The companions of Abdullah (bin Mas'ud) came to Abu Darda', (and before they arrived at his home), he looked for them and found them. Then he asked them,: Who among you can recite (Qur'an) as Abdullah recites it?'' They replied, ''All of us.'' He asked, ''Who among you knows it by heart?'' They pointed at Alqama. Then he asked Alqama. ''How did you hear Abdullah bin Mas'ud reciting Surat Al-Lail (The Night)?'' Alqama recited: By the male and the female.' Abu Ad-Darda said, ''I testify that I heard me Prophet reciting it likewise, but these people want me to recite it:– And by Him Who created male and female.' but by Allah, I will not follow them.''

I went to Sham and was offering a two-Rak'at prayer; I said, ''O Allah! Bless me with a (pious) companion.'' Then I saw an old man coming towards me, and when he came near I said, (to myself), ''I hope Allah has given me my request.'' The man asked (me), ''Where are you from?'' I replied, ''I am from the people of Kufa.'' He said, ''Weren't there amongst you the Carrier of the (Prophet's) shoes, Siwak and the ablution water container? Weren't there amongst you the man who was given Allah's Refuge from the Satan? And weren't there amongst you the man who used to keep the (Prophet's) secrets which nobody else knew? How did Ibn Um Abd (i.e. Abdullah bin Mas'ud) use to recite Surat-al-lail (the Night:92)?'' I recited:– ''By the Night as it envelops By the Day as it appears in brightness. And by male and female.'' (92.1-3) On that, Abu Darda said, ''By Allah, the Prophet made me read the Verse in this way after listening to him, but these people (of Sham) tried their best to let me say something different.''