3.

Book of Prayer

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كتاب الصلاة

Ubayy bin Ka’b (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: I recited a verse and Ibn Mas’ud recited it differently. We went to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). I said, “Did you not recite this verse to me like this?” He said, “Yes.” Ibn Mas’ud said, “Did you not recite this verse to me like this?” He said, “Yes.” Then he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Each of you is reciting well and correctly.” I said, “How can that be, both of us?” The narrator said: He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) placed his hand on my chest and said, “O Ubayy! The Quran was revealed to me.” Then he was asked, “In one dialect or two dialects?” The angel who was with me said, “Say two dialects.” I said, “Two dialects.” Then he was asked, “Two dialects or three dialects?” The angel with me said, “Say three.” I said, “Three dialects,” until he reached seven dialects. Then he said, “In each of these dialects, the meaning is complete and sufficient.” I said, “Ghafur Raheem (Forgiving, Merciful), ‘Aleem Haleem (All-Knowing, Forbearing), Samee’ Aleem (All-Hearing, All-Knowing), ‘Azeez Hakeem (Mighty, Wise),” and other similar attributes (it makes no difference which one is recited). However, it is not permissible to change a verse of punishment to a verse of mercy or a verse of mercy to a verse of punishment.