I heard Hisham bin Hakim reciting Surat-al-Furqan during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), I listened to his recitation and noticed that he was reciting in a way that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had not taught me. I was about to jump over him while He was still in prayer, but I waited patiently and when he finished his prayer, I put my sheet round his neck (and pulled him) and said, "Who has taught you this Sura which I have heard you reciting?" Hisham said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) taught it to me." I said, "You are telling a lie, for he taught it to me in a way different from the way you have recited it!" Then I started leading (dragged) him to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said (to the Prophet), " I have heard this man reciting Surat-al- Furqan in a way that you have not taught me." The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "(O `Umar) release him! Recite, O Hisham." Hisham recited in the way I heard him reciting. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "It was revealed like this." Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Recite, O `Umar!" I recited in the way he had taught me, whereupon he said, "It was revealed like this," and added, "The Qur'an has been revealed to be recited in seven different ways, so recite of it whichever is easy for you ." (See Hadith No. 514, Vol. 6)
Oneness, Uniqueness of Allah (Tawheed)
Sahih al-Bukhari 7550
Contextual Analysis
This narration demonstrates the divine wisdom in permitting variant recitations (ahruf) of the Qur'an, accommodating different Arab dialects while preserving the sacred text's meaning and message.
Scholarly Commentary
The seven approved recitations (al-ahruf al-sab'ah) reflect Allah's mercy in facilitating Qur'anic recitation for various Arab tribes, each maintaining linguistic authenticity while conveying identical religious truths.
Umar's initial reaction illustrates the Companions' zeal in preserving revelation, while the Prophet's response shows divine accommodation within established parameters of authenticity.
Legal Implications
This hadith establishes the permissibility of reciting Qur'an through transmitted variant readings (qira'at) that meet rigorous authenticity criteria, provided they don't alter fundamental meanings.
It emphasizes that textual variations in recitation don't constitute contradiction but rather demonstrate the Qur'an's miraculous nature and accessibility.
Theological Significance
This incident affirms the Qur'an's divine protection while showing Allah's wisdom in providing recitational flexibility, strengthening the argument for Islam's universal applicability across linguistic variations.