Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 3618 — Surah al-Tawbah

It is narrated from Abu Salamah bin Abd al-Rahman that Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) passed by a man who was reciting the verse "And the first forerunners among the Muhajirun and the Ansar" [Surah al-Tawbah: 100] until he completed the verse. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) stopped him and said: "Turn back, come back." Then he asked: "Who taught you this surah?" He replied: "Sayyiduna Ubayy bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) taught it to me." He said: "Come with me, and do not leave me until we reach him." So they came to him and asked permission to enter. At that time Sayyiduna Ubayy bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) was reclining on a cushion. He gave permission, and Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "This man claims that you taught him this verse in such a way?" and he recited the verse to him. Ubayy bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) confirmed it and said: "He has spoken the truth." Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked insistently: "Did you learn it directly from the blessed mouth of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?" He replied: "Yes." Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) repeated the same question three times, and each time Ubayy bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) gave the same answer: "Yes." Then Ubayy bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) explained: "I firmly bear witness that Allah Almighty revealed this verse to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) himself. Jibril (peace be upon him) brought it down from the presence of Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, and in this matter of revelation neither al-Khattab (that is, Sayyiduna Umar's father) was consulted nor was the opinion of his son (Umar) taken (that is, it is purely the Word of the Lord, in which no human planning has any part)." The narrator said that Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), on hearing this, went out from there while saying aloud: "Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar" (Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest).
Imam Ishaq bin Rahwayh recorded this narration in his Musnad (hadith: 3618). Its chain has a break (inqita') because Abu Salamah bin Abd al-Rahman did not hear from Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him); however, as an event it is an excellent example of the greatness of the Divine Word and of the Companions' care in verifying narrations.