Ubayy reported, "I was in the mosque when a man entered and began to pray. He recited in a manner I found objectionable. Then another man entered and recited differently from his companion. When we finished our prayer, we all went together to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.I said, 'This man recited in a manner I found objectionable, and another man entered and recited differently from his companion.'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed them both to recite, and the Prophet ﷺ approved of both their recitations. Such doubt fell into my heart that I had not experienced even in the days of ignorance. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw what had overcome me, he struck me on my chest, and I broke out in a sweat, as though I were looking at Allah in terror.He said to me, 'Ubayy, a message was sent to me to recite the Quran in one mode. I responded asking that it be made easier for my community. The message was sent back a second time, telling me to recite it in two modes. I again responded asking that it be made easier for my community. The message was sent back a third time, telling me to recite it in seven modes, and for each response I gave, I would have a request granted.'I said, 'O Allah, forgive my community. O Allah, forgive my community.' And I deferred the third request for the Day when all of creation, even Ibrahim ﷺ, will turn to me in need."
كنت في المسجد، فدخل رجل يصلي. فقرأ قراءة أنكرتها عليه ثم دخل آخر، فقرأ قراءة سوى قراءة صاحبه. فلما قضينا الصلاة دخلنا جميعا على رسول الله ﷺ. فقلت: إن هذا قرأ قراءة أنكرتها عليه ودخل آخر فقرأ سوى قراءة صاحبه، فأمر هما رسول الله ﷺ فقرا، فحسن النبي ﷺ شأنهما فسقط في نفسي من التكذيب ولا إذ كنت في الجاهلية. فلما رأى رسول الله ﷺ ما قد غشيني ضرب في صدري ففضت عرقا، وكأنما أنظر إلى الله عز وجل فرقا فقال لي: يا أبي، أرسل إلي أن اقرا القرآن على حرف. فرددت إليه أن هون على أمتي. فرد إلي الثانية: اقرأه على حرفين. فرددت إليه: أن هون على أمتي. فرد إلي الثالثة: اقرأه على سبعة أحرف، فلك بكل ردة رددتكها مسألة تسألنيها. فقلت: اللهم اغفر لأمتي. اللهم اغفر لأمتي. وأخرت الثالثة ليوم يرغب إلي الخلق كلهم حتى إبراهيم ﷺ.
Muslim narrated it in "The Prayer of Travelers" (820), from Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Numayr, who said, my father narrated to us, Ismail bin Abu Khalid narrated to us, from Abdullah bin Isa bin Abdul-Rahman bin Abu Layla, from his grandfather, from Ubayy bin Kaab, and he mentioned the hadith.