What is Sunan Abu Dawud 1478 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Detailed Injunctions about Witr), narrated by Ubayy b. Ka'b reported:, states: "The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Ubayy, I was asked to recite the Qur'an and I was asked: 'In one mode or two modes?' The angel that accompanied me said: 'Say, in two modes', I said: 'In two modes', I was asked…"

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 Sunan Abu Dawud, which contains 5,276 hadiths across 43 books. It is hadith number 1478 in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Detailed Injunctions about Witr.

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#1477

#1478

Sunan Abu Dawud

#1479

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Sunan Abu Dawud #1478

Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Detailed Injunctions about Witr

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ يَعْمُرَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ صُرَدٍ الْخُزَاعِيِّ، عَنْ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ يَا أُبَىُّ إِنِّي أُقْرِئْتُ الْقُرْآنَ فَقِيلَ لِي عَلَى حَرْفٍ أَوْ حَرْفَيْنِ فَقَالَ الْمَلَكُ الَّذِي مَعِي قُلْ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ ‏.‏ فَقِيلَ لِي عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةٍ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ الْمَلَكُ الَّذِي مَعِي قُلْ عَلَى ثَلاَثَةٍ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ عَلَى ثَلاَثَةٍ ‏.‏ حَتَّى بَلَغَ سَبْعَةَ أَحْرُفٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَيْسَ مِنْهَا إِلاَّ شَافٍ كَافٍ إِنْ قُلْتَ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا مَا لَمْ تَخْتِمْ آيَةَ عَذَابٍ بِرَحْمَةٍ أَوْ آيَةَ رَحْمَةٍ بِعَذَابٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Ubayy, I was asked to recite the Qur'an and I was asked: 'In one mode or two modes?' The angel that accompanied me said: 'Say, in two modes', I said: 'In two modes', I was asked again: 'In two or three modes'. The matter reached up to seven modes. He then said: 'Each mode is sufficiently health-giving, whether you utter 'all-hearing and all-knowing' or instead 'all-powerful and all-wise'. This is valid until you finish the verse indicating punishment on mercy and finish the verse indicating mercy on punishment."

Narrated by Ubayy b. Ka'b reported:

Context

Ubayy b. Ka'b reported a conversation where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) discussed the various modes of reciting the Qur'an. He explained that the Qur'an could be recited in seven different modes, each valid and beneficial. This highlights the richness and flexibility of the Qur'an's recitation.

Modern Application

Today, this hadith encourages Muslims to engage with the Qur'an in diverse ways, appreciating its depth and adaptability. It serves as an invitation to explore different recitation styles, enhancing one's connection to the text and its meanings.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Quran because it emphasizes the multiple valid modes of recitation of the Qur'an as conveyed by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

Quran

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ الأَنبِيَاءِ

Al-Anbiyaa (The Prophets)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

قَالَ رَبِّى يَعْلَمُ ٱلْقَوْلَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

The Prophet said, "My Lord knows whatever is said throughout the heaven and earth, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing."

قَٰلَ رَبِّ ٱحْكُم بِٱلْحَقِّ ۗ وَرَبُّنَا ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ

[The Prophet] has said, "My Lord, judge [between us] in truth. And our Lord is the Most Merciful, the one whose help is sought against that which you describe."

سُورَةُ المُزَّمِّلِ

Al-Muzzammil (The Enshrouded One)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ تَرْتِيلًا

Or add to it, and recite the Qur'an with measured recitation.

سُورَةُ النَّمۡلِ

An-Naml (The Ant)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَأَنْ أَتْلُوَا۟ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ ۖ فَمَنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِى لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَقُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُنذِرِينَ

And to recite the Qur'an." And whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] himself; and whoever strays - say, "I am only [one] of the warners."

سُورَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ

Al-Israa (The Night Journey)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ أَوِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنَ ۖ أَيًّۭا مَّا تَدْعُوا۟ فَلَهُ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَلَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَلَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَٱبْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًۭا

Say, "Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful. Whichever [name] you call - to Him belong the best names." And do not recite [too] loudly in your prayer or [too] quietly but seek between that an [intermediate] way.

Common Words

63 total56 unique7 repeated

أو2x

ٱلقرءان2x

قل2x

ٱدعوا2x

ٱلرحمن2x

ما2x

ولا2x

قال1x

ربى1x

يعلم1x

ٱلقول1x

فى1x

ٱلسماء1x

وٱلأرض1x

وهو1x

ٱلسميع1x

ٱلعليم1x

زد1x

عليه1x

ورتل1x

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #1478 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Detailed Injunctions about Witr. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Ubayy b. Ka'b reported:.

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Sunan Abu Dawud #1478

Context

Modern Application

Topics

Related Ayahs

Common Words

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

About This Hadith