And the judge Shuraih said to a person who sought his witness, "Go to the ruler so that I may bear witness (before him) for you. And 'Ikrama said, "Umar said to 'Abdur Rahmãn bin 'Auf, 'If I saw a man committing illegal sexual intercourse or theft while you were the ruler (what would you do)?' 'Abdur Rahmãn said, 'I would regard your witness as equal to the witness of any other man among the Muslims.' 'Umar said, 'You have said the truth.' 'Umar added, 'If I were not afraid of the fact that people may say that 'Umar has added to the Qur'an (extra verses), I would have written the Verse of Ar-Rajm (stoning to death of married adulterers) with my own hands.'" And Mã'iz confessed before the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) that he had committed illegal sexual intercourse four times, whereupon the Prophet ordered him to be stoned to death. It is not mentioned that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) sought witness of those who were present there. Hammad said "If an adulterer confesses before a ruler once only, he should be stoned to death." But Al-Hakam said, "He must confess four times."

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 (s.a.w.a.) namely `Abdullah bin Massud)?" 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."

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."

I heard Hisham bin Hakim bin Hizam reciting Surat-al-Furqan during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.), and I listened to his recitation and noticed that he recited it in several ways which Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.) had not taught me. So I was on the point of attacking him in the prayer, but I waited till he finished his prayer, and then I seized him by the collar and said, "Who taught you this Surah which I have heard you reciting?" He replied, "Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.) taught it to me." I said, "You are telling a lie; By Allah! Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.) taught me (in a different way) this very Surah which I have heard you reciting." So I took him, leading him to Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.)! I heard this person reciting Surat-al-Furqan in a way that you did not teach me, and you have taught me Surat-al-Furqan." The Prophet said, "O Hisham, recite!" So he recited in the same way as I heard him recite it before. On that Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.) said, "It was revealed to be recited in this way." Then Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.) said, "Recite, O `Umar!" So I recited it as he had taught me. Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.) then said, "It was revealed to be recited in this way." Allah" Apostle added, "The Qur'an has been revealed to be recited in several different ways, so recite of it that which is easier for you."

Narrated to us: Abu al-Nomaan: Hammad, from Abi Imran al-Jauni, from Jundab bin Abdullah from The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said, "Recite the Qur'an as long as you agree about its interpretation, but if you have any difference of opinion then you should stop reciting it.

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

`Umar said, "I am afraid that after a long time has passed, people may say, "We do not find the Verses of the Rajam (stoning to death) in the Holy Book," and consequently they may go astray by leaving an obligation that Allah has revealed. Lo! I confirm that the penalty of Rajam be inflicted on him who commits illegal sexual intercourse, if he is already married and the crime is proved by witnesses or pregnancy or confession."

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

Umar said: And that among what Allah revealed, was the Verse of the Rajam (the stoning of married person (male & female) who commits illegal sexual intercourse, and we did recite this Verse and understood and memorized it. Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.) did carry out the punishment of stoning and so did we after him. I am afraid that after a long time has passed, somebody will say, 'By Allah, we do not find the Verse of the Rajam in Allah's Book,' and thus they will go astray by leaving an obligation which Allah has revealed. And the punishment of the Rajam is to be inflicted to any married person (male & female), who commits illegal sexual intercourse, if the required evidence is available or there is conception or confession. And then we used to recite among the Verses in Allah's Book: 'O people! Do not claim to be the offspring of other than your fathers, as it is disbelief (unthankfulness) on your part that you claim to be the offspring of other than your real father.

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:

I used to teach Qur'an to 'Abdur-Rahman bin Auf. When Umar performed his last Hajj, 'Abdur-Rahman said (to me) at Mina, "Would that you had seen Chief of the believers today! A man came to him and said, "So-and-so has said, "If Chief of the Believers died, we will give the oath of allegiance to such-and-such person,' 'Umar said, 'I will get up tonight and warn those who want to usurp the people's rights.' I said, 'Do not do so, for the season (of Hajj) gathers the riffraff mob who will form the majority of your audience, and I am afraid that they will not understand (the meaning of) your saying properly and may spread (an incorrect statement) everywhere. You should wait till we reach Medina, the place of migration and the place of the Sunna (the Prophet's Traditions). There you will meet the companions of Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.) from the Muhajirin and the Ansar who will understand your statement and place it in its proper position' 'Umar said, 'By Allah, I shall do so the first time I stand (to address the people) in Medina.' When we reached Medina, 'Umar (in a Friday Khutba-sermon) said, "No doubt, Allah sent Muhammad with the Truth and revealed to him the Book (Quran), and among what was revealed, was the Verse of Ar-Rajm (stoning adulterers to death).'"

Narrated to us: Yahya bin Bukair Narrated to us: al-Layth from Aqeel fom ibn Shahab, Narrated to me: Urwah that al-Masoor ibn Mukharramah and Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Qari narrated that both of them heard Umar ibn Khattab saying, I heard Hisham bin Hakim reciting Surat-al-Furqan during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.), I listened to his recitation and noticed that he was reciting in a way that Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.) had not taught me. I was about to jump over him while He was still in prayer, but I waited patiently and when he finished his prayer, I put my sheet round his neck and said, "Who has taught you this Sura which I have heard you reciting?" Hisham said, "Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.) taught it to me." I said, "You are telling a lie, for he (s) taught it to me in a way different from the way you have recited it!" Then I started leading (dragged) him to Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.) and said (to the Prophet), " I have heard this man reciting Surat-al- Furqan in a way that you have not taught me." The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said: "(O `Umar) release him! Recite, O Hisham." Hisham recited in the way I heard him reciting. Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.) said, "It was revealed like this." Then Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.) said, "Recite, O `Umar!" I recited in the way he had taught me, whereupon he said, "It was revealed like this," and added, "The Qur'an has been revealed to be recited in seven different ways, so recite of it whichever is easy for you ."