Setting
While Usayd ibn Hudayr was reciting in his dates storehouse at night, his horse got startled and began to jump. He again recited, and the horse got startled and began to jump again. He again recited, and it got startled and began to jump as before. Usayd said: I was afraid that the horse may trample…
While Usayd ibn Hudayr was reciting in his dates storehouse at night, his horse got startled and began to jump. He again recited, and the horse got startled and began to jump again. He again recited, and it got startled and began to jump as before. Usayd said: I was afraid that the horse may trample (my son) Yahya. I stood near it and saw something like a canopy over my head, with what looked like lamps in it, rising up in the sky until I could no longer see it
Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: While Usayd ibn Hudayr was reciting in his dates storehouse at night, his horse got startled and began to jump. He again recited, and the horse got startled and began to jump again. He again recited, and it got startled and began to jump as before. Usayd said: "I was afraid that the horse may trample (my son) Yahya. I stood near it and saw something like a canopy over my head, with what looked like lamps in it, rising up in the sky until I could no longer see it. The next morning, I went to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I was reciting in my dates storage place late last night, and the horse began to get startled and jump.’ The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Recite, O Ibn Hudayr.’ I said: ‘I have recited, but the horse got startled and jumped again.’ Then the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Recite, O Ibn Hudayr.’ I said: ‘I have recited, but the horse got startled and jumped again.’ The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Recite, O Ibn Hudayr.’ Ibn Hudayr explained: ‘(O Messenger of Allah) I ended (the recitation) because Yahya was near (the horse), and I was afraid it might trample him. Then I saw something like a canopy with what looked like lamps in it rise up in the sky until I could no longer see it.’ Upon this, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Those were angels who were listening to your recitation, and if you had continued, the people would have seen them in the morning, and they would not have concealed themselves from the people.'"
Explanation
One night, Usayd ibn Hudayr (may Allah be pleased with him) was reciting the Qur’an in the place where he stores dates, with his horse tied next to him and his son, Yahya, sleeping near him. He noticed that when he started reciting, the horse got startled and moved, and when he stopped the recitation, the horse also stopped moving. He recited for a second time, and the horse leaped as before. He recited once more, and the horse again did the same. Usayd feared that the horse might trample his son Yahya. So he stopped the recitation and stood near the horse to find out the cause of its erratic movement. Over his head, he saw something like a canopy with what looked like lamps in it, and it was rising up in the sky until it went so far that he could no longer see it. In the morning, Usayd (may Allah be pleased with him) went to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and told him about the incident. Upon hearing that, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) reassured him, informed him of his great status, and appeased him by repeating the following statement thrice: "Recite, O Ibn Hudayr." This statement means: repeat the recitation that caused this amazing event; and it was repeated thrice by the Prophet in order to emphasize its meaning. Actually, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) urged Usayd (may Allah be pleased with him) to never stop his recitation of the Qur’an in the future, even if this happened again, as it had a great virtue. Then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) told him that those were actually angels who had been listening to his recitation; and had he continued, the people would have seen them in the morning, and the angels would not have concealed themselves from them.