That he heard a man reciting a Quranic Verse which he had heard the Prophet (ﷺ) reciting in a different way. So he took that man to the Prophet (and told him the story). The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Both of you are reciting in a correct way, so carry on reciting." The Prophet (ﷺ) further added, "The nations which were before you were destroyed (by Allah) because they differed."
Virtues of the Qur'an - Sahih al-Bukhari 5062
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari addresses the permissibility of different authentic recitations (qirā'āt) of the Qur'an and warns against divisive disagreement in religious matters.
Commentary on the Permissibility of Variant Recitations
The Prophet's affirmation that both recitations were correct demonstrates the divine wisdom in revealing the Qur'an in seven ahruf (modes) to accommodate different dialects and facilitate recitation for various Arab tribes.
This incident establishes that all authentic transmissions of Qur'anic recitation originating from the Prophet are equally valid and reflect the miraculous nature of revelation.
Warning Against Destructive Disputation
The Prophet's reference to previous nations being destroyed due to disagreement serves as a grave warning against creating division over matters where legitimate diversity exists.
Scholars explain that the destruction mentioned refers to communities who turned minor differences into major conflicts, abandoned unity, and prioritized personal opinions over revealed truth.
Scholarly Conclusions
This hadith teaches Muslims to maintain unity while respecting legitimate diversity in recitation and understanding, provided all interpretations remain within the boundaries of authentic transmission and orthodox belief.
The incident exemplifies the Prophet's wisdom in resolving potential conflicts by emphasizing common ground and redirecting focus from trivial differences to essential unity.