65/21. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4739 — Early Surahs Memorized by Ibn Mas‘ud
Hadith About Early Surahs and Quran Memorization
Sahih Bukhari : 4739
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4739
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَالْكَهْفُ وَمَرْيَمُ وَطَهَ وَالأَنْبِيَاءُ هُنَّ مِنَ الْعِتَاقِ الأُوَلِ، وَهُنَّ مِنْ تِلاَدِي. وَقَالَ قَتَادَةُ {جُذَاذًا} قَطَّعَهُنَّ. وَقَالَ الْحَسَنُ {فِي فَلَكٍ} مِثْلِ فَلْكَةِ الْمِغْزَلِ {يَسْبَحُونَ} يَدُورُونَ. قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ {نَفَشَتْ} رَعَتْ {يُصْحَبُونَ} يُمْنَعُونَ. {أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً} قَالَ دِينُكُمْ دِينٌ وَاحِدٌ. وَقَالَ عِكْرِمَةُ. {حَصَبُ} حَطَبُ بِالْحَبَشِيَّةِ. وَقَالَ غَيْرُهُ {أَحَسُّوا} تَوَقَّعُوهُ مِنْ أَحْسَسْتُ. {خَامِدِينَ} هَامِدِينَ. حَصِيدٌ مُسْتَأْصَلٌ يَقَعُ عَلَى الْوَاحِدِ وَالاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْجَمِيعِ. {لاَ يَسْتَحْسِرُونَ} لاَ يُعْيُونَ، وَمِنْهُ حَسِيرٌ، وَحَسَرْتُ بَعِيرِي. عَمِيقٌ بَعِيدٌ. {نُكِسُوا} رُدُّوا. {صَنْعَةَ لَبُوسٍ} الدُّرُوعُ. {تَقَطَّعُوا أَمْرَهُمْ} اخْتَلَفُوا، الْحَسِيسُ وَالْحِسُّ وَالْجَرْسُ وَالْهَمْسُ وَاحِدٌ، وَهْوَ مِنَ الصَّوْتِ الْخَفِيِّ {آذَنَّاكَ} أَعْلَمْنَاكَ {آذَنْتُكُمْ} إِذَا أَعْلَمْتَهُ فَأَنْتَ وَهْوَ عَلَى سَوَاءٍ لَمْ تَغْدِرْ. وَقَالَ مُجَاهِدٌ {لَعَلَّكُمْ تُسْأَلُونَ} تُفْهَمُونَ {ارْتَضَى} رَضِيَ. {التَّمَاثِيلُ} الأَصْنَامُ، السِّجِلُّ الصَّحِيفَةُ.
`Abdullah Narrated from:
The Suras of Bani Israel, Al-Kahf, Mariyam, Taha and Al-Anbiya are from the very old Suras which I learnt by heart, and they are my first property.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4739In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 261USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 263
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4739
This hadith about Quran memorization is a personal statement from Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه. He says that the Surahs of Bani Israel, Al-Kahf, Maryam, Taha, and Al-Anbiya are among the very old Surahs he learned by heart, and that they were his first property. The phrase first property shows how precious these Surahs were to him. The hadith does not list virtues for each Surah here, and it does not give a separate reward for memorizing them. Its message is simpler: the Qur’an was treasured, memorized, and held close by the companions. For readers searching for hadith about memorizing Quran or Ibn Masud old surahs, this report gives a clear example of early attachment to the Qur’an.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه had memorized these Surahs early.
- He described them as part of his first property.
- The hadith shows the Qur’an was deeply treasured by the companions.
- The report names Bani Israel, Al-Kahf, Maryam, Taha, and Al-Anbiya.
