66/8. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5001 — Verified Quran Recitation
The Qurra from among the Companions of the Prophet (saws)
Hadith About Correct Quran Recitation and Speaking Carefully
Sahih Bukhari : 5001
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5001
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، قَالَ كُنَّا بِحِمْصَ فَقَرَأَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ سُورَةَ يُوسُفَ، فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مَا هَكَذَا أُنْزِلَتْ قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ أَحْسَنْتَ. وَوَجَدَ مِنْهُ رِيحَ الْخَمْرِ فَقَالَ أَتَجْمَعُ أَنْ تُكَذِّبَ بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَتَشْرَبَ الْخَمْرَ. فَضَرَبَهُ الْحَدَّ.
Alqama Narrated from:
While we were in the city of Hims (in Syria), Ibn Mas`ud recited Surat Yusuf. A man said to him), "It was not revealed in this way." Then Ibn Mas`ud said, "I recited it in this way before Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and he confirmed my recitation by saying, 'Well done!' " Ibn Mas`ud detected the smell of wine from the man's mouth, so he said to him, "Aren't you ashamed of telling a lie about Allah's Book and (along with this) you drink alcoholic liquors too?" Then he lashed him according to the law.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5001In-book reference : Book 66, Hadith 23USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 61, Hadith 523
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5001
This Hadith is about correct Quran recitation and being careful before objecting to a reciter. Ibn Masud recited Surat Yusuf in Hims. A man challenged him and said it was not revealed in that way. Ibn Masud replied that he had recited it before Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and the Prophet approved it by saying, “Well done.” The narration then mentions that Ibn Masud smelled wine from the man and rebuked him for both lying about Allah’s Book and drinking alcohol. The focus is clear: the Quran should not be challenged lightly, especially when a Companion is reporting what he read before the Prophet. This is a strong hadith about Quran recitation, verification, and respect for Allah’s Book.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not reject a Quran recitation without sound knowledge.
- Learning from the Prophet’s approval carries great weight.
- Lying about Allah’s Book is treated as a serious matter in the narration.
- A person’s outward religious speech does not excuse clear wrongdoing.
