Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 8967 — Recitation of the Quran

Abu Wa'il said: A man from Banu Bajilah named Nahik bin Sinan came to Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: "O Abu Abd al-Rahman! How do you recite this word, with ya' or with alif? That is, do you recite 'min ma'in ghayri yasin' or 'min ma'in ghayri asin' (of water unaltered)?" Sayyiduna Abdullah said to him: "Have you memorised and understood the whole Qur'an apart from this place?" He said: "I recite the Mufassal in one rak'ah." Sayyiduna Abdullah said: "You rattle off the Qur'an without reflection, just like poetry! There are people who recite the Qur'an, but it does not go down beyond their throats. The Qur'an benefits when it enters the heart and becomes firmly rooted there. The best part of prayer is bowing and prostration." Sayyiduna Abdullah also said: "I know the similar (paired) surahs which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite."