Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنِي وَهْبُ بْنُ بَقِيَّةَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَبِي خَالِدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى حَدَّثَنِي أُبَيُّ بْنُ كَعْبٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ فَصَلَّى فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَصَلَّى فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ فَلَمَّا قَضَيْنَا الصَّلَاةَ دَخَلْنَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذَا قَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً أَنْكَرْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ فَدَخَلَ هَذَا فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً سِوَى قِرَاءَةِ صَاحِبِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اقْرَءُوا فَقَرَءُوا فَقَالَ قَدْ أَحْسَنْتُمْ فَسَقَطَ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ التَّكْذِيبِ وَلَا إِذْ كُنْتُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَلَمَّا رَأَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَا قَدْ غَشِيَنِي ضَرَبَ صَدْرِي قَالَ فَفِضْتُ عَرَقًا وَكَأَنَّمَا أَنْظُرُ إِلَى رَبِّي تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى فَرَقًا فَقَالَ لِي أُبَيٌّ إِنَّ رَبِّي تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ لِي اقْرَأْ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَرَدَدْتُ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتِي فَرَدَّ إِلَيَّ أَنْ اقْرَأْ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ فَرَدَدْتُ إِلَيْهِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ أَنْ هَوِّنْ عَلَى أُمَّتِي فَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ أَنْ اقْرَأْ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ وَلَكَ بِكُلِّ رَدَّةٍ رَدَدْتَهَا سُؤْلَكَ أُعْطِيكَهَا فَقُلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأُمَّتِي اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأُمَّتِي وَأَخَّرْتُ الثَّالِثَةَ لِيَوْمٍ يَرْغَبُ إِلَيَّ فِيهِ الْخَلْقُ حَتَّى إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام.
English Translation
Wahb ibn Baqiyya told me, Khalid ibn Abdullah told us, from Isma'il - that is, Ibn Abi Khalid - from Abdullah ibn Isa, from Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Layla, Ubayy ibn Ka'b told me, who said: I was in the mosque when a man entered and prayed, and he recited a recitation that I disapproved of. Then another man entered and prayed, and he recited a recitation other than that of his companion. When we had finished the prayer, we went in to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and I said: "O Messenger of Allah, this one recited a recitation that I disapproved of, then this one entered and recited a recitation other than that of his companion." The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to them both: "Recite." So they recited, and he said: "You have both done well." Then something of doubt fell into my mind, something I had not felt even in the Age of Ignorance. When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, saw what had overcome me, he struck my chest. He said: I broke out in sweat, and it was as if I were looking at my Lord, Blessed and Exalted, in awe. He said to me - Ubayy said: "My Lord, Blessed and Exalted, sent to me and said to me: 'Recite upon one letter.' I replied to Him: 'Make it easy for my nation.' So He sent back to me: 'Recite upon two letters.' I replied to Him, three times: 'Make it easy for my nation.' So He sent back to me: 'Recite upon seven letters, and for every reply you make you shall have your request; I shall grant it to you.' So I said: 'O Allah, forgive my nation. O Allah, forgive my nation.' And I deferred the third for a day when all creation will turn to me in need, even Ibrahim, peace be upon him."