66/27. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5041 — Quran Revealed in Seven Ahruf
Whoever thinks that there is no harm in saying: Surat Al-Baqarah or Surat so-and-so
Quran Revealed in Seven Ahruf: Ease in Recitation
Sahih Bukhari : 5041
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5041
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ، عَنْ حَدِيثِ الْمِسْوَرِ بْنِ مَخْرَمَةَ، وَعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدٍ الْقَارِيِّ، أَنَّهُمَا سَمِعَا عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ هِشَامَ بْنَ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ، يَقْرَأُ سُورَةَ الْفُرْقَانِ فِي حَيَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاسْتَمَعْتُ لِقِرَاءَتِهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ يَقْرَؤُهَا عَلَى حُرُوفٍ كَثِيرَةٍ لَمْ يُقْرِئْنِيهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَكِدْتُ أُسَاوِرُهُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَانْتَظَرْتُهُ حَتَّى سَلَّمَ فَلَبَبْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ أَقْرَأَكَ هَذِهِ السُّورَةَ الَّتِي سَمِعْتُكَ تَقْرَأُ قَالَ أَقْرَأَنِيهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. فَقُلْتُ لَهُ كَذَبْتَ فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَهُوَ أَقْرَأَنِي هَذِهِ السُّورَةَ الَّتِي سَمِعْتُكَ، فَانْطَلَقْتُ بِهِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَقُودُهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ هَذَا يَقْرَأُ سُورَةَ الْفُرْقَانِ عَلَى حُرُوفٍ لَمْ تُقْرِئْنِيهَا وَإِنَّكَ أَقْرَأْتَنِي سُورَةَ الْفُرْقَانِ. فَقَالَ " يَا هِشَامُ اقْرَأْهَا ". فَقَرَأَهَا الْقِرَاءَةَ الَّتِي سَمِعْتُهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " هَكَذَا أُنْزِلَتْ ". ثُمَّ قَالَ " اقْرَأْ يَا عُمَرُ ". فَقَرَأْتُهَا الَّتِي أَقْرَأَنِيهَا، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " هَكَذَا أُنْزِلَتْ ". ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ الْقُرْآنَ أُنْزِلَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ ".
'Umar bin Al-Khattab Narrated from:
I heard Hisham bin Hakim bin Hizam reciting Surat-al-Furqan during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), and I listened to his recitation and noticed that he recited it in several ways which Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had not taught me. So I was on the point of attacking him in the prayer, but I waited till he finished his prayer, and then I seized him by the collar and said, "Who taught you this Surah which I have heard you reciting?"He replied, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) taught it to me." I said, "You are telling a lie; By Allah! Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) taught me (in a different way) this very Surah which I have heard you reciting." So I took him, leading him to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I heard this person reciting Surat-al-Furqan in a way that you did not teach me, and you have taught me Surat-al-Furqan."The Prophet said, "O Hisham, recite!" So he recited in the same way as I heard him recite it before. On that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "It was revealed to be recited in this way." Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Recite, O `Umar!" So I recited it as he had taught me. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) then said, "It was revealed to be recited in this way." Allah" Apostle added, "The Qur'an has been revealed to be recited in several different ways, so recite of it that which is easier for you."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5041In-book reference : Book 66, Hadith 65USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 61, Hadith 561
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5041
This Hadith focuses on the Quran revealed in several different ways of recitation. Umar heard Hisham reciting Surat Al-Furqan in a way he had not learned, so he became upset and took him to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم after the prayer. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked both Hisham and Umar to recite. After each recited, he said that the Quran was revealed in that way. Then he explained that the Quran was revealed to be recited in several different ways, and people should recite what is easier for them. The key lesson is not to rush into blame when a Quran recitation sounds different from what we know. The Hadith teaches respect for what the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم approved, and it reminds learners to return matters of Quran recitation to proper knowledge.
What we learn from this hadith
- A recitation may be valid even if it differs from what a person personally learned.
- Disputes about Quran recitation should be brought back to the Prophet’s teaching and sound knowledge.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught ease by saying to recite what is easier from the revealed recitations.
