Why she matters
The beloved wife of the Prophet Muhammad, who died in her home. She was a major scholar, transmitted thousands of hadiths, and possessed her own personal codex of the Quran containing variant readings.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3769
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: كَمَلَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ كَثِيرٌ، وَلَمْ يَكْمُلْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلَّا مَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ، وَآسِيَةُ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ، وَفَضْلُ عَائِشَةَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ كَفَضْلِ الثَّرِيدِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الطَّعَامِ.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Many amongst men attained perfection but amongst women none attained perfection except Maryam, the daughter of 'Imran, and Asiya, the wife of Pharaoh. And the superiority of 'Aisha to other women is like the superiority of Tharid (an Arabic dish) to an ordinary meal.'
Sahih Muslim 1452a
عَشْرُ رَضَعَاتٍ مَعْلُومَاتٍ يُحَرِّمْنَ ... خَمْسٍ مَعْلُومَاتٍ
ten clear sucklings make the marriage unlawful ... five sucklings
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ كَانَ فِيمَا أُنْزِلَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ عَشْرُ رَضَعَاتٍ مَعْلُومَاتٍ يُحَرِّمْنَ . ثُمَّ نُسِخْنَ بِخَمْسٍ مَعْلُومَاتٍ فَتُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُنَّ فِيمَا يُقْرَأُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ .
A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that it had been revealed in the Holy Qur'an that ten clear sucklings make the marriage unlawful, then it was abrogated (and substituted) by five sucklings and Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) died and it was before that time (found) in the Holy Qur'an (and recited by the Muslims)
Why he matters
One of the earliest converts to Islam, a close companion of the Prophet, and one of the most knowledgeable regarding the Quran. The Prophet explicitly commanded Muslims to learn the Quran from him over others.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3758
سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ: اسْتَقْرِئُوا الْقُرْآنَ مِنْ أَرْبَعَةٍ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ ـ فَبَدَأَ بِهِ ـ وَسَالِمٍ مَوْلَى أَبِي حُذَيْفَةَ، وَمُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ، وَأُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ
I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "Learn the recitation of the Qur'an from (any of these) four persons: Abdullah bin Mas'ud - he started with him - Salim the freed slave of Abu Hudhaifa, Mu'adh bin Jabal, and Ubai bin Ka'b."
Sahih al-Bukhari 5002
قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ: وَاللَّهِ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ مَا أُنْزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ أَنَا أَعْلَمُ أَيْنَ أُنْزِلَتْ، وَلاَ أُنْزِلَتْ آيَةٌ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ أَنَا أَعْلَمُ فِيمَا أُنْزِلَتْ، وَلَوْ أَعْلَمُ أَحَدًا أَعْلَمَ مِنِّي بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ تُبَلِّغُهُ الإِبِلُ لَرَكِبْتُ إِلَيْهِ
Abdullah (bin Mas'ud) said: "By Allah other than Whom none has the right to be worshipped! There is no Sura revealed in Allah's Book but I know at what place it was revealed; and there is no Verse revealed in Allah's Book but I know about whom it was revealed. And if I know that there is somebody who knows Allah's Book better than I, and he is at a place that camels can reach, I would go to him."
Why he matters
A leading companion from the Ansar, designated as one of the four primary teachers of the Quran by the Prophet. He was historically known as the 'Chief of the Reciters' (Sayyid al-Qurra).
Sahih al-Bukhari 3808
سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ: خُذُوا الْقُرْآنَ مِنْ أَرْبَعَةٍ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ ـ فَبَدَأَ بِهِ ـ وَسَالِمٍ مَوْلَى أَبِي حُذَيْفَةَ، وَمُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ، وَأُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ.
I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, 'Take (learn) the Qur'an from four: 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud, Salim, Mu'adh bin Jabal and Ubayy bin Ka'b.'
Sahih al-Bukhari 3809
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لأُبَىٍّ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَقْرَأَ عَلَيْكَ {لَمْ يَكُنِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا}. قَالَ: وَسَمَّانِي؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ. فَبَكَى.
Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet (ﷺ) said to Ubayy, 'Allah has ordered me to recite to you: Those who disbelieve (Surah 98).' Ubayy said, 'Did He mention my name?' The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Yes.' On hearing this, Ubayy wept.
Why he matters
The second Caliph of Islam. He was the one who famously urged Abu Bakr to compile the Quran into a single book after the Battle of Yamama. He repeatedly asserted the existence of missing verses (like the Stoning verse) from the pulpit.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3681
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " بَيْنَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ شَرِبْتُ ـ يَعْنِي اللَّبَنَ ـ حَتَّى أَنْظُرَ إِلَى الرِّيِّ يَجْرِي فِي ظُفُرِي ـ أَوْ فِي أَظْفَارِي ـ ثُمَّ نَاوَلْتُ عُمَرَ ". فَقَالُوا فَمَا أَوَّلْتَهُ قَالَ " الْعِلْمَ ".
Ibn 'Umar reported: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "While I was sleeping, I drank (milk) until I saw its wetness coming out of my nails, then I gave the remaining milk to 'Umar." They asked, "How did you interpret it, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?" He replied, "(It is religious) knowledge."
Sahih al-Bukhari 3691
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " بَيْنَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ رَأَيْتُ النَّاسَ عُرِضُوا عَلَىَّ وَعَلَيْهِمْ قُمُصٌ، فَمِنْهَا مَا يَبْلُغُ الثُّدِيَّ، وَمِنْهَا مَا يَبْلُغُ دُونَ ذَلِكَ، وَعُرِضَ عَلَىَّ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ وَعَلَيْهِ قَمِيصٌ يَجُرُّهُ ". قَالُوا فَمَا أَوَّلْتَهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " الدِّينَ ".
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri reported: I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "While I was sleeping, I saw people being presented to me (in a dream) and they were wearing shirts. Some shirts reached down to the breasts, and some reached down below that. Then 'Umar bin Al-Khattab was presented to me and he was wearing a shirt which he was dragging along (on the ground)." They asked, "How did you interpret it, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?" He said, "(It indicates his strong) Religion."
Why he matters
The Prophet's cousin, historically known as 'Turjuman al-Quran' (The Interpreter of the Quran). The Prophet specifically prayed for him to be granted understanding of the Book.
Sahih al-Bukhari 75
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ ضَمَّنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ عَلِّمْهُ الْكِتَابَ.
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: Once the Prophet (ﷺ) embraced me and said, "O Allah! Bestow on him the knowledge of the Book (Qur'an)."
Sahih al-Bukhari 143
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم دَخَلَ الْخَلاَءَ فَوَضَعْتُ لَهُ وَضُوءًا قَالَ: مَنْ وَضَعَ هَذَا؟ فَأُخْبِرَ فَقَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ فَقِّهْهُ فِي الدِّينِ.
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet (ﷺ) went to the bathroom and I placed water for his ablution. He asked, "Who placed it?" He was informed accordingly and so he said, "O Allah! Make him (Ibn `Abbas) a learned scholar in religion (Islam)."
Why he matters
A prominent companion appointed as governor of Basra, where he taught the Quran extensively. The Prophet famously praised his beautiful recitation, comparing it to the Psalms of David.
Sahih al-Bukhari 4341
عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَبَا مُوسَى وَمُعَاذَ بْنَ جَبَلٍ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ، قَالَ وَبَعَثَ كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا عَلَى مِخْلاَفٍ، قَالَ وَالْيَمَنُ مِخْلاَفَانِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ " يَسِّرَا وَلاَ تُعَسِّرَا، وَبَشِّرَا وَلاَ تُنَفِّرَا ".
Narrated Abu Burda: The Prophet (ﷺ) sent Abu Musa and Mu`adh to Yemen and said to both of them, "Facilitate things for the people (treat the people in the most agreeable way), and do not make things difficult for them, and give them glad tidings, and let them not have aversion (i.e. to make the people hate good deeds) and you should both work in cooperation and mutual understanding, obey each other."
Sahih al-Bukhari 5048
عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ لَهُ " يَا أَبَا مُوسَى لَقَدْ أُوتِيتَ مِزْمَارًا مِنْ مَزَامِيرِ آلِ دَاوُدَ ".
Narrated Abu Musa: That the Prophet (ﷺ) said to him, "O Abu Musa! You have been given one of the musical wind-instruments of the family of David!"