Busr also has another chain of transmission for it. Imam Ahmad said (4/169–170): Abu Salamah al-Khuzaʿi narrated to us; Sulayman ibn Bilal narrated to us; Yazid ibn Khusayfah narrated to me; Busr ibn Saʿid informed me, saying: Abu al-Juhaym narrated to me that two men differed concerning a verse of the Quran. One said, “I received it from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him...” He then related a hadith similar to it, but without the words: “Whichever of them you recite, you have done well.” Its chain of transmission is authentic according to the standards of al-Bukhari and Muslim. Abu Salamah al-Khuzaʿi was Mansur ibn Salamah al-Baghdadi. Ibn Wahb corroborated him in Ibn Jarir’s exegesis (1/43).

It also has a brief supporting narration from Abu Hurayrah, attributed to the Prophet, with the wording: “The Quran was revealed in seven modes. Contentious disputation concerning the Quran is disbelief”—three times—“so act upon what you know of it, and refer what you do not know to one knowledgeable of it.” It was recorded by Ahmad (2/300), Ibn Jarir in his exegesis (1/2), and Abu Yaʿla (4/1432), through the route of Abu Hazim, from Abu Salamah—as far as I know—from Abu Hurayrah, who said that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said this.

I say: Its chain of transmission is authentic according to the standards of al-Bukhari and Muslim, and Ibn Hibban authenticated it (1780). Muhammad ibn ʿAmr al-Laythi also corroborated him regarding its second part: Abu Salamah narrated to us from Abu Hurayrah with it. Ahmad recorded it (2/286, 424, 475, 503, and 528). He also recorded it (1/419, 421, and 452), as did Ibn Jarir (1/23/12 and 13) and Ibn Hibban (1783), through several routes from ʿAsim, from Zirr, from ʿAbd Allah, who said: “Two men differed concerning a sura. One said, ‘The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, taught me...’” The hadith continues: “And there was a man with him—in one narration, it was ʿAli—who said: ‘Recite as you were taught.’ Yet I do not know whether he was ordering something or