prostrate and weeping.” And He, exalted is He, says:

“Allah certainly bestowed a great favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from among themselves, reciting His verses to them.”

He mentions the same elsewhere. Thus, the Messenger recites Allah’s verses to the believers. The Prophet was commanded to single out Ubayy ibn Ka'b for recitation because of Ubayy’s merit and his particular mastery of the Quran. As is established in the authentic hadith collections, 'Umar said: “Ubayy is our best Quran reciter, and 'Alī our most skilled judge.”

It is also related in an authentic hadith that he said to Ibn Mas'ūd: “Recite the Quran to me.”

He replied: “Shall I recite it to you when it was revealed to you?”

He said: “I love to hear it from someone else.”

Ibn Mas'ūd’s recitation to him on this occasion was therefore intended to let him hear it, not to receive correction or instruction.

Regarding the meaning of Allah’s statement that neither of these two groups would break away, several Quran commentators have mentioned three interpretations. Does it mean that they would not abandon disbelief? Or does it mean that they did not reject Muhammad until he was sent, and thus had not broken away from Muhammad and belief in his prophethood until he was sent? Or does it mean that they would not be left alone until a messenger was sent to them?