that he recited to him: ‘Those who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture…’” Singling out this surah for recitation to Ubayy implies that it possesses distinctive qualities that warranted this choice.

His words, “to recite to you,” mean a recitation intended to convey, make heard, and teach—not a recitation undertaken to receive instruction and correction, as a student recites to a teacher. Some have mistakenly understood it in this latter sense and regarded it as an expression of humility. Abū Hāmid cited it as evidence of a learner’s humility, but this interpretation has no basis. It was to Gabriel that he would recite in this manner, reviewing the Quran with him every year, for Gabriel was the one who brought the Quran down to him. As for other people, they learned it from him. How, then, could he recite to any of them to have his recitation corrected, or recite as a student does?

Rather, his recitation to Ubayy ibn Ka'b was like his recitation of the Quran to humans and jinn. He did indeed recite the Quran to the jinn. Whenever he went out to the people, he would call them to Islam and recite the Quran to them. He would also recite it to people both during prayer and outside it.

Allah, exalted is He, says:

“So what is the matter with them that they do not believe, and when the Quran is recited to them, they do not prostrate?”

And He, exalted is He, says:

“When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell down