English Translation

Muhammad ibn Ja'far told us, Shu'bah told us, from Abd al-Rahman ibn Abis, who said: A man from Hamdan, one of the companions of Abdullah, told us - and he did not name him to us - who said: "When Abdullah intended to come to Medina, he gathered his companions and said: 'By Allah, I hope that there has arisen among you today, of what is best in religion, jurisprudence, and knowledge of the Qur'an, more than has arisen among the armies of the Muslims. This Qur'an was revealed in several modes of recitation; by Allah, two men would dispute as fiercely as they ever disputed about anything, and when the reciter said, \"This is how he taught me to recite,\" the other would say, \"You have done well,\" and when the other said his version, he would say, \"Both of you have done well, for thus he taught us to recite.\" Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise, and lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire. Consider this by the words of one of you to his companion, \"He lied and acted wickedly,\" and by his saying, when he confirms him, \"You have spoken truly and acted righteously.\" This Qur'an does not conflict with itself, nor does it wear thin, nor does it become tiresome through much repetition. So whoever recites it according to one mode, let him not abandon it out of aversion to it, and whoever recites it according to any of those modes which the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, taught, let him not abandon it out of aversion to it, for whoever denies one verse of it denies all of it. It is like a man's saying to his companion, \"Hurry up,\" and \"Come quickly.\" By Allah, if I knew a man more knowledgeable than me about what Allah revealed to Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, I would seek him out until I added his knowledge to mine. There will come a people who let prayer die, so pray the prayer at its proper time, and make your prayer with them supererogatory. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, used to review the Qur'an with Gabriel every Ramadan, and I reviewed it with him twice in the year in which he passed away, and he informed me that I had done well. I have recited from the mouth of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, seventy surahs.'"