English Translation

Abd al-Rahman ibn Mahdi told us, Hammam told us, from Qatada, from Yahya ibn Ya'mar, from Sulayman ibn Surad, from Ubayy ibn Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with them both, who said: I recited a verse and Ibn Mas'ud recited it differently, so I went to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and said: "Did you not teach me such-and-such verse?" He said: "Yes." Then Ibn Mas'ud said: "Did you not teach it to me thus-and-so?" He said: "Yes, both of you have done well and clearly." He said: I said something to him, so he struck my chest and said: "O Ubayy ibn Ka'b, I was made to recite the Qur'an and was told: 'On one letter, or on two letters?' The angel who was with me said: 'On two letters.' So I said: 'On two letters.' Then he said: 'On two letters or three?' The angel who was with me said: 'On three.' So I said: 'On three' - until it reached seven letters, none of which but is sufficient and satisfying. If you say 'Forgiving, Merciful' or say 'Hearing, Knowing' or 'Knowing, Hearing,' Allah is thus - so long as you do not end a verse of punishment with mercy, or a verse of mercy with punishment." Bahz told us, Hammam told us, Qatada told us, from Yahya ibn Ya'mar, from Sulayman ibn Surad al-Khuza'i, from Ubayy ibn Ka'b, who said: I recited a verse and Ibn Mas'ud recited it differently, so I went to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him - and he mentioned the hadith. Abdullah told us, Hudba ibn Khalid al-Qaysi told us, Hammam ibn Yahya told us, Qatada told us, from Yahya ibn Ya'mar, from Sulayman ibn Surad, from Ubayy ibn Ka'b, who said: I recited a verse and Ibn Mas'ud recited it differently, and another man recited it differently, so I went to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him - and he mentioned the hadith.