tulipflower777
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The virtues in the recitation of certain surahs and ayats
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Reciting the Qur’an:
Tameem ad-Dari (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Whoever recites (in prayer) with a hundred verses in a night, it will be written for him as devout obedience to Allah for the night.”
Abdullah bin Mas’ud (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Whoever recites one letter from the Book of Allah then he will receive a good reward, and every good deed is rewarded with ten times its like. I do not say that Alif Laam Meem is one word but Alif is one word, Laam is one word and Meem is one word.”
Ibn Imran (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Whoever recites the Qur’an then let him ask from Allah by it, for there will come a people who recite the Qur’an and will the ask from people by it.”
A’isha (radiAllahu anha) that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Reciting the Qur’an during prayer is more excellent than reciting it at other times, and reciting the Qur’an at a time other than during prayer is more excellent than extolling Allah and declaring His greatness. Extolling Allah is more excellent than sadaqah, sadaqah is more excellent than fasting, and fasting is a protection from Hell.
[Bayhaqi Shu’ab al-Iman, Mishkat al-Masabih #2166]
Saying ‘Bismillah’
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said that it is one of the names of Allah the distance between it and Allah’s greatest name, is but like the distance between the black and white of the eye seen from a close angle.
[Hakim & Dhahabi in The Book of Excellence of the Qur’an 1/552]
Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) said, concerning ‘Bismillah’, Allah evolved it for you, and never had He evolved it unto any community before you.
[Hakim in Al-Mustadrak & Dhahabi in ‘The Book of Excellence of the Quran 1/551]
Surah al Fatihah (1)
A man came to the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), embraced Islam then returned to his people. On his way there were a group of men who had with them a mad man in iron manacles. The group said, that they heard that the travelers friend (i.e. Prophet Muhammad) had something good with him and so he exorcised the mad man with Surah al Fatiha, and he was cured. As reward they gave the traveler 100 sheep. He then returned to the Prophet and narrated the story. The Prophet asked if he did anything other than recite al-Fatiha, he said no. So the Prophet said that while these people make their livelihoods out of false incantations (i.e. worshipping false idols) the traveler earned the 100 sheep through something lawful; so he could keep the sheep.
[Abu Dawud 3398/a]
Abu Sa’id Ar-Rafi’ bin Al-Mu`alla (radiAllahu anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Shall I teach you the greatest Surah in the Qur’an before you leave the mosque?” Then he (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), took me by the hand, and when we were about to step out, I reminded him of his promise to teach me the greatest Surah in the Qur’an. He (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “It is `Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil Alamin (i.e., Surat Al-Fatihah) which is As-Sab` Al-Mathani (i.e., the seven oft-repeated Ayat) and the Great Qur’an which is given to me.”
[Sahih Al-Bukhari]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that when Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) asked Ubayy ibn Ka’ab (radiAllahu anhu), “Do you want me to teach you a Surah the like of which has not been revealed in the Torah, the Injeel, the Zabur, nor the Qur’an?”, and also asked what he recited in his prayers. He replied Umm-ul Qur’an (Surah Fatihah) the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) proclaimed, ‘By Him in whose dominion my soul is, nothing like it has been revealed in the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, or the Qur’an and it is seven of the oft-repeated verses in the Mighty Qur’an which I have been given’
[at-Tirmidhi, Al-Hakim says that this hadith is Sahih on the conditions established by Imam Muslim (Tafseer Mazhari 1:30)]
Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘Rejoice in the two lights brought to you which have not been brought to any prophet before you’: al-Fatihah and the last verses of Surah al-Baqarah (2: 2854), (said an angel to the Prophet, blessings and peace be on him)
[Muslim].
Ambari in his ‘Kitabur-Rad’ through his own chain of narrators has mentioned from Mujahid ibn Jabr (rahmatullahi alaih) that Iblees the accursed of Allah Ta’ala lamented on four occasions: first when he was cursed; secondly when he was cast out of Heaven to the Earth; thirdly when Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was given the Prophethood; fourthly when Surah Fatihah was revealed and it was revealed in Madinah.
Once the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was traveling when he disembarked and began walking alongside a companion. He asked him, ‘Shouldn’t I tell you the best part of the Qur’an?’ then he recited ‘Alhamdu lilahi rabil alameen’ (Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds).
[Hakim 1/560; Dhahabi]
Abu Saeed al-Khudr’i narrates that while on a journey we halted at a place. A girl came to us and said: “The chief of this tribe has been stung by a scorpion and our men are not present, is there anybody amongst you who can recite something upon him to treat him?” Then, one of our men went along with her although we did not think that he knew any such treatment. However, our friend went to the chief and recited something upon him and the chief was cured. Thereupon, the chief gave him thirty sheep and gave us all milk to drink. When he returned, we asked our friend: “Did you know anything to recite upon him to cure him?” He said: “No, I only recited Umm al-Kitab (i.e. Surah al-Fatihah) upon him.” We said that do not do anything until we reach Madinah and ask the Prophet regarding this (practice and reward-whether the sheep were lawful or not for us). Upon reaching Madinah, we narrated this to the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), whereupon he remarked: “How did he come to know that Al-Fatihah can be used as a cure? (Rasulullah said this in astonishment) Distribute your reward amongst yourselves and allot a share for me as well.
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Ibn ‘Abbas said, “While Jibril (alayhis salam) was sitting with the Prophet, he heard a sound above him and raised his head. He said, ‘This is a door of heaven which has been opened today and which has never been opened before today. An angel descended from it.’ He said, ‘This is an angel who has descended to earth who has never descended before today.’ He gave the greeting and said, ‘Give the good news of two lights which you have been given and which no Prophet before you was given: the Fatiha of the Book and the end of Surah al-Baqarah (2). You will not recite a letter of them without being given it.’”
[Muslim, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi]
Abu Sulaiman says that once a group of Companions were in an expedition (ghazwa) when they happened to come across an epileptic person, who was unconscious. One of the Companions recited Surah Al-Fatiha and blew in his ear. The epileptic person immediately cured. When Sayyidana Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was informed of this, he said: “It (Surah Al-Fatiha) is “The Mother of the Qur’an” (Umm al-Qur’an) and is a cure for every disease.”
[This narration has been recorded by Ath-Thua’lbi from Abu Sulaiman, who narrated it from Muawiya bin Saleh (radhi Allah anhu), Tafseer Mazhari 1:31]
Sa’ib (radhi Allah anhu) bin Yazeed says that Rasulullah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) recited Surah Al-Fatihah and blew it on me. To safeguard me against calamities, Rasulullah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) recited this Surah and put his blessed saliva in my mouth.
[At-Tabraani narrated this tradition in ‘Al-Awsat’, Tafseer Mazhari 1:31]
Anas (radhi Allah anhu) said: “When you recite Surah Al-Fatihah and Surah Al-Ikhlas upon lying on your bed, you will be safeguarded and should become fearless of every thing except death.”
[Narrated by Baraa’, Tafseer Mazhari 1:31]
The Prophet said, ‘Whoever mastered the first seven (chapters or verses) from the Qur’an is a pontiff’.
[Hakim 1/564; Dhahabi]
The Prophet said, ‘The mother of the Qur’an are the seven oft repeated verses’
[Bukhari 4704]
It is narrated from Jabir (radhi Allah anhu) that Rasulullah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: “O Jabir, shall I inform you about the best Surah revealed in the Qur’an?” Jabir said: “O Messenger of Allah, please inform me.” Rasulullah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: “It is Fatiha tul Kitab.” Jabir adds: “And I think that Rasulullah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said that Al-Fatiha is a cure for every diseases.” Jabir is also reported to have said: “Fatiha tul Kitab is a medicine for every disease except death.”
[Recorded by Al-Khal’i in his Fawa’id, Tafseer Mazhari 1:30]
The Prophet said, ‘In the Fatiha of the Qur’an, there is a cure for all maladies(illnesses)’
[Darimi 3236, also narrated by Ad-Darmi in his Al-Masnad and Al-Bayhaqi in Shu’bul Imaan, Tafseer Mazhari 1:30]
Surah Al-Fatihah is equivalent to two thirds of the Qur’an
[Al-Bayhaqi and Al-Haakim, Tafseer Mazhari 1:31]
Surah al Baqarah (2)
The Prophet said, ‘The Qur’an and those who committed themselves to it will be presented on the Day of judgement, preceded by Surah al-Baqarah and Surah al Imran’.
[Muslim 805]
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Learn how to recite Surah al-Baqarah for there is a blessing in it, and there is sorrow for abandoning it, and it is unbearable for the idle’ and that ‘al Baqarah and al Imran are like two flowers which will shade their learner on the day of Judgement, as if there were two large clouds or two flocks of birds’.
[Ahmad 21872 & Buraida al-Aslami Muslim 1/553]
The Prophet said, ‘Recite Surah al Baqarah in your dwellings and do not keep them as tombs. He also said that whoever recited Surah al Baqarah at night would be crowned with a crown of paradise.’
[Baihaqi in Al-Shuaib]
Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Do not turn your houses into graves. Shaitan is barred from any house in which Surat al-Baqarah (2) is recited.” [Muslim 780, 4: 1707]
The Prophet was asked, ‘Which part of the Qur’an is the best?’. He replied, ‘The Surah in which the cow is mentioned’. He was then asked ‘Which part of that Surah?’. He replied, ‘The verse of the Throne and the last pasrt of Surah al Baqarah came down from under the Throne’
[Darimi 3248]
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Al Baqarah is the top (or pinnacle) of the Qur’an. Eighty angels came down with each one of it’s verses and extracted the verse of the throne from under the throne, and it was joined to the other verses’
[Ahmad 5/26]
Abu Ummamah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever recites Ayat Al-Kursi immediately after each prescribed Prayer, there will be nothing standing between him and his entering Paradise except death.”
[an-Nasa’i, Ibn Hibban, Darimi 3249/A]
Imam Ahmad (rahimullah) said: It was narrated that Asma’ bint Yazid ibn As-Sakan (radiAllahu anha) said, I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say about these two verses— “Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists…” [Al-Baraqah, 2: 255] and “Alif. Laam. Meem. Allah! None has the right to be worshiped but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists” [’Al ‘Imran, 3: 1-2]— that they contain the greatest name of Allah.
[abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir]
Ubayy ibn Ka’b reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “O Abu’l-Mundhir! Do you know which ayat in the Book of Allah is greatest you have?’ I said, ‘Allah. there is no god but Him, the Living, the Self-Sustaining.’ (W2:253; H2:256) He struck me on the chest and said, ‘May knowledge delight you, Abu’l-Mundhir!’”
[Muslim, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi]
Imam Ahmad narrated: Muhammad ibn Ja’far told us, Uthman ibn Itab told us, he said: I heard Abu As-Sulayl saying, A man from among the Companions of the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) addressed the people until a large number had gathered around him, then he climbed onto the roof of a house and addressed the people, saying: “The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Which verse of the Qur’an is the greatest?’ A man said, ‘Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists…’ [Al-Baqarah, 2: 255].’ He said: He put his hand between my shoulders and I felt coolness in the center of my chest, [or he said] he put his hand on the center of my chest and I felt coolness between my shoulders, and he said, ‘Congratulations on your knowledge, Abul-Mundhir.’”
Another version of the same hadith.
[Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir]
It was reported from the Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) that “It is the greatest verse in the Book of Allah.” (referring to Ayat al-Kursi). It was narrated from Ubayy ibn Ka’b (radiAllahu anhu) that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) asked him which verse in the Book of Allah was the greatest. He said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He repeated it several times, then he said, “Ayat Al-Kursi.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Congratulations upon your knowledge, Abul-Mundhir. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, it has a tongue and two lips, and it glorifies the Sovereign (i.e., Allah) at the foot of the Throne.”
[Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir]
Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “The greatest name of Allah, which if He is called by it, He responds, is in three surahs: Al-Baqarah, ‘al ‘Imran and Ta-Ha.” Hisham ibn Ammar, the khateeb of Damascus, said: “In Al-Baqarah, it is ‘Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exist’ [Al-Baraqah, 2: 255]. In ‘al ‘Imran it is ‘Alif. Laam. Meem. Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists’ [’al ‘Imran, 3: 1-2]. And in Ta-Ha it is ‘And (all) faces shall be humbled before (Allah), the Ever- Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists’ [Ta-Ha, 20: 111].”
[narrated in a marfu’ report (one that is traced all the way back to the Prophet [salAllahu alayhi wasalam], Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir)]
The Prophet said, ‘Whoever recites 4 verses from the first part of Surah al Baqarah, the verse of the Throne, two verses after the verse of the Throne and three verses from the last part of Surah al Baqarah, Satan would never come near him or the members of his family on that day, and nothing he despises would come near him or the members of his family, and never are these verses recited over a madman without him regaining his consciousness’
[Darimi 3249/A in the Book of Excellence of the Quran; an-Nasai in the Deeds during the Day and Night; Ibn Hibban & Tabrani]
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiAllahu anhu) said, ‘Whoever recited ten verses from al-Baqarah in the night, Satan shall not have access to that house, during the night till he wakes in the morning. These are: Four from the first part of the Surah, followed by the verse of the Throne, two verses after the verse of the Throne and three from the last part of the Surah’.
[Darimi 3248/A]
Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Recite Surah al-Baqarah: for to hold on to it is a barakah (blessing), to leave it is a regret’
[Muslim]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Everything has a hump, and the hump of the Qur’an is al-Baqarah’
[at-Tirmidhi, ad-Darami]
Abu Mas’ud al-Badri (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “If anyone recites the two ayats at the end of Surat al-Baqarah (2) at night, they will be enough for him.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #530, Agreed upon]
It was narrated from Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Ka’b (radiAllahu anhu) that his father told him that he had a vessel in which he kept dates. He used to check on it and found that the number was decreasing. So he kept guard on it one night and saw a beast that looked like an adolescent boy. He said: I greeted him with salams and he returned my greeting, then I asked him, “What are you, a jinn or a human?” He said, “A jinn.” I said to him, “Show me your hand.” So he showed me his hand, and it looked like a dog’s paw with dog’s fur. I said, “Do all the jinn look like this?” He said, “I know no one among the jinn who is stronger than I.” I said, “What made you do what you did [i.e., taking the dates]?” He said, “We heard that you are a man who loves charity, and we wanted to have some of your food.” Ubayy asked him, “What will protect us from you?” He said, “This verse, Ayat Al-Kursi.” Then the next day he [Ubayy] went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and told him (about what had happened) and he said, “The evil one spoke the truth.”
[Tafsir of Imam Ibn Katheer]
Ibn ‘Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) said, “While Jibril (salayhis salam) was sitting with the Prophet, he heard a sound above him and raised his head. He said, ‘This is a door of heaven which has been opened today and which has never been opened before today. An angel descended from it.’ He said, ‘This is an angel who has descended to earth who has never descended before today.’ He gave the greeting and said, ‘Give the good news of two lights which you have been given and which no Prophet before you was given: the Fatiha of the Book and the end of Surah al-Baqarah (2). You will not recite a letter of them without being given it.’”
[Muslim, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi]
Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘Read the two radiant ones al-Baqarah and Al ‘Imran for they will come on the Day of Resurrection like two clouds, or two shades, or two flocks of birds, pleading for their companions’
[Muslim]
Al-Nawwas Ibn Sam’an (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘The Qur’an will be brought on the Day of Resurrection, along with its companions who used to act by it, at the front being Surah al-Baqarah and Al ‘Imran like two black clouds or canopies with light, or two flocks of birds pleading for their companion’
[Muslim]
Abu Huraira (radiAllahu anhu) said, “The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) put me in charge of guarding the zakat of Ramadan. Someone came and began to take handfuls of food. I grabbed him and said, ‘By Allah, I will take you to the Messenger of Allah!’ He said, ‘I am needy and have a large family and I am in dire need.’ I let him go and in the morning the Prophet said, ‘Abu Huraira, what did you do with your prisoner yesterday?’ I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, he complained of dire need and a large family, so I showed mercy to him and let him go on his way.’ He said, ‘He lied to you and he will come back.’ So, from the words of the Messenger of Allah, I knew that he would come back. Therefore, I lay in wait for him and he came and once more began to take handfuls of food. I seized him and said, ‘I will take you to the Messenger of Allah!’ He said, ‘Let me go. I am in need and have a large family. I will not come back again.’ I had mercy on him and let him go his way. In the morning the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to me, ‘Abu Huraira, what did you do with your prisoner yesterday?’ I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, he complained of dire need and a large family, so I showed mercy to him and let him go on his way.’ He said, ‘He lied to you and he will come back.’ So I lay in wait for him a third time and he came and began to take handfuls of food. I grabbed him and said, ‘I will take you to the Messenger of Allah! This is the third time. You claimed you would not come back and then you came back.’ He said, ‘Let me go. I will teach you some words which will help you with Allah.’ I said, ‘What are they?’ He said, ‘When you go to bed, recite the Throne Verse, “Allah, there is no god but Him, the Living, the Self-Sustaining…” to the end of the ayat. You will have someone guarding over you from Allah and shaitan will not come near you until morning.’ So I let him go his way. In the morning, the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said to me, ‘What did you do with your prisoner yesterday?’ I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, he claimed that he would teach me some words which would help me with Allah, so I let him go his way.’ He said, ‘What are they?’ I said, ‘He said to me, “When you go to bed, recite the Throne Verse to the end: ‘Allah, there is no god but Him, the Living, the Self-Sustaining’.” He said to me, “You will have someone guarding over you from Allah and shaitan will not come near you until morning.”‘ The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “He told you the truth even though he is a liar. Do you know whom you were speaking with on these three days, Abu Huraira?’” He said, “No.” The Prophet said, “It was Shaitan.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Surah al Imran (3)
Abdullah ibn Masud (radiAllahu anhu) said, ‘What an excellent treasure Surah al Imran is to the pauper when he recites it in prayer during the last part of the night’
[Darimi 3264/A]
The Prophet said, ‘Allah’s most Magnificent name, which when used to implore Him, He responds, is found in three Surahs. Al Baqara, Al’ Imran and Taha’
[Hakim & Ibn Majah 3856]
The Prophet said to Muadh (radiAllahu anhu), ‘Should I not teach you a supplication which, when used to implore Allah, Allah shall pay your debt, even it be as huge as Mount Uhud? He then mentioned them (i.e. Surah al Imran verse 26 & 27)’
[Tabarani in Al Saghir 1/330]
Makhul (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “If anyone recites Al ‘Imran on a Friday, the angels will invoke blessings on him till night comes.”
[Darimi transmitted it. Mishkat al-Masabih #2172]
Usman ibn Affan (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “If anyone recites the end of Surah ‘Al Imran at night, the reward for a night spent in prayer will be recorded for him.”
Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘Read the two radiant ones al-Baqarah and Al ‘Imran for they will come on the Day of Resurrection like two clouds, or two shades, or two flocks of birds, pleading for their companions’
[Muslim]
Al-Nawwas Ibn Sam’an (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘The Qur’an will be brought on the Day of Resurrection, along with its companions who used to act by it, at the front being Surah al-Baqarah and Al ‘Imran like two black clouds or canopies with light, or two flocks of birds pleading for their companion’
[Muslim]
The virtues in the recitation of certain surahs and ayats
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Reciting the Qur’an:
Tameem ad-Dari (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Whoever recites (in prayer) with a hundred verses in a night, it will be written for him as devout obedience to Allah for the night.”
Abdullah bin Mas’ud (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Whoever recites one letter from the Book of Allah then he will receive a good reward, and every good deed is rewarded with ten times its like. I do not say that Alif Laam Meem is one word but Alif is one word, Laam is one word and Meem is one word.”
Ibn Imran (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Whoever recites the Qur’an then let him ask from Allah by it, for there will come a people who recite the Qur’an and will the ask from people by it.”
A’isha (radiAllahu anha) that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Reciting the Qur’an during prayer is more excellent than reciting it at other times, and reciting the Qur’an at a time other than during prayer is more excellent than extolling Allah and declaring His greatness. Extolling Allah is more excellent than sadaqah, sadaqah is more excellent than fasting, and fasting is a protection from Hell.
[Bayhaqi Shu’ab al-Iman, Mishkat al-Masabih #2166]
Saying ‘Bismillah’
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said that it is one of the names of Allah the distance between it and Allah’s greatest name, is but like the distance between the black and white of the eye seen from a close angle.
[Hakim & Dhahabi in The Book of Excellence of the Qur’an 1/552]
Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) said, concerning ‘Bismillah’, Allah evolved it for you, and never had He evolved it unto any community before you.
[Hakim in Al-Mustadrak & Dhahabi in ‘The Book of Excellence of the Quran 1/551]
Surah al Fatihah (1)
A man came to the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), embraced Islam then returned to his people. On his way there were a group of men who had with them a mad man in iron manacles. The group said, that they heard that the travelers friend (i.e. Prophet Muhammad) had something good with him and so he exorcised the mad man with Surah al Fatiha, and he was cured. As reward they gave the traveler 100 sheep. He then returned to the Prophet and narrated the story. The Prophet asked if he did anything other than recite al-Fatiha, he said no. So the Prophet said that while these people make their livelihoods out of false incantations (i.e. worshipping false idols) the traveler earned the 100 sheep through something lawful; so he could keep the sheep.
[Abu Dawud 3398/a]
Abu Sa’id Ar-Rafi’ bin Al-Mu`alla (radiAllahu anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Shall I teach you the greatest Surah in the Qur’an before you leave the mosque?” Then he (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), took me by the hand, and when we were about to step out, I reminded him of his promise to teach me the greatest Surah in the Qur’an. He (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “It is `Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil Alamin (i.e., Surat Al-Fatihah) which is As-Sab` Al-Mathani (i.e., the seven oft-repeated Ayat) and the Great Qur’an which is given to me.”
[Sahih Al-Bukhari]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that when Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) asked Ubayy ibn Ka’ab (radiAllahu anhu), “Do you want me to teach you a Surah the like of which has not been revealed in the Torah, the Injeel, the Zabur, nor the Qur’an?”, and also asked what he recited in his prayers. He replied Umm-ul Qur’an (Surah Fatihah) the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) proclaimed, ‘By Him in whose dominion my soul is, nothing like it has been revealed in the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, or the Qur’an and it is seven of the oft-repeated verses in the Mighty Qur’an which I have been given’
[at-Tirmidhi, Al-Hakim says that this hadith is Sahih on the conditions established by Imam Muslim (Tafseer Mazhari 1:30)]
Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘Rejoice in the two lights brought to you which have not been brought to any prophet before you’: al-Fatihah and the last verses of Surah al-Baqarah (2: 2854), (said an angel to the Prophet, blessings and peace be on him)
[Muslim].
Ambari in his ‘Kitabur-Rad’ through his own chain of narrators has mentioned from Mujahid ibn Jabr (rahmatullahi alaih) that Iblees the accursed of Allah Ta’ala lamented on four occasions: first when he was cursed; secondly when he was cast out of Heaven to the Earth; thirdly when Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was given the Prophethood; fourthly when Surah Fatihah was revealed and it was revealed in Madinah.
Once the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was traveling when he disembarked and began walking alongside a companion. He asked him, ‘Shouldn’t I tell you the best part of the Qur’an?’ then he recited ‘Alhamdu lilahi rabil alameen’ (Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds).
[Hakim 1/560; Dhahabi]
Abu Saeed al-Khudr’i narrates that while on a journey we halted at a place. A girl came to us and said: “The chief of this tribe has been stung by a scorpion and our men are not present, is there anybody amongst you who can recite something upon him to treat him?” Then, one of our men went along with her although we did not think that he knew any such treatment. However, our friend went to the chief and recited something upon him and the chief was cured. Thereupon, the chief gave him thirty sheep and gave us all milk to drink. When he returned, we asked our friend: “Did you know anything to recite upon him to cure him?” He said: “No, I only recited Umm al-Kitab (i.e. Surah al-Fatihah) upon him.” We said that do not do anything until we reach Madinah and ask the Prophet regarding this (practice and reward-whether the sheep were lawful or not for us). Upon reaching Madinah, we narrated this to the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), whereupon he remarked: “How did he come to know that Al-Fatihah can be used as a cure? (Rasulullah said this in astonishment) Distribute your reward amongst yourselves and allot a share for me as well.
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Ibn ‘Abbas said, “While Jibril (alayhis salam) was sitting with the Prophet, he heard a sound above him and raised his head. He said, ‘This is a door of heaven which has been opened today and which has never been opened before today. An angel descended from it.’ He said, ‘This is an angel who has descended to earth who has never descended before today.’ He gave the greeting and said, ‘Give the good news of two lights which you have been given and which no Prophet before you was given: the Fatiha of the Book and the end of Surah al-Baqarah (2). You will not recite a letter of them without being given it.’”
[Muslim, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi]
Abu Sulaiman says that once a group of Companions were in an expedition (ghazwa) when they happened to come across an epileptic person, who was unconscious. One of the Companions recited Surah Al-Fatiha and blew in his ear. The epileptic person immediately cured. When Sayyidana Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was informed of this, he said: “It (Surah Al-Fatiha) is “The Mother of the Qur’an” (Umm al-Qur’an) and is a cure for every disease.”
[This narration has been recorded by Ath-Thua’lbi from Abu Sulaiman, who narrated it from Muawiya bin Saleh (radhi Allah anhu), Tafseer Mazhari 1:31]
Sa’ib (radhi Allah anhu) bin Yazeed says that Rasulullah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) recited Surah Al-Fatihah and blew it on me. To safeguard me against calamities, Rasulullah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) recited this Surah and put his blessed saliva in my mouth.
[At-Tabraani narrated this tradition in ‘Al-Awsat’, Tafseer Mazhari 1:31]
Anas (radhi Allah anhu) said: “When you recite Surah Al-Fatihah and Surah Al-Ikhlas upon lying on your bed, you will be safeguarded and should become fearless of every thing except death.”
[Narrated by Baraa’, Tafseer Mazhari 1:31]
The Prophet said, ‘Whoever mastered the first seven (chapters or verses) from the Qur’an is a pontiff’.
[Hakim 1/564; Dhahabi]
The Prophet said, ‘The mother of the Qur’an are the seven oft repeated verses’
[Bukhari 4704]
It is narrated from Jabir (radhi Allah anhu) that Rasulullah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: “O Jabir, shall I inform you about the best Surah revealed in the Qur’an?” Jabir said: “O Messenger of Allah, please inform me.” Rasulullah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: “It is Fatiha tul Kitab.” Jabir adds: “And I think that Rasulullah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said that Al-Fatiha is a cure for every diseases.” Jabir is also reported to have said: “Fatiha tul Kitab is a medicine for every disease except death.”
[Recorded by Al-Khal’i in his Fawa’id, Tafseer Mazhari 1:30]
The Prophet said, ‘In the Fatiha of the Qur’an, there is a cure for all maladies(illnesses)’
[Darimi 3236, also narrated by Ad-Darmi in his Al-Masnad and Al-Bayhaqi in Shu’bul Imaan, Tafseer Mazhari 1:30]
Surah Al-Fatihah is equivalent to two thirds of the Qur’an
[Al-Bayhaqi and Al-Haakim, Tafseer Mazhari 1:31]
Surah al Baqarah (2)
The Prophet said, ‘The Qur’an and those who committed themselves to it will be presented on the Day of judgement, preceded by Surah al-Baqarah and Surah al Imran’.
[Muslim 805]
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Learn how to recite Surah al-Baqarah for there is a blessing in it, and there is sorrow for abandoning it, and it is unbearable for the idle’ and that ‘al Baqarah and al Imran are like two flowers which will shade their learner on the day of Judgement, as if there were two large clouds or two flocks of birds’.
[Ahmad 21872 & Buraida al-Aslami Muslim 1/553]
The Prophet said, ‘Recite Surah al Baqarah in your dwellings and do not keep them as tombs. He also said that whoever recited Surah al Baqarah at night would be crowned with a crown of paradise.’
[Baihaqi in Al-Shuaib]
Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Do not turn your houses into graves. Shaitan is barred from any house in which Surat al-Baqarah (2) is recited.” [Muslim 780, 4: 1707]
The Prophet was asked, ‘Which part of the Qur’an is the best?’. He replied, ‘The Surah in which the cow is mentioned’. He was then asked ‘Which part of that Surah?’. He replied, ‘The verse of the Throne and the last pasrt of Surah al Baqarah came down from under the Throne’
[Darimi 3248]
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Al Baqarah is the top (or pinnacle) of the Qur’an. Eighty angels came down with each one of it’s verses and extracted the verse of the throne from under the throne, and it was joined to the other verses’
[Ahmad 5/26]
Abu Ummamah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever recites Ayat Al-Kursi immediately after each prescribed Prayer, there will be nothing standing between him and his entering Paradise except death.”
[an-Nasa’i, Ibn Hibban, Darimi 3249/A]
Imam Ahmad (rahimullah) said: It was narrated that Asma’ bint Yazid ibn As-Sakan (radiAllahu anha) said, I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say about these two verses— “Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists…” [Al-Baraqah, 2: 255] and “Alif. Laam. Meem. Allah! None has the right to be worshiped but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists” [’Al ‘Imran, 3: 1-2]— that they contain the greatest name of Allah.
[abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir]
Ubayy ibn Ka’b reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “O Abu’l-Mundhir! Do you know which ayat in the Book of Allah is greatest you have?’ I said, ‘Allah. there is no god but Him, the Living, the Self-Sustaining.’ (W2:253; H2:256) He struck me on the chest and said, ‘May knowledge delight you, Abu’l-Mundhir!’”
[Muslim, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi]
Imam Ahmad narrated: Muhammad ibn Ja’far told us, Uthman ibn Itab told us, he said: I heard Abu As-Sulayl saying, A man from among the Companions of the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) addressed the people until a large number had gathered around him, then he climbed onto the roof of a house and addressed the people, saying: “The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Which verse of the Qur’an is the greatest?’ A man said, ‘Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists…’ [Al-Baqarah, 2: 255].’ He said: He put his hand between my shoulders and I felt coolness in the center of my chest, [or he said] he put his hand on the center of my chest and I felt coolness between my shoulders, and he said, ‘Congratulations on your knowledge, Abul-Mundhir.’”
Another version of the same hadith.
[Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir]
It was reported from the Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) that “It is the greatest verse in the Book of Allah.” (referring to Ayat al-Kursi). It was narrated from Ubayy ibn Ka’b (radiAllahu anhu) that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) asked him which verse in the Book of Allah was the greatest. He said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He repeated it several times, then he said, “Ayat Al-Kursi.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Congratulations upon your knowledge, Abul-Mundhir. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, it has a tongue and two lips, and it glorifies the Sovereign (i.e., Allah) at the foot of the Throne.”
[Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir]
Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “The greatest name of Allah, which if He is called by it, He responds, is in three surahs: Al-Baqarah, ‘al ‘Imran and Ta-Ha.” Hisham ibn Ammar, the khateeb of Damascus, said: “In Al-Baqarah, it is ‘Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exist’ [Al-Baraqah, 2: 255]. In ‘al ‘Imran it is ‘Alif. Laam. Meem. Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists’ [’al ‘Imran, 3: 1-2]. And in Ta-Ha it is ‘And (all) faces shall be humbled before (Allah), the Ever- Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists’ [Ta-Ha, 20: 111].”
[narrated in a marfu’ report (one that is traced all the way back to the Prophet [salAllahu alayhi wasalam], Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir)]
The Prophet said, ‘Whoever recites 4 verses from the first part of Surah al Baqarah, the verse of the Throne, two verses after the verse of the Throne and three verses from the last part of Surah al Baqarah, Satan would never come near him or the members of his family on that day, and nothing he despises would come near him or the members of his family, and never are these verses recited over a madman without him regaining his consciousness’
[Darimi 3249/A in the Book of Excellence of the Quran; an-Nasai in the Deeds during the Day and Night; Ibn Hibban & Tabrani]
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiAllahu anhu) said, ‘Whoever recited ten verses from al-Baqarah in the night, Satan shall not have access to that house, during the night till he wakes in the morning. These are: Four from the first part of the Surah, followed by the verse of the Throne, two verses after the verse of the Throne and three from the last part of the Surah’.
[Darimi 3248/A]
Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Recite Surah al-Baqarah: for to hold on to it is a barakah (blessing), to leave it is a regret’
[Muslim]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Everything has a hump, and the hump of the Qur’an is al-Baqarah’
[at-Tirmidhi, ad-Darami]
Abu Mas’ud al-Badri (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “If anyone recites the two ayats at the end of Surat al-Baqarah (2) at night, they will be enough for him.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #530, Agreed upon]
It was narrated from Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Ka’b (radiAllahu anhu) that his father told him that he had a vessel in which he kept dates. He used to check on it and found that the number was decreasing. So he kept guard on it one night and saw a beast that looked like an adolescent boy. He said: I greeted him with salams and he returned my greeting, then I asked him, “What are you, a jinn or a human?” He said, “A jinn.” I said to him, “Show me your hand.” So he showed me his hand, and it looked like a dog’s paw with dog’s fur. I said, “Do all the jinn look like this?” He said, “I know no one among the jinn who is stronger than I.” I said, “What made you do what you did [i.e., taking the dates]?” He said, “We heard that you are a man who loves charity, and we wanted to have some of your food.” Ubayy asked him, “What will protect us from you?” He said, “This verse, Ayat Al-Kursi.” Then the next day he [Ubayy] went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and told him (about what had happened) and he said, “The evil one spoke the truth.”
[Tafsir of Imam Ibn Katheer]
Ibn ‘Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) said, “While Jibril (salayhis salam) was sitting with the Prophet, he heard a sound above him and raised his head. He said, ‘This is a door of heaven which has been opened today and which has never been opened before today. An angel descended from it.’ He said, ‘This is an angel who has descended to earth who has never descended before today.’ He gave the greeting and said, ‘Give the good news of two lights which you have been given and which no Prophet before you was given: the Fatiha of the Book and the end of Surah al-Baqarah (2). You will not recite a letter of them without being given it.’”
[Muslim, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi]
Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘Read the two radiant ones al-Baqarah and Al ‘Imran for they will come on the Day of Resurrection like two clouds, or two shades, or two flocks of birds, pleading for their companions’
[Muslim]
Al-Nawwas Ibn Sam’an (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘The Qur’an will be brought on the Day of Resurrection, along with its companions who used to act by it, at the front being Surah al-Baqarah and Al ‘Imran like two black clouds or canopies with light, or two flocks of birds pleading for their companion’
[Muslim]
Abu Huraira (radiAllahu anhu) said, “The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) put me in charge of guarding the zakat of Ramadan. Someone came and began to take handfuls of food. I grabbed him and said, ‘By Allah, I will take you to the Messenger of Allah!’ He said, ‘I am needy and have a large family and I am in dire need.’ I let him go and in the morning the Prophet said, ‘Abu Huraira, what did you do with your prisoner yesterday?’ I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, he complained of dire need and a large family, so I showed mercy to him and let him go on his way.’ He said, ‘He lied to you and he will come back.’ So, from the words of the Messenger of Allah, I knew that he would come back. Therefore, I lay in wait for him and he came and once more began to take handfuls of food. I seized him and said, ‘I will take you to the Messenger of Allah!’ He said, ‘Let me go. I am in need and have a large family. I will not come back again.’ I had mercy on him and let him go his way. In the morning the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to me, ‘Abu Huraira, what did you do with your prisoner yesterday?’ I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, he complained of dire need and a large family, so I showed mercy to him and let him go on his way.’ He said, ‘He lied to you and he will come back.’ So I lay in wait for him a third time and he came and began to take handfuls of food. I grabbed him and said, ‘I will take you to the Messenger of Allah! This is the third time. You claimed you would not come back and then you came back.’ He said, ‘Let me go. I will teach you some words which will help you with Allah.’ I said, ‘What are they?’ He said, ‘When you go to bed, recite the Throne Verse, “Allah, there is no god but Him, the Living, the Self-Sustaining…” to the end of the ayat. You will have someone guarding over you from Allah and shaitan will not come near you until morning.’ So I let him go his way. In the morning, the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said to me, ‘What did you do with your prisoner yesterday?’ I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, he claimed that he would teach me some words which would help me with Allah, so I let him go his way.’ He said, ‘What are they?’ I said, ‘He said to me, “When you go to bed, recite the Throne Verse to the end: ‘Allah, there is no god but Him, the Living, the Self-Sustaining’.” He said to me, “You will have someone guarding over you from Allah and shaitan will not come near you until morning.”‘ The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “He told you the truth even though he is a liar. Do you know whom you were speaking with on these three days, Abu Huraira?’” He said, “No.” The Prophet said, “It was Shaitan.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Surah al Imran (3)
Abdullah ibn Masud (radiAllahu anhu) said, ‘What an excellent treasure Surah al Imran is to the pauper when he recites it in prayer during the last part of the night’
[Darimi 3264/A]
The Prophet said, ‘Allah’s most Magnificent name, which when used to implore Him, He responds, is found in three Surahs. Al Baqara, Al’ Imran and Taha’
[Hakim & Ibn Majah 3856]
The Prophet said to Muadh (radiAllahu anhu), ‘Should I not teach you a supplication which, when used to implore Allah, Allah shall pay your debt, even it be as huge as Mount Uhud? He then mentioned them (i.e. Surah al Imran verse 26 & 27)’
[Tabarani in Al Saghir 1/330]
Makhul (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “If anyone recites Al ‘Imran on a Friday, the angels will invoke blessings on him till night comes.”
[Darimi transmitted it. Mishkat al-Masabih #2172]
Usman ibn Affan (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “If anyone recites the end of Surah ‘Al Imran at night, the reward for a night spent in prayer will be recorded for him.”
Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘Read the two radiant ones al-Baqarah and Al ‘Imran for they will come on the Day of Resurrection like two clouds, or two shades, or two flocks of birds, pleading for their companions’
[Muslim]
Al-Nawwas Ibn Sam’an (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘The Qur’an will be brought on the Day of Resurrection, along with its companions who used to act by it, at the front being Surah al-Baqarah and Al ‘Imran like two black clouds or canopies with light, or two flocks of birds pleading for their companion’
[Muslim]