Allah gave him glad tidings of a clear sign, which is that Gabriel would recite to him what he recites from the revelation while he is unlettered, unable to write or read. He would memorize it and not forget it except what Allah wills. Then it would be taken from his memory by lifting its ruling and recitation, as His saying: 'Or We cause it to be forgotten.' It is said that he would hasten in reading when Gabriel taught him, so it was said: 'Do not hasten, for Gabriel is commanded to recite it to you in a repeated manner until you memorize it, then you will not forget it except what Allah wills.' Then you will remember it after forgetting. Or it was said: 'Except what Allah wills,' meaning: the few and rare instances, as it was narrated that he omitted a verse in his recitation during prayer. Abu thought it was abrogated, so he asked him, and he said: 'I forgot it.' [This was narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah, Al-Nasa'i, and Al-Bukhari in the section on recitation. And Al-Tabari narrated from the report of Zur from Sa'id ibn Abdur Rahman ibn Abza from his father who said: The Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, prayed Fajr and recited a verse, then he mentioned the hadith.] Or it was said: 'Except what Allah wills,' the aim is to negate forgetfulness altogether, as a man says to his companion: 'You are my partner in what I own except what Allah wills,' and he does not intend to exclude anything, and this is from the usage of the few in the meaning of negation. It is said that His saying: 'So do not forget' is a prohibition, and the 'alif' is added for separation, as in His saying: 'The way.' This means: 'So do not neglect its recitation and repetition so that you forget it, except what Allah wills to make you forget by lifting its recitation for a benefit.' Indeed, He knows the loud recitation, meaning that you raise your voice in recitation with the recitation of Gabriel, fearing to slip away, and Allah knows your loudness with him and what is in your soul that urges you to raise your voice, so do not do it, for I will suffice you from what you fear. Or He knows what you conceal and what you disclose of your sayings and actions, and what is apparent and hidden of your conditions, and what is beneficial for you in your religion and harmful in it, so He makes forgotten from the revelation what He wills, and leaves preserved what He wills.