The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was by a pond belonging to Banu Ghifar when Jibril, peace be upon him, came to him and said: "Allah commands you to teach your Ummah the Quran with one way of recitation." He said: "I ask my Lord for protection and forgiveness, my Ummah cannot bear that." Then he came to him a second time and said: "Allah commands you to teach your Ummah the Quran with two ways of recitation." He said: ""I ask my Lord for protection and forgiveness, my Ummah cannot bear that." Then he came to him a third time and said: "Allah commands you to teach your Ummah the Quran with three ways of recitation." He said: "I ask my Lord for protection and forgiveness, my Ummah cannot bear that." Then he came to him a fourth time and said: "Allah commands you to teach your Ummah the Quran with seven ways of recitation, and whichever the way they recite it will be correct."
The Book of the Commencement of the Prayer - Sunan an-Nasa'i
Hadith Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 939
Narrative Context
This profound tradition occurred near a pond belonging to Banu Ghifar, where the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) descended with divine instruction regarding Quranic recitation. The location signifies the universality of this revelation, not confined to mosques or private quarters.
Divine Gradualism in Legislation
The Prophet's repeated response - "I ask my Lord for protection and forgiveness, my Ummah cannot bear that" - demonstrates his profound understanding of his community's capabilities. This reflects the Islamic principle of gradual legislation (tadrij) and the Prophet's role as merciful intercessor.
Theological Significance of Seven Ahruf
The final revelation of seven permissible recitations (ahruf) embodies Allah's mercy in accommodating linguistic variations among Arab tribes. This diversity facilitates easier memorization while preserving the Quran's miraculous nature. Each recitation contains identical meaning with slight phonetic differences.
Scholarly Interpretation
Classical scholars like Imam Ibn al-Jazari explained these seven ways represent dialectical variations existing among Arab tribes during revelation. This divine accommodation ensured the Quran's accessibility while maintaining its textual integrity. The phrase "whichever way they recite it will be correct" establishes the validity of transmitted recitations.
Practical Implications
This hadith forms the foundation for the science of Qira'at (recitations). It validates the various authentic transmission chains while emphasizing that all preserved recitations are divinely sanctioned. This demonstrates Islam's flexibility in worship while maintaining strict adherence to authenticated texts.