Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الْوَرَكَانِيُّ أَخْبَرَنَا شَرِيكٌ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ رَفَعَهُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ أَتَانِي مَلَكَانِ فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا لِلْآخَرِ أَقْرِئْهُ قَالَ عَلَى كَمْ قَالَ حَرْفٍ قَالَ زِدْهُ قَالَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ سَبْعَةَ أَحْرُفٍ.
English Translation
Muhammad ibn Ja'far al-Warakani told us, Sharik informed us, from Abu Ishaq, from Sulayman, from Ubayy ibn Ka'b, raising it to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who said: "Two angels came to me. One of them said to the other: 'Have him recite.' He said: 'On how many letters?' He said: 'A letter.' He said: 'Increase him.'" And it went on until it reached seven letters.