I have a few questions, baarakallaahu feekum: a) The Prophet said [translation of meaning]: "Whomsoever would like to..

Assalaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatoh

First of all, jazaakumullaahu khairal jazaa' for your informative site maa shaa' Allah.I have a few questions, baarakallaahu feekum:

a)   The Prophet  said [translation of meaning]:  "Whomsoever would like to recite the Qur'aan 'fresh' as it was revealed, then let him recite it upon the recitation of the son of Umm Abd [i.e. Abdullaah bin Mas'ood – radiyallaahu ahnu]."  If one wishes to follow this hadeeth, then who - today, if any - recites like the Sahaabiyy Abdullaah 'ibn Mas'ood radiyallaahu 'anhu?  Is there any "chain" that is linked directly to him from which one can learn?  e.g. al-Imaam Aasim taught Shu'bah what he learned from a Taabi'ee who learned the Qur'aan from Ibn Mas'ood radiyallaahu anh - does that necessarily mean that learning the recitation of Shu'bah from Aasim is one that will 'fulfill' what's in the hadeeth - so to say?

b)  About the rules of al-isti'aathah, does one have to say it before reciting some aayaat within a lecture/lesson or a khutbah?  If one has to, is it recited out loud or silently, and does one need to repeat it when new aayaat are encountered? 

Jazaakumullaahu khairan again.

Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Jazakum Allahu khairan and baarak Allahu feekum.

a)  The most prominent way of recitation used today by the vast majority of the Muslims in the world is that of Hafs ‘an ‘Aasim.  Imam Hafs read to Imam ‘Aasim, and Imam ‘Aasim read to three of the taabi’een,  Abu Abdurrahmaan As-Sulaymiyy, Zirr bin Hubaysh, and Sa’d bin Iyaas, may Allah be pleased with them all.  All three of these early scholars of the Qu’ran read to Abudllah bin Mas’ood as well as other companions of the Prophet  .  This chain is in place and still being passed down this very day.   If one has a strong mutawaatir sanad of an authentic reading transmitted by Ibn Mas’ood, may Allah be please with him, one would hope that they would receive the blessing of having this hadeeth apply to them.  

b)  Because this question requires a ruling, we asked him eminence Sheikh Ayman Swayd, who responded that there is no specific ruling requiring   when quoting an aayah or part of an aayah in a khutbah or lecture, so who wishes can make  when quoting the aayaaat, and who wishes not to, can refrain from it.  And Allah knows best.

May Allah reward you. Wa assalaam alaikum.