And Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah narrated to us, Ghundar narrated to us, from Shu'bah. And it was also narrated to us by Ibn al-Muthanna and Ibn Bashshar—Ibn al-Muthanna said: Muhammad ibn Ja'far narrated to us, Shu'bah narrated to us, from al-Hakam, from Mujahid, from Ibn Abi Layla, from Ubayy ibn Ka'b, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was at the watering place of Banu Ghifar. He said: Gabriel, peace be upon him, came to him and said: "Indeed, Allah commands you to have your ummah recite the Qur'an in one harf." He said: "I ask Allah for His pardon and forgiveness, and indeed my ummah is not capable of that." Then he came to him a second time and said: "Indeed, Allah commands you to have your ummah recite the Qur'an in two ahruf." He said: "I ask Allah for His pardon and forgiveness, and indeed my ummah is not capable of that." Then he came to him a third time and said: "Indeed, Allah commands you to have your ummah recite the Qur'an in three ahruf." He said: "I ask Allah for His pardon and forgiveness, and indeed my ummah is not capable of that." Then he came to him a fourth time and said: "Indeed, Allah commands you to have your ummah recite the Qur'an in seven ahruf, and whichever harf they recite upon, they have been correct."