Abū Sa'īd al-Khudrī told of Usaid b. Hudair saying that one night when he was reciting sūra al-Baqara (Qur’ān, 2) with his mare tied beside him it moved round in a circle, so he stopped reciting and it stopped moving. He resumed his recitation and it went round in a circle, so he stopped reciting and it stopped moving. Once more he recited and the mare moved round in a circle, so he left off reciting, for his son Yahyā was near it and he was afraid it might injure him. When he had moved him back he raised his head to the sky and saw something like a canopy with what seemed to be lamps in it, and when he told the Prophet of it in the morning, he said, “You should have kept on reciting, Ibn Hudair, you should have kept on reciting, Ibn Hudair.” He replied, “I was afraid, messenger of God, that it might trample on Yahyā who was near it, so I went to him, and when I raised my head to the sky and saw something like a canopy with what seemed to be lamps in it, I went out but could not see them.” He asked whether he knew what that was, and when he replied that he did not, he said, “Those were the angles who had drawn near to listen to your voice, and if you had continued reciting the people would have looked at them in the morning and they would not have concealed themselves from them.” (Bukhārī and Muslim, the wording being Bukhārī’s). Muslim has, “They went up into the air” instead of “I went out.”
The Excellence of Qur'anic Recitation
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, documented in Mishkat al-Masabih 2116, demonstrates the profound spiritual reality surrounding the recitation of the Qur'an. When Usaid ibn Hudair recited Surah al-Baqarah, the angels descended to listen, manifesting as a luminous canopy with lamps—a visible testament to the Qur'an's celestial nature.
Angelic Presence and Divine Connection
The Prophet's instruction "You should have kept on reciting" emphasizes that divine blessings increase with continued recitation. The angels' visible presence indicates that sincere Qur'anic recitation creates a direct connection between the earthly and heavenly realms, attracting celestial beings who draw near to listen to Allah's words.
Spiritual Perceptions and Physical Manifestations
The mare's unusual movement served as an animal's sensitivity to unseen realities. The canopy vision reveals how spiritual realities can manifest physically for those blessed with perception. The Prophet's explanation confirms that angels remain concealed from ordinary sight unless divine wisdom permits their visibility.
Lessons in Priority and Protection
Usaid's interruption to protect his son teaches that worldly responsibilities take precedence over spiritual experiences. This balance between spiritual pursuits and earthly duties reflects Islam's comprehensive guidance for human life, where family protection remains paramount even during profound spiritual moments.