Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sahih al-Bukhari, which contains 7,277 hadiths across 97 books. It is hadith number 3086 in the Book of Beginning of Creation.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

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#3085

#3086

Sahih al-Bukhari

#3087

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Sahih al-Bukhari #3086

Q: What is Sahih al-Bukhari 3086 about?

This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Beginning of Creation), narrated by Narrated Ibn `Abbas:, states: "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Gabriel read the Qur'an to me in one way (i.e. dialect) and I continued asking him to read it in different ways till he read it in seven different ways.""

Beginning of Creation

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ أَقْرَأَنِي جِبْرِيلُ عَلَى حَرْفٍ، فَلَمْ أَزَلْ أَسْتَزِيدُهُ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ ‏"‏‏.‏

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Gabriel read the Qur'an to me in one way (i.e. dialect) and I continued asking him to read it in different ways till he read it in seven different ways."

Narrated by Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

Context

This hadith recounts an interaction between the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and the angel Gabriel regarding the recitation of the Qur'an. Gabriel initially read the Qur'an in one dialect, but the Prophet (ﷺ) requested variations, leading to the Qur'an being revealed in seven different dialects. This reflects the flexibility and accessibility of the Qur'an for diverse communities and circumstances.

Modern Application

When reading the Qur'an today, we can appreciate its various interpretations and dialects, which can enhance our understanding and connection to the text. This encourages us to explore different recitations and engage with the Qur'an in a way that resonates with our personal experiences.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Quran and Divine Revelation because it demonstrates the process of revelation and the adaptability of the Qur'an to different dialects.

Quran Divine Revelation