Sayyiduna Ubayy bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Sayyiduna Jibreel (peace be upon him) came to the service of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was in the area of Idhah Banu Ghifar (this is a place near Makkah Mukarramah). Sayyiduna Jibreel (peace be upon him) said: O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)! Indeed, Allah Almighty has commanded you to teach your Ummah the recitation of the Qur'an according to one mode. So the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I ask Allah Almighty for His pardon and His forgiveness (the narrator is in doubt, perhaps these are the words:) His help and His pardon. Then ask Allah for ease for these people, because they will not be able to bear it. Jibreel went back, then he returned and said: Indeed, Allah Almighty has commanded you to teach your Ummah the recitation of the Qur'an according to two modes. So the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I ask Allah Almighty for His pardon and His forgiveness (the narrator is in doubt, perhaps these are the words:) His help and His pardon. Then request ease for these people, because they will not be able to bear it. Jibreel went back, then he returned and said: Indeed, Allah Almighty has commanded you to teach your Ummah to recite this Qur'an in three modes. So the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I ask Allah Almighty for His pardon and His forgiveness (the narrator is in doubt, perhaps these are the words:) His help and His pardon. Then request ease for them, because they will not be able to bear it. Jibreel went back, then he returned and said: Indeed, Allah Almighty has commanded you that you may recite this Qur'an in seven modes. Whoever recites in any one of them, he will have recited correctly.