19 – Al-Haytham related—through a certain man—from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) that Abu Bakr and ʿUmar spent part of one night in conversation with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When they rose to leave, he left with them. On their way they passed by Ibn Masʿūd, who was reciting Qur’an. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever would like to recite the Qur’an exactly as it was revealed, let him recite according to the recitation of Ibn Umm ʿAbd.” He then began telling him, “Ask, and you will be granted.”

Abu Bakr and ʿUmar hurried back to give Ibn Masʿūd the glad tidings; Abu Bakr reached him first, conveyed the good news, and informed him that the Prophet ﷺ had urged him to pray. So Ibn Masʿūd said, “O Allah, I ask You for unwavering faith that never departs, for blessings that never expire, and for the companionship of Your Prophet in the Everlasting Garden.”

In another wording, Al-Haytham narrates from ʿAbd Allāh: Abu Bakr and ʿUmar were spending the evening with the Prophet ﷺ; when they departed, he departed with them, and they passed by Ibn Masʿūd while he was reciting. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever wishes to recite the Qur’an in its fresh form, just as it was sent down, let him recite according to the recitation of Ibn Umm ʿAbd,” and he kept saying, “Ask, and you shall be given.” He then mentioned the remainder of the first report.