وَمَا خَلَقَ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰٓ
By what created the male and the female!
Competing Codex
Sahih al-Bukhari 3742
وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى
And by male and female
حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ، عَنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ،، قَالَ قَدِمْتُ الشَّأْمَ فَصَلَّيْتُ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ قُلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ يَسِّرْ لِي جَلِيسًا صَالِحًا، فَأَتَيْتُ قَوْمًا فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَيْهِمْ، فَإِذَا شَيْخٌ قَدْ جَاءَ حَتَّى جَلَسَ إِلَى جَنْبِي، قُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا قَالُوا أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ. فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي دَعَوْتُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُيَسِّرَ لِي جَلِيسًا صَالِحًا فَيَسَّرَكَ لِي، قَالَ مِمَّنْ أَنْتَ قُلْتُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ. قَالَ أَوَلَيْسَ عِنْدَكُمُ ابْنُ أُمِّ عَبْدٍ صَاحِبُ النَّعْلَيْنِ وَالْوِسَادِ وَالْمِطْهَرَةِ وَفِيكُمُ الَّذِي أَجَارَهُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَوَلَيْسَ فِيكُمْ صَاحِبُ سِرِّ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الَّذِي لاَ يَعْلَمُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ كَيْفَ يَقْرَأُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ {وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى}، فَقَرَأْتُ عَلَيْهِ {وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى * وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّى * وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى}. قَالَ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَقْرَأَنِيهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ فِيهِ إِلَى فِيَّ.
Narrated 'Alqama:I went to Sham and offered a two-rak`at prayer and then said, "O Allah! Bless me with a good pious companion." So I went to some people and sat with them. An old man came and sat by my side. I asked, "Who is he?" They replied, "(He is) Abu-Ad-Darda.' I said (to him), "I prayed to Allah to bless me with a pious companion and He sent you to me." He asked me, "From where are you?" I replied, "From the people of Al-Kufa." He said, "Isn't there amongst you Ibn Um `Abd, the one who used to carry the shoes, the cushion(or pillow) and the water for ablution? Is there amongst you the one whom Allah gave Refuge from Satan through the request of His Prophet. Is there amongst you the one who keeps the secrets of the Prophet (ﷺ) which nobody knows except him?" Abu Darda further asked, "How does `Abdullah (bin Mas`ud) recite the Sura starting with, 'By the Night as it conceals (the light)." (92.1) Then I recited before him: 'By the Night as it envelops: And by the Day as it appears in brightness; And by male and female.' (91.1-3) On this Abu Ad-Darda' said, "By Allah, the Prophet (ﷺ) made me recite the Sura in this way while I was listening to him (reciting it)
Sahih al-Bukhari 3743
وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى
And by male and female
حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ مُغِيرَةَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ ذَهَبَ عَلْقَمَةُ إِلَى الشَّأْمَ، فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ يَسِّرْ لِي جَلِيسًا صَالِحًا. فَجَلَسَ إِلَى أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ فَقَالَ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ مِمَّنْ أَنْتَ قَالَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ. قَالَ أَلَيْسَ فِيكُمْ ـ أَوْ مِنْكُمْ ـ صَاحِبُ السِّرِّ الَّذِي لاَ يَعْلَمُهُ غَيْرُهُ يَعْنِي حُذَيْفَةَ. قَالَ قُلْتُ بَلَى. قَالَ أَلَيْسَ فِيكُمُ ـ أَوْ مِنْكُمُ ـ الَّذِي أَجَارَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعْنِي مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ، يَعْنِي عَمَّارًا. قُلْتُ بَلَى. قَالَ أَلَيْسَ فِيكُمْ ـ أَوْ مِنْكُمْ ـ صَاحِبُ السِّوَاكِ أَوِ السِّرَارِ قَالَ بَلَى. قَالَ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَقْرَأُ {وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى * وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّى} قُلْتُ {وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى}. قَالَ مَا زَالَ بِي هَؤُلاَءِ حَتَّى كَادُوا يَسْتَنْزِلُونِي عَنْ شَىْءٍ سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Narrated Ibrahim:'Alqama went to Sham and when he entered the mosque, he said, "O Allah ! Bless me with a pious companion." So he sat with Abu Ad-Darda. Abu Ad-Darda' asked him, "Where are you from?" 'Alqama replied, "From the people of Kufa." Abu Ad-Darda said, "Isn't there amongst you the Keeper of the secret which nobody else knows i.e. Hudhaifa?" Al-qama said, "Yes." Then Abu Ad-Darda further said, "Isn't there amongst you the person whom Allah gave Refuge from Satan through the invocation of His Prophet namely `Ammar?" Alqama replied in the affirmative Abu Ad-Darda said, "Isn't there amongst you the person who carries the Siwak (or the Secret) (i.e. of the Prophet (ﷺ) namely `Abdullah bin Mas'ud)?" Alqama said, "Yes." Then Abu Ad-Darda asked, "How (Abdullah bin Masud) used to recite the Sura starting with: "By the night as it envelopes; By the day as it appears in brightness?" (92.1-2). Alqama said "And by male and female." Abu Ad-Darda then said, "These people (of Sham) tried hard to make me accept something other than what I had heard from the Prophet
Sahih al-Bukhari 3761
وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى
And by male and female
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى، عَنْ أَبِي عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ مُغِيرَةَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، دَخَلْتُ الشَّأْمَ فَصَلَّيْتُ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، فَقُلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ يَسِّرْ لِي جَلِيسًا. فَرَأَيْتُ شَيْخًا مُقْبِلاً، فَلَمَّا دَنَا قُلْتُ أَرْجُو أَنْ يَكُونَ اسْتَجَابَ. قَالَ مِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْتَ قُلْتُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ. قَالَ أَفَلَمْ يَكُنْ فِيكُمْ صَاحِبُ النَّعْلَيْنِ وَالْوِسَادِ وَالْمِطْهَرَةِ أَوَلَمْ يَكُنْ فِيكُمُ الَّذِي أُجِيرَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ أَوَلَمْ يَكُنْ فِيكُمْ صَاحِبُ السِّرِّ الَّذِي لاَ يَعْلَمُهُ غَيْرُهُ كَيْفَ قَرَأَ ابْنُ أُمِّ عَبْدٍ {وَاللَّيْلِ} فَقَرَأْتُ {وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى * وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّى * وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى}. قَالَ أَقْرَأَنِيهَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاهُ إِلَى فِيَّ، فَمَا زَالَ هَؤُلاَءِ حَتَّى كَادُوا يَرُدُّونِي.
Narrated Alqama:I went to Sham and was offering a two-rak`at prayer; I said, "O Allah! Bless me with a (pious) companion." Then I saw an old man coming towards me, and when he came near I said, (to myself), "I hope Allah has given me my request." The man asked (me), "Where are you from?" I replied, "I am from the people of Kufa." He said, "Weren't there amongst you the Carrier of the (Prophet's) shoes, Siwak and the ablution water container? Weren't there amongst you the man who was given Allah's Refuge from the Satan? And weren't there amongst you the man who used to keep the (Prophet's) secrets which nobody else knew? How did Ibn Um `Abd (i.e. `Abdullah bin Mas`ud) use to recite Surat-al-lail (the Night:92)?" I recited:-- "By the Night as it envelops By the Day as it appears in brightness. And by male and female." (92.1- 3) On that, Abu Darda said, "By Allah, the Prophet (ﷺ) made me read the Verse in this way after listening to him, but these people (of Sham) tried their best to let me say something different
Sahih al-Bukhari 4943
وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى
By the male and the female
حَدَّثَنَا قَبِيصَةُ بْنُ عُقْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الشَّأْمَ فَسَمِعَ بِنَا أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ فَأَتَانَا فَقَالَ أَفِيكُمْ مَنْ يَقْرَأُ فَقُلْنَا نَعَمْ. قَالَ فَأَيُّكُمْ أَقْرَأُ فَأَشَارُوا إِلَىَّ فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ. فَقَرَأْتُ {وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى * وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّى * وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى}. قَالَ أَنْتَ سَمِعْتَهَا مِنْ فِي صَاحِبِكَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ. قَالَ وَأَنَا سَمِعْتُهَا مِنْ فِي النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهَؤُلاَءِ يَأْبَوْنَ عَلَيْنَا.
Narrated Alqama:I went to Sham with a group of the companions of `Abdullah (bin Mas`ud). Abu Ad-Darda' heard of our arrival so he came to us and said, "Is there anybody among you who can recite (Qur'an)" We replied in the affirmative. Then he asked, "Who is the best reciter?" They pointed at me. Then he told me to recite, so I recited the verse:-- 'By the night as it envelops 'By the day as it appears in brightness; By (Him Who created) male and the female.' (92.1-3) Abu Ad-Darda' then said to me, "Did you hear it (like this) from the mouth of your friend (`Abdullah bin Mas`ud)?" I said, "Yes." He said, "I too, heard it (like this) from the mouth of the Prophet, but these people do not consider this recitation as the correct one
Sahih al-Bukhari 4944
وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى
By the male and the female
حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ قَدِمَ أَصْحَابُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَى أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ فَطَلَبَهُمْ فَوَجَدَهُمْ فَقَالَ أَيُّكُمْ يَقْرَأُ عَلَى قِرَاءَةِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ كُلُّنَا. قَالَ فَأَيُّكُمْ يَحْفَظُ وَأَشَارُوا إِلَى عَلْقَمَةَ. قَالَ كَيْفَ سَمِعْتَهُ يَقْرَأُ {وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى}. قَالَ عَلْقَمَةُ {وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى}. قَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ هَكَذَا، وَهَؤُلاَءِ يُرِيدُونِي عَلَى أَنْ أَقْرَأَ {وَمَا خَلَقَ الذَّكَرَ وَالأُنْثَى} وَاللَّهِ لاَ أُتَابِعُهُمْ.
Narrated Ibrahim:The companions of `Abdullah (bin Mas`ud) came to Abu Darda', (and before they arrived at his home), he looked for them and found them. Then he asked them,: 'Who among you can recite (Qur'an) as `Abdullah recites it?" They replied, "All of us." He asked, "Who among you knows it by heart?" They pointed at 'Alqama. Then he asked Alqama. "How did you hear `Abdullah bin Mas`ud reciting Surat Al-Lail (The Night)?" Alqama recited: 'By the male and the female.' Abu Ad-Darda said, "I testify that I heard me Prophet reciting it likewise, but these people want me to recite it:-- 'And by Him Who created male and female.' but by Allah, I will not follow them
Sahih al-Bukhari 6278
وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى
Wadhdhakari Wal Untha' (And by male and female.)
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ مُغِيرَةَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، أَنَّهُ قَدِمَ الشَّأْمَ. وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ مُغِيرَةَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ ذَهَبَ عَلْقَمَةُ إِلَى الشَّأْمِ، فَأَتَى الْمَسْجِدَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْنِي جَلِيسًا. فَقَعَدَ إِلَى أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ فَقَالَ مِمَّنْ أَنْتَ قَالَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ. قَالَ أَلَيْسَ فِيكُمْ صَاحِبُ السِّرِّ الَّذِي كَانَ لاَ يَعْلَمُهُ غَيْرُهُ ـ يَعْنِي حُذَيْفَةَ ـ أَلَيْسَ فِيكُمْ ـ أَوْ كَانَ فِيكُمُ ـ الَّذِي أَجَارَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى لِسَانِ رَسُولِهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ ـ يَعْنِي عَمَّارًا ـ أَوَلَيْسَ فِيكُمْ صَاحِبُ السِّوَاكِ وَالْوِسَادِ ـ يَعْنِي ابْنَ مَسْعُودٍ ـ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَقْرَأُ {وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى}. قَالَ {وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى}. فَقَالَ مَا زَالَ هَؤُلاَءِ حَتَّى كَادُوا يُشَكِّكُونِي، وَقَدْ سَمِعْتُهَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Narrated Ibrahim:'Alaqama went to Sham and came to the mosque and offered a two-rak`at prayer, and invoked Allah: "O Allah! Bless me with a (pious) good companion." So he sat beside Abu Ad-Darda' who asked, "From where are you?" He said, "From the people of Kufa." Abu Darda' said, "Wasn't there among you the person who keeps the secrets (of the Prophet (ﷺ) ) which nobody knew except him (i.e., Hudhaifa (bin Al-Yaman)). And isn't there among you the person whom Allah gave refuge from Satan through the request (tongue) of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)? (i.e., `Ammar). Isn't there among you the one who used to carry the Siwak and the cushion (or pillows (of the Prophets)? (i.e., Ibn Mas`ud). How did Ibn Mas`ud use to recite 'By the night as it conceals (the light)?" (Sura 92). 'Alqama said, "Wadhdhakari Wal Untha' (And by male and female.") Abu Ad-Darda added. 'These people continued to argue with me regarding it till they were about to cause me to have doubts although I heard it from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)
Sahih Muslim 824a
وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى * وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى
(wa'l-lail-i-idha yaghsha) wa-dhakar wal untha = when the night covers and the males and the females
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، قَالَ قَدِمْنَا الشَّامَ فَأَتَانَا أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ فَقَالَ أَفِيكُمْ أَحَدٌ يَقْرَأُ عَلَى قِرَاءَةِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ أَنَا . قَالَ فَكَيْفَ سَمِعْتَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ يَقْرَأُ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ { وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى} قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقْرَأُ { وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى * وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى} . قَالَ وَأَنَا وَاللَّهِ هَكَذَا سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَؤُهَا وَلَكِنْ هَؤُلاَءِ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ أَقْرَأَ وَمَا خَلَقَ . فَلاَ أُتَابِعُهُمْ .
Alqama reported. We went to Syria and Abu Darda' came to us and said:Is there anyone among you who recites according to the recitation of Abdullah? I said: Yes, it is I. He again said: How did you hear 'Abdullah reciting this verse: (wa'l-lail-i-idha yaghsha = when the night covers)? He ('Alqama) said: I heard him reciting it (like this) (wa'l-lail-i-idha yaghsha) wa-dhakar wal untha = when the night covers and the males and the females). Upon this he said: By Allah, I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) reciting in this way, but they (the Muslims of Syria) desire us to recite: (wa ma khalaqa), but I do not yield to their desire
Sahih Muslim 824c
وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى * وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّى * وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى
By the night when it covers, and the day when it shines, and the creating of the male and the female
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ السَّعْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ أَبِي، هِنْدٍ عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، قَالَ لَقِيتُ أَبَا الدَّرْدَاءِ فَقَالَ لِي مِمَّنْ أَنْتَ قُلْتُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ . قَالَ مِنْ أَيِّهِمْ قُلْتُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ . قَالَ هَلْ تَقْرَأُ عَلَى قِرَاءَةِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ . قَالَ فَاقْرَأْ { وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى} قَالَ فَقَرَأْتُ { وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى * وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّى * وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى} . قَالَ فَضَحِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ هَكَذَا سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَؤُهَا .
Alqama reported:I met Abu Darda', and he said to me: To which country do you belong? I said: I am one of the people of Iraq. He again said: To which city? I replied: City of Kufa. He again said: Do you recite according to the recitation of 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud? I said: Yes. He said: Recite this verse (By the night when it covers) So I recited it: (By the night when it covers, and the day when it shines, and the creating of the male and the female). He laughed and said: I have heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) reciting like this
وَأَمَّا مَنۢ بَخِلَ وَٱسۡتَغۡنَىٰ
But as for the one who is stingy, and considers himself independent,
We shall ease him to hardship.
Theological Defect
وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِندَهُۥ مِن نِّعۡمَةٖ تُجۡزَىٰٓ
and (confers) no blessing on anyone (expecting) to be repaid,