64/74. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4391 — Alqama’s Recitation and Leaving Gold Ring
The arrival of Al-Ash’ariyun and the people of Yemen
وَقَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «هُمْ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْهُمْ».
Hadith About Quran Recitation: Alqama, Ibn Masud, and Quick Correction
Sahih Bukhari : 4391
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4391
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، قَالَ كُنَّا جُلُوسًا مَعَ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، فَجَاءَ خَبَّابٌ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَيَسْتَطِيعُ هَؤُلاَءِ الشَّبَابُ أَنْ يَقْرَءُوا كَمَا تَقْرَأُ قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّكَ لَوْ شِئْتَ أَمَرْتُ بَعْضَهُمْ يَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكَ قَالَ أَجَلْ. قَالَ اقْرَأْ يَا عَلْقَمَةُ. فَقَالَ زَيْدُ بْنُ حُدَيْرٍ أَخُو زِيَادِ بْنِ حُدَيْرٍ أَتَأْمُرُ عَلْقَمَةَ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ وَلَيْسَ بِأَقْرَئِنَا قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّكَ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَخْبَرْتُكَ بِمَا قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي قَوْمِكَ وَقَوْمِهِ. فَقَرَأْتُ خَمْسِينَ آيَةً مِنْ سُورَةِ مَرْيَمَ، فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ تَرَى قَالَ قَدْ أَحْسَنَ. قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ مَا أَقْرَأُ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ وَهُوَ يَقْرَؤُهُ، ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَى خَبَّابٍ وَعَلَيْهِ خَاتَمٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فَقَالَ أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِهَذَا الْخَاتَمِ أَنْ يُلْقَى قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّكَ لَنْ تَرَاهُ عَلَىَّ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ، فَأَلْقَاهُ. رَوَاهُ غُنْدَرٌ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ.
Alqama Narrated from:
We were sitting with Ibn Masud when Khabbab came and said, "O Abu `Abdur-Rahman! Can these young fellows recite Qur'an as you do?" Ibn Mas`ud said, "If you wish I can order one of them to recite (Qur'an) for you." Khabbab replied, "Yes. "Ibn Mas`ud said, "Recite, O 'Alqama!" On that, Zaid bin Hudair, the brother of Ziyad bin Hudair said, (to Ibn Mas`ud), "Why have you ordered 'Alqama to recite though he does not recite better than we?"Ibn Mas`ud said, "If you like, I would tell you what the Prophet (ﷺ) said about your nation and his (i.e. 'Alqama's) nation." So I recited fifty Verses from Sura-Maryam. `Abdullah (bin Mas`ud) said to Khabbab, "What do you think (about 'Alqama's recitation)?" Khabbab said, "He has recited well." `Abdullah said, "Whatever I recite, 'Alqama recites."Then `Abdullah turned towards Khabbab and saw that he was wearing a gold ring, whereupon he said, "Hasn't the time for its throwing away come yet?" Khabbab said, "You will not see me wearing it after today," and he throw it away.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4391In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 414USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 674
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4391
This hadith about Quran recitation shows learning, testing, and accepting correction. Khabbab asked whether the young men could recite as Ibn Masud recited. Ibn Masud asked Alqama to recite, and he recited fifty verses from Surah Maryam. Khabbab said he had recited well, and Ibn Masud supported Alqama’s ability. Then Ibn Masud saw Khabbab wearing a gold ring and asked whether it was time to throw it away. Khabbab responded that Ibn Masud would not see it on him after that day, and he threw it away. The hadith teaches respect for good recitation and a quick response to sincere advice. It also shows that correction can happen in a gathering without long argument.
What we learn from this hadith
- Good Quran recitation should be recognized and encouraged.
- Younger students can be asked to show what they have learned.
- Sincere advice should be accepted without pride.
- Khabbab quickly left the gold ring after being reminded.
