66/5. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4991 — Seven Ways of Qur’an Recitation
The Qur'an was revealed to be recited in seven different ways
Hadith About the Qur’an Revealed in Seven Ways
Sahih Bukhari : 4991
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4991
حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ عُفَيْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي اللَّيْثُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُقَيْلٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَقْرَأَنِي جِبْرِيلُ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَرَاجَعْتُهُ، فَلَمْ أَزَلْ أَسْتَزِيدُهُ وَيَزِيدُنِي حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ ".
`Abdullah bin `Abbas Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Gabriel recited the Qur'an to me in one way. Then I requested him (to read it in another way), and continued asking him to recite it in other ways, and he recited it in several ways till he ultimately recited it in seven different ways."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4991In-book reference : Book 66, Hadith 13USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 61, Hadith 513
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4991
This Hadith is about the Qur’an being recited in seven different ways. Abdullah bin Abbas reports that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said Gabriel recited the Qur’an to him in one way. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then asked him for more, and Gabriel increased it. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم continued asking, and Gabriel continued reciting in other ways until it reached seven ways. The Hadith is short, but it teaches a clear point: the different ways mentioned here were connected to Gabriel teaching the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. A reader searching for hadith about seven ahruf can see that the report ties the matter directly to revelation and recitation. It also shows the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asking for ease through more recited ways.
What we learn from this hadith
- Gabriel recited the Qur’an to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked for more than one way of recitation.
- The recitation reached seven different ways.
