so doing]. However, do not wind up a mention of mercy with that of punishment, nor a mention of punishment with that of mercy."

٩. Al-Tabari also relates on the authority ofUbayd b. Asbat, whose chain of trans‌
mission goes back to Abu Salma, and from him to Abu Hurayra, who said:

The Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his progeny) said, "The Quran was revealed in seven /:zarfs [that indicate God is] The All-Knowing, the All-Wise, the All‌ Forgiving, the All-Merciful."

Al-Tabari relates a similar tradition on the authority of Abu Kurayb, whose chain of transmission goes back to Abu Salma, and from him to Abu Hurayra.

١٠. Al-Tabari [relates] from SaId b. Yai:Jya, with his chain of transmission going back to A im,

We were debating about a sura of the Quran, whether it had thirty-five or thirty-six verses. Consequently, we went to the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his progeny), and found him engaged in conversation with Ali. We told him that we had disputed the reading. The Prophets face became red [with anger] and he said, "Surely, those before you perished only because of their disagreement." Then he whispered something to Ali, who told us: "The Messenger of God commands you to recite the way you were taught."

١١. Al-Ququbi relates the following tradition on the authority of Abu Dawud, who reported from Ubayy, who had said:

The Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: "٠, Ubayy, I used to recite the Quran. I was asked whether [to recite it] in one f:zaif or two. The angel who was with me said, Say, in two. Then I was asked, In two or three f:zarfs? The angel who was with me said, Say, in three. [This went on] until the number reached seven. Then he said, Any of these [seven f:zaifs] is comprehensive and sufficient. Thus, you can say, [God is] the All-Hearing, Knowing, Mighty, and Wise, as long as you do not confuse a verse about punishment with one about mercy, and vice versa." ١١

These are the most important traditions on this subject, all of them [being] related through Sunni channels. They contradict the sound tradition reported by Zurara on the authority of Abu Jafar [the Imam Mui:Jammad al-Baqir] (peace be upon him). He said:

The Quran is one, revealed by the One. However, the differences are caused by the transmitters [of the readings]. ١٢

Al-Fucjayl b. Yasar said to Abu AbdAllah [the Imam Jafar al-Sadiq] (peace be upon him), "People are saying that the Quran was revealed in seven }Jarfs." The Imam said: "They lie, those enemies of God. Undoubtedly, it was revealed in one /:larjfrom the One Being."١٣
We already stated briefly that the points of reference in matters of religion, after the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny), are the Book of God and the Fam‌ ily of the Prophet (ahl al-bayt), from whom God removed all impurities, [thereby] purifying them thoroughly, as they ought to be. A detailed treatment of this subject shall follow after this, God willing. There is no value to the traditions when these