Ibn Hibban

Alqamah narrates: I came to Syria. Sayyiduna Abu Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him) was informed of this, so he came to us and asked: Who among you can recite before me according to the way of “Ibn Umm Abd”? The narrator says: We replied: All of us can. He asked: Who among you has the most knowledge of recitation? The narrator says: My companions pointed towards me. Sayyiduna Abu Darda’ asked: Do you remember? I replied: Yes. He asked: How did Sayyiduna Abdullah recite Surah Al-Lail? I said: He used to recite it like this: «وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشٰى وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلّٰى وَالذَّكَرِ وَالْأُنثٰى» He said: Do you remember these words from the tongue of Sayyiduna Abdullah? I replied: Yes. He said: By the One besides whom there is no deity! I also learned these words in the same way from the tongue of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), but these people want me to recite with (other words). By Allah! I will never accept what they say.