Mishkat al-Masabih The Excellent Qualities of the Qur'an

Mishkat al-Masabih 2188

باب آداب التلاوة ودروس القرآن - الفصل الأول

Authentic graded by Al-Albani Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Mishkat al-Masabih 2188

وَعَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم:

" بئس مالأحدهم أَنْ يَقُولَ: نَسِيتُ آيَةَ كَيْتَ وَكَيْتَ بَلْ نُسِّيَ وَاسْتَذْكِرُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ أَشَدُّ تَفَصِّيًا مِنْ صُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ مِنَ النَّعَمِ "

Ibn Mas’ūd reported God’s messenger as saying, “It is wrong for one to say that he has forgotten such and such a verse, for he has been made to forget. Study the Qur’ān, for it is more apt to escape from men’s minds than animals.” (Bukhārī and Muslim, Muslim adding "which are tethered”.)

Reported by Al-Bukhari (No. 5032, 5039), Muslim (No. 790a, 790b, 790c), At-Tirmidhi (No. 2942), An-Nasa’i (No. 943), Ahmad (No. 3764, 3816, 3876, 3962, 4062, 4184) and Ad-Darimi (No. 2627, 3213). Cited in Mishkat al-Masabih (No. 2188).

An explanation exists for another version of this hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 5032

Scholars’ grades

Scholar	Grade	Applies to	Work
Al-Albanid. 1420 AH	Authenticمُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ	The hadith	تحقيق مشكاة المصابيح

Other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 5032

How terrible it is for someone to say: I have forgotten such-and-such verse of the Qur'an, for indeed, he has been caused to forget it. So, you must keep on memorizing the Qur'an for it is more likely to escape from the hearts of men faster than camels

‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "How terrible it is for someone to say: ‘I have forgotten such-and-such verse of the Qur’an', for indeed, he has been caused to forget it. So, you must keep on…

نَسِيتُ آيَةَ كَيْتَ وَكَيْتَ بَلْ نُسِّيَ، وَاسْتَذْكِرُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ أَشَدُّ تَفَصِّيًا مِنْ صُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ مِنَ النَّعَمِ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd Explained

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 5039

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Why does anyone of the people say, 'I have forgotten such-and-such Verses (of the Qur'an)?' He, in fact, is caused (by Allah) to forget."

نَسِيتُ آيَةَ كَيْتَ وَكَيْتَ‏.‏ بَلْ هُوَ نُسِّيَ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 790a

What a wretched person is he amongst them who says: I have forgotten such and such a verse. (He should instead of using this expression say): I have been made to forget it. Try to remember the Qur'an for it is more apt to escape from men's minds than a hobbled camel.

بِئْسَمَا لأَحَدِهِمْ يَقُولُ نَسِيتُ آيَةَ كَيْتَ وَكَيْتَ بَلْ هُوَ نُسِّيَ اسْتَذْكِرُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَلَهُوَ أَشَدُّ تَفَصِّيًا مِنْ صُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ مِنَ النَّعَمِ بِعُقُلِهَا ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 790b

Keep refreshing your knowledge of the sacred books (or always renew your knowledge of these sacred books) and sometimes he would mention the Qur'an for it is more apt to escape from men's minds than animals which are hobbled, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: None of you should say: I forgot…

لاَ يَقُلْ أَحَدُكُمْ نَسِيتُ آيَةَ كَيْتَ وَكَيْتَ بَلْ هُوَ نُسِّيَ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 790c

Wretched is the man who says: I forgot such and such a sura, or I forget such and such a verse, but he has been made to forget.

بِئْسَمَا لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَقُولَ نَسِيتُ سُورَةَ كَيْتَ وَكَيْتَ أَوْ نَسِيتُ آيَةَ كَيْتَ وَكَيْتَ بَلْ هُوَ نُسِّيَ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2942

that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "How horrible it is for one of them - or - one of you to say: "I have forgotten such and such Ayah,' rather he was made to forget. So be mindful of the Qur'an, for - by the One in Whose Hand is my soul - it escapes from men's hearts faster than a camel from its fetter."

"‏ بِئْسَمَا لأَحَدِهِمْ أَوْ لأَحَدِكُمْ أَنْ يَقُولَ نَسِيتُ آيَةَ كَيْتَ وَكَيْتَ بَلْ هُوَ نُسِّيَ فَاسْتَذْكِرُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَهُوَ أَشَدُّ تَفَصِّيًا مِنْ صُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ مِنَ…

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd

See all 15 versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 943

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "It is not right for any one of you to say: 'I have forgotten such and such a verse.' Rather, he has been caused to forget. Study the Qur'an, for it escapes from the heart of man faster than a camel escapes from its fetter. "

"‏ بِئْسَمَا لأَحَدِهِمْ أَنْ يَقُولَ نَسِيتُ آيَةَ كَيْتَ وَكَيْتَ بَلْ هُوَ نُسِّيَ اسْتَذْكِرُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ أَسْرَعُ تَفَصِّيًا مِنْ صُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ مِنَ النَّعَمِ مِنْ عُقُلِهِ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Musnad Ahmad 3764