Hadith #18

Arabic Text

English Translation

Umar bin Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that i heard Hisham bin Al-Hakim reciting Surat Al-Furqan during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger ﷺ. I listened to his recitation and noticed that he recited it in several different ways which Allah's Messenger ﷺ had not taught me. So I was about to jump over him during his Salat (prayer) but I waited till he finished his Salat (prayer) whereupon I put, either his upper garment or my upper garment around his neck and seized him by it and asked him, "Who has taught you this Surah?" He replied: "Allah's Messenger ﷺ has taught it to me." I said (to him), "You have told a lie! By Allah, Allah's Messenger ﷺ has taught me this Surah which I have heard you reciting." So I dragged him to the Allah's Messenger ﷺ. I said: "O Allah's Messenger ﷺ I have heard this man reciting Surat Al-Furqan in a way in which you have not taught me, and you did teach me Surah Al-Furqan." On that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "O 'Umar, release him! Recite, O Hisham". So Hisham recited before him in the way as I heard him reciting. Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "It has been revealed like this." Then Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "Recite, O 'Umar" So recited it. the Prophet ﷺ said, "It has been revealed like this." And then he added, "This Qur'an has been revealed to be recited in seven different ways, so recite it whichever way is easier for you