِلَ إِلَىَّ أَنِ اقْرَإِ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَرَدَدْتُ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتِى. فَرَدَّ إِلَىَّ الثَّانِيَةَ اقْرَأْهُ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ.فَرَدَدْتُ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتِى. فَرَدَّ إِلَىَّ الثَّالِثَةَ اقْرَأْهُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ فَلَكَ بِكُلِّ رَدَّةٍ رَدَدْتُكَهَا مَسْأَلَةٌ تَسْأَلُنِيهَا. فَقُلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لأُمَّتِى. اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لأُمَّتِى. وَأَخَّرْتُ الثَّالِثَةَ لِيَوْمٍ يَرْغَبُ إِلَىَّ الْخَلْقُ كُلُّهُمْ حَتَّى إِبْرَاهِيمُ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- ».

It was narrated from Ubayy bin Ka'b that the Prophet (s.a.w) was at the pond of Banu Ghifar and Jibril - peace be upon him - came to him and said: "Allah commands you to teach the Qur'an to your Ummah according to one mode of recitation." He said: "I ask Allah for His pardon and forgiveness, my Ummah is not able for that." Then he came to him a second time and said: "Allah commands you to teach the Qur'an to your Ummah according to two modes of recitation." He said: "I ask Allah for His pardon and forgiveness, my Ummah is not able for that." Then he came to him a third time and said: "Allah commands you to teach the Qur'an to your Ummah according to three modes of recitation." He said: "I ask Allah for His pardon and forgiveness, my Ummah is not able for that." He came to him a fourth time and said: "Allah commands you to teach the Qur'an to your Ummah according to seven modes of recitation, and whichever mode of recitation they recite it in, they will be right."

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ ح وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى وَابْنُ بَشَّارٍ قَالَ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِى لَيْلَى عَنْ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ أَنَّ النَّبِىَّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- كَانَ عِنْدَ أَضَاةِ بَنِى غِفَارٍ - قَالَ - فَأَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ أُمَّتُكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ. فَقَالَ « أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِى لاَ تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ ». ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الثَّانِيَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ أُمَّتُكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ فَقَالَ « أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِى لاَ تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ ». ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ الثَّالِثَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ أُمَّتُكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى ثَلاَثَةِ أَحْرُفٍ. فَقَالَ « أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِى لاَ تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ ». ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ الرَّابِعَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ أُمَّتُكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ فَأَيُّمَا حَرْفٍ قَرَءُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَدْ أَصَابُوا.

It was narrated that Abu Wa'il said: "A man called Nahik bin Sinan came to 'Abdullah and said: 'O Abu 'Abdur-Rahman, how do you recite this letter, as Alif or as Ya'? Min ma'in ghayri asin or Min ma'in ghayri yasin?' 'Abdullah said: 'Have you memorized the entire Qur'an apart from this?' He said: 'I recite Al-Muffassal, in one Rak'ah.' 'Abdullah said: 'This is like the hasty recitation of poetry. There are people who recite the Qur'an and it does not go any deeper than their collarbones, but if it settles in the heart and takes root, it will be beneficial. The best of prayer is bowing and prostration, and I know the pairs of Surahs that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) used to recite in each Rak'ah.' Then 'Abdullah stood up and 'Alqamah went in after him, then he came out and said: 'he has told me what they are."' Ibn Numair said in his report: A man from Banu Bajilah came to 'Abdullah, and he did not say: "Nahik bin Sinan."

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ وَابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ جَمِيعًا عَنْ وَكِيعٍ - قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ - عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ أَبِى وَائِلٍ قَالَ 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 إِنِّى لأَقْرَأُ الْمُفَصَّلَ فِى رَكْعَةٍ. فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ هَذًّا كَهَذِّ الشِّعْرِ إِنَّ أَقْوَامًا يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ لاَ يُجَاوِزُ تَرَاقِيَهُمْ وَلَكِنْ إِذَا وَقَعَ فِى الْقَلْبِ فَرَسَخَ فِيهِ نَفَعَ إِنَّ أَفْضَلَ الصَّلاَةِ الرُّكُوعُ وَالسُّجُودُ إِنِّى لأَعْلَمُ النَّظَائِرَ الَّتِى كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَقْرُنُ بَيْنَهُنَّ سُورَتَيْنِ فِى كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ. ثُمَّ قَامَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ فَدَخَلَ عَلْقَمَةُ فِى إِثْرِهِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَقَالَ قَدْ أَخْبَرَنِى بِهَا. قَالَ ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ فِى رِوَايَتِهِ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِى بَجِيلَةَ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَلَمْ يَقُلْ نَهِيكُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ.

It was narrated that Abu Wa'il said: "A man called Nahik bin Sinan came to 'Abdullah...'' A Hadith similar to that of Waki' (no. 1908), except that he said: '" Alqamah came to enter upon him, and we said to him: 'Ask him about the pairs of Surahs that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) used to recite in each Rak'ah.' He entered upon him and asked him, then he came out to us and said: 'Twenty Surahs in ten Rak'ah of Al-Mufassal.'"

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ أَبِى وَائِلٍ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يُقَالُ لَهُ نَهِيكُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ. بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ وَكِيعٍ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ فَجَاءَ عَلْقَمَةُ لِيَدْخُلَ عَلَيْهِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُ سَلْهُ عَنِ النَّظَائِرِ الَّتِى كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَقْرَأُ بِهَا فِى رَكْعَةٍ فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَسَأَلَهُ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا فَقَالَ عِشْرُونَ سُورَةً مِنَ الْمُفَصَّلِ فِى تَأْلِيفِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ.

Al-A'mash narrated something similar (to no. 1908) with this chain, and he said: "I know the pairs that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) used to recite, two in each Rak'ah, twenty Surah in ten Rak'ah.

وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ فِى هَذَا الإِسْنَادِ. بِنَحْوِ حَدِيثِهِمَا وَقَالَ إِنِّى لأَعْرِفُ النَّظَائِرَ الَّتِى كَانَ يَقْرَأُ بِهِنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- اثْنَتَيْنِ فِى رَكْعَةٍ. عِشْرِينَ سُورَةً فِى عَشْرِ رَكَعَاتٍ.

It was narrated that Abu Wa'il said: "We went to 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud one morning after we had prayed Al-Ghadah and we greeted him at the door, and he granted us permission (to enter). We stayed at the door for a while, then the slave girl came out and said: 'Will you not enter?' So we entered and found him sitting, reciting Tasbih. He said: 'What kept you from entering when permission had been given to you?' We said: 'Nothing, except that we thought that some of the people of the household might be sleeping.' He said: 'Do you think there is idleness among the family of Ibn Umm 'Abd?' Then he went back to reciting Tasbih until he thought that the sun had risen and he said: 'O girl, look and see whether it has risen.' She looked and saw that it had not risen. Then he went back to reciting Tasbih until he thought that the sun had risen and he said: 'O girl, look and see whether it has risen.' She looked and saw that it had risen. He said: 'Praise be to Allah Who has caused this day of ours to come when we are still in a state of soundness."' (One of the narrators) Mahdi said: "I think that he said: 'and has not destroyed us for our sins."' - "A man among the people said: 'I recited all of Al-Mufassal last night.' 'Abdullah said: 'This is like the hasty recitation of poetry. We heard the pairs, and I remember the pairs that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) used to recite: 'Eighteen Surah from Al-Mufassal and two Surah from the family of Ha-Mim."'

حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ حَدَّثَنَا مَهْدِىُّ بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ حَدَّثَنَا وَاصِلٌ الأَحْدَبُ عَنْ أَبِى وَائِلٍ قَالَ غَدَوْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ يَوْمًا بَعْدَ مَا صَلَّيْنَا الْغَدَاةَ فَسَلَّمْنَا بِالْبَابِ فَأَذِنَ لَنَا - قَالَ - فَمَكَثْنَا بِالْبَابِ هُنَيَّةً - قَالَ - فَخَرَجَتِ الْجَارِيَةُ فَقَالَتْ 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 انْظُرِى هَلْ طَلَعَتْ قَالَ فَنَظَرَتْ فَإِذَا هِىَ لَمْ تَطْلُعْ فَأَقْبَلَ يُسَبِّحُ حَتَّى إِذَا ظَنَّ أَنَّ الشَّمْسَ قَدْ طَلَعَتْ قَالَ يَا جَارِيَةُ انْظُرِى هَلْ طَلَعَتْ فَنَظَرَتْ فَإِذَا هِىَ قَدْ طَلَعَتْ. فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى أَقَالَنَا يَوْمَنَا هَذَا - فَقَالَ مَهْدِىٌّ 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 وَإِنِّى لأَحْفَظُ الْقَرَائِنَ الَّتِى كَانَ يَقْرَؤُهُنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- ثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ مِنَ الْمُفَصَّلِ وَسُورَتَيْنِ مِنْ آلِ حم.

It was narrated that Shaqiq said: "A man from Banu Bajilah, who was called Nahik bin Sinan, came to 'Abdullah and said: 'I recite Al-Mufassal in one Rak'ah.' 'Abdullah said: 'This is like the hasty recitation of poetry. I know the pairs that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) used to recite, two Surahs in one Rak'ah."'

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِىٍّ الْجُعْفِىُّ عَنْ زَائِدَةَ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ شَقِيقٍ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِى بَجِيلَةَ يُقَالُ لَهُ نَهِيكُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ إِنِّى أَقْرَأُ الْمُفَصَّلَ فِى رَكْعَةٍ . فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ هَذًّا كَهَذِّ الشِّعْرِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ النَّظَائِرَ الَّتِى كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَقْرَأُ بِهِنَّ سُورَتَيْنِ فِى رَكْعَةٍ.

Abu Wa'il narrated that a man came to Ibn Mas'ud and said: "I recited all of Al-Mufassal in a single Rak'ah last night." 'Abdullah said: "This is like the hasty recitation of poetry." 'Abdullah said: "I know the pairs that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) used to put together." And he mentioned twenty Surah of Al-Mufassal, two by two, in every Rak'ah.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى وَابْنُ بَشَّارٍ قَالَ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا وَائِلٍ يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ رَجُلاً جَاءَ إِلَى ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ فَقَالَ إِنِّى قَرَأْتُ الْمُفَصَّلَ اللَّيْلَةَ كُلَّهُ فِى رَكْعَةٍ. فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ هَذًّا كَهَذِّ الشِّعْرِ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَرَفْتُ النَّظَائِرَ الَّتِى كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَقْرُنُ بَيْنَهُنَّ - قَالَ - فَذَكَرَ عِشْرِينَ سُورَةً مِنَ الْمُفَصَّلِ سُورَتَيْنِ سُورَتَيْنِ فِى كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ.