Abu Dawud

Benefits and Issues:
It is forbidden for Muslims to spy on one another.
Except that if the leader of the believers (Amir al-Mu’minin) investigates some of their affairs for the purpose of rectification, then it is permissible.
However, to gather information about the conditions of the enemy, this act is politically obligatory.

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: The Noble Qur’an was revealed upon seven ahruf (modes). What is meant by these seven ahruf is an extremely contentious and lengthy discussion, which is counted among the most difficult topics in the sciences of the Qur’an. Allamah Abdul Azim Zarqani, in his book (Manahil al-Irfan: vol. 1), has discussed this in great detail and has mentioned nearly forty different opinions. Among these, I will only quote the opinion which he, in light of the evidences, has considered to be the most preponderant: that the seven ahruf refer to seven types of differences in recitation (qira’at). Allamah Ibn Qutaybah rahimahullah, Imam al-Fadl al-Razi rahimahullah, Imam Abu Bakr al-Baqillani, and the researcher Ibn al-Jazari have all adopted this view, and the first to adopt it was Imam Malik rahimahullah. However, in specifying these types, there is some minor difference among these scholars, but among all of them, the inductive reasoning (istiqra’) of Abu al-Fadl al-Razi rahimahullah is the most comprehensive and precise, so we will present his classification.

➊ Difference in nouns: That is, the difference between singular, dual, plural, and masculine and feminine forms.

➋ Difference in verbs: That is, in some recitations the verb is in the past tense, in others in the present, and in others in the imperative.

➌ Difference in grammatical inflection (i‘rab): That is, in different recitations, the diacritical marks or vowelizations are different.

➍ Difference in addition and omission of words: That is, in one recitation a word is omitted, while in another it is present.

➎ Difference in precedence and delay: That is, in one recitation a word comes earlier, and in another it comes later.

➏ Difference in substitution: In one recitation there is a certain word, and in another recitation, a different word is used in its place.

However, in the early days of Islam, the substitution of one word for another was quite frequent, but gradually, as the Arabs became fully familiar with the Qur’anic language, this type of difference decreased day by day, until when the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam completed his final review (daur) with Jibril alayhis salam in Ramadan—which is called the ‘Ardah Akhirah—this type of difference became very rare. Therefore, in the current recitations, this type of difference is very little, and in the hadith of Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu, there is an indication towards this difference: when the matter reached the seven ahruf, Jibril alayhis salam said, “Each is sufficient and satisfactory, as long as you do not mix a verse of punishment with one of mercy, or a verse of mercy with one of punishment.” For example, you say: (ta‘al, aqbil, hulumma, idhhab, ashra‘, ‘ajil)—that is, it was permissible to use these words in place of one another.

➐ Difference of dialects: That is, the differences in (?), lightening (tarqiq), inclination (imala), shortening (qasr), lengthening (madd), clear pronunciation (izhar), and assimilation (idgham).