I heard Hisham bin Hakim reciting Surat Al-Furqan during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and I listened to his recitation and noticed that he recited in several different ways which Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had not taught me. I was about to jump over him during his prayer, but I controlled my temper, and when he had completed his prayer, I put his upper garment around his neck and seized him by it and said, "Who taught you this Sura which I heard you reciting?" He replied, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) taught it to me." I said, "You have told a lie, for Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) has taught it to me in a different way from yours." So I dragged him to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said (to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)), "I heard this person reciting Surat Al-Furqan in a way which you haven't taught me!" On that Allah's Apostle said, "Release him, (O `Umar!) Recite, O Hisham!" Then he recited in the same way as I heard him reciting. Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "It was revealed in this way," and added, "Recite, O `Umar!" I recited it as he had taught me. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) then said, "It was revealed in this way. This Qur'an has been revealed to be recited in seven different ways, so recite of it whichever (way) is easier for you (or read as much of it as may be easy for you).
Virtues of the Qur'an - Sahih al-Bukhari 4992
This narration from Umar ibn al-Khattab demonstrates the divine wisdom behind the seven ahruf (modes) of Qur'anic recitation, showing Allah's mercy in accommodating different Arabic dialects among early Muslims.
Scholarly Commentary on the Seven Ahruf
The seven modes refer to permissible variations in recitation that preserve the Qur'an's meaning while accommodating linguistic differences among Arab tribes. These variations may include synonyms, grammatical forms, or pronunciation differences.
Allah's Messenger ﷺ confirmed both recitations as valid, demonstrating that the Qur'an was revealed with flexibility to make memorization and recitation easier for diverse communities while maintaining its divine origin and meaning.
Legal and Theological Implications
This hadith establishes the permissibility of different qira'at (recitations) that are authentically transmitted through reliable chains. It prohibits accusing others of error when their recitation differs from what one has learned, provided both are from authentic transmissions.
The incident teaches Muslims to approach differences with knowledge and humility rather than haste in judgment, as Umar initially intended to confront Hisham during prayer but wisely waited until completion.
Practical Application for Reciters
Muslims may learn and recite according to any authentic qira'ah without considering others incorrect. The principle "recite whichever is easier" shows Islam's facilitation and removal of hardship in worship while maintaining textual integrity through established transmission chains.