6/48. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 821a — Seven Dialects Made Easy for the Ummah
The clarification that the Qur’an was revealed in seven ahruf (modes of recitation), and clarifying its meaning
Seven Dialects of the Qur'an: Ease Granted for the Ummah
Sahih Muslim : 821a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 821a
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ بَشَّارٍ قَالَ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنِ الْحَكَمِ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى، عَنْ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ عِنْدَ أَضَاةِ بَنِي غِفَارٍ - قَالَ - فَأَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ أُمَّتُكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ . فَقَالَ " أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِي لاَ تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ " . ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الثَّانِيَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ أُمَّتُكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ فَقَالَ " أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِي لاَ تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ " . ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ الثَّالِثَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ أُمَّتُكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى ثَلاَثَةِ أَحْرُفٍ . فَقَالَ " أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ مُعَافَاتَهُ وَمَغْفِرَتَهُ وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِي لاَ تُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ " . ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ الرَّابِعَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ أُمَّتُكَ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ فَأَيُّمَا حَرْفٍ قَرَءُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَدْ أَصَابُوا .
Ubayy bin Ka'b Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was near the tank of Banu Ghifar that Gabriel came to him and said: Allah has commanded you to recite to your people the Qur'an in one dialect. Upon this he said: I ask from Allah pardon and forgiveness. My people are not capable of doing it. He then came for the second time and said: Allah has commanded you that you should recite the Qur'an to your people in two dialects. Upon this he (the Holy prophet) again said: I seek pardon and forgiveness from Allah, my people would not be able to do so.He (Gabriel) came for the third time and said: Allah has commanded you to recite the Qur'an to your people in three dialects. Upon this he said: I ask pardon and forgiveness from Allah. My people would not be able to do it. He then came to him for the fourth time and said: Allah has commanded you to recite the Qur'an to your people in seven dialects, and in whichever dialect they would recite, they would be right.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 821aIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 334USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1789
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 821a
This hadith about seven dialects of the Qur'an shows the Prophet's concern for his people. Ubayy b. Ka'b reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was near the tank of Banu Ghifar when Gabriel came and said that Allah commanded him to recite the Qur'an to his people in one dialect. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked Allah for pardon and forgiveness and said his people would not be able to do that. Gabriel came again with two dialects, then three, and each time the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم repeated his request for pardon and forgiveness and spoke of his people's inability. On the fourth time, Gabriel said that Allah commanded recitation in seven dialects, and whichever dialect they recited upon, they would be right. The Hadith centers on ease, mercy, and approved recitation.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم repeatedly asked Allah for pardon and forgiveness.
- He expressed concern that his people would not manage one dialect only.
- The command increased until seven dialects were granted.
- The Hadith says whichever of those dialects they recited upon, they would be right.
