Sahih Muslim Book - 12, Hadith - 2419

حَدَّثَنِى سُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِىُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ عَنْ دَاوُدَ عَنْ أَبِى حَرْبِ بْنِ أَبِى الأَسْوَدِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ بَعَثَ أَبُو مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِىُّ إِلَى قُرَّاءِ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ ثَلاَثُمِائَةِ رَجُلٍ قَدْ قَرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَقَالَ أَنْتُمْ خِيَارُ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ وَقُرَّاؤُهُمْ فَاتْلُوهُ وَلاَ يَطُولَنَّ عَلَيْكُمُ الأَمَدُ فَتَقْسُوَ قُلُوبُكُمْ كَمَا قَسَتْ قُلُوبُ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ وَإِنَّا كُنَّا نَقْرَأُ سُورَةً كُنَّا نُشَبِّهُهَا فِى الطُّولِ وَالشِّدَّةِ بِبَرَاءَةَ فَأُنْسِيتُهَا غَيْرَ أَنِّى قَدْ حَفِظْتُ مِنْهَا لَوْ كَانَ لاِبْنِ آدَمَ وَادِيَانِ مِنْ مَالٍ لاَبْتَغَى وَادِيًا ثَالِثًا وَلاَ يَمْلأُ جَوْفَ ابْنِ آدَمَ إِلاَّ التُّرَابُ. وَكُنَّا نَقْرَأُ سُورَةً كُنَّا نُشَبِّهُهَا بِإِحْدَى الْمُسَبِّحَاتِ فَأُنْسِيتُهَا غَيْرَ أَنِّى حَفِظْتُ مِنْهَا (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لاَ تَفْعَلُونَ) فَتُكْتَبُ شَهَادَةً فِى أَعْنَاقِكُمْ فَتُسْأَلُونَ عَنْهَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

It was narrated from Abu Harb bin Abi Al-Aswad that his father said: ‘Abu Musa Al-Ashari was sent to the reciters of the people of Al-Basrah, and three hundred men who had memorized the Quran entered upon him. He said: ‘You are the best of the people of Al-Basrah and their reciters, so recite it, but do not let a long life cause your hearts to become hardened as did the hearts of those who came before you. We used to recite a Surah which we likened in length and power to Surah Baaah (At-Tawbah), then I was caused to forget it, but I remember of it (the words): “If the son of Adam had two valleys of wealth he would desire a third, but nothing will fill the belly of Adam but dust.” And we used to recite a Surah which we likened to one of the Musabbihat, but I was caused to forget it, but I remember from it the words: ‘O You who believe!, why do you say that what you do not do? ’It will be written as a testimony on your necks, and you will be questioned about it on the Day of Resurrection. ’’