“If the houses of this world were among you, then what do you think of the one who acted upon this?” (1)

1454 — Muslim ibn Ibrahim narrated to us, Hisham and Hammam narrated to us, from Qatadah, from Zurarah ibn Awfa, from Sa‘d ibn Hisham, from ‘A’ishah, from the Prophet ﷺ, who said: “The one who recites the Qur’an and is skilled therein will be with the noble, righteous scribe-angels (al-safarah al-kiram al-bararah), and the one who recites it and finds it difficult, he will have two rewards.” (2)

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(1) Its chain is weak, due to the weakness of Zaban ibn Fa’idah and Sahl ibn Mu‘adh. Ibn Wahb: he is ‘Abdullah, and Mu‘adh: he is Ibn Anas al-Juhani.
It was also narrated by Abu Ya‘la (1493), al-Hakim in *al-Mustadrak* 1/567, al-Bayhaqi in *Shu‘ab al-Iman* (1948), and Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr in *al-Tamhid* 14/135, via multiple routes from Ibn Wahb, with this chain.
It was also narrated by Ahmad in his *Musnad* (15645), and al-Tabarani in *al-Kabir* 20/(445), via two routes from Zaban ibn Fa’id, with it.
On this topic, there is also a narration from ‘Abdullah ibn Buraydah, from his father, recorded by al-Hakim 1/568, and its chain is weak due to Bashir ibn al-Muhajir, who, although weak, his hadith is written for consideration and supporting evidence.

(2) Its chain is authentic. Hisham: he is Ibn Abi ‘Abdullah al-Dastuwa’i, and Hammam: he is Ibn Yahya al-‘Awadhi, and Qatadah: he is Ibn Di‘amah al-Sadusi.
It was also narrated by al-Bukhari (4937), Muslim (798), Ibn Majah (3779), al-Tirmidhi (3128), and al-Nasa’i in *al-Kubra* (7991), (7992), and (7993), via multiple routes from Qatadah, with this chain.
It is also in *Musnad Ahmad* (24211) and *Sahih Ibn Hibban* (767).
Al-Nawawi said: “Al-safarah” is the plural of “safir,” like “katib” and “katabah”; and “al-safir” is the messenger, and “al-safarah” are the messengers, because they convey to people the messages of Allah. It is also said: “al-safarah” are the scribes, and “al-bararah” are the obedient, from “al-birr,” which is obedience. “Al-mahir” is the skilled one, perfect in memorization, who does not hesitate nor find recitation difficult due to the excellence of his memorization and mastery. =