THE INSPIRING QUR’AN

THE INSPIRING QUR’AN

Ayat Al-Kursi has a high status. It was reported from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) that “It is the greatest verse in the Book of Allah.” It was narrated from Ubayy ibn Ka`b that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) 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.”

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 

“In Surat Al-Baqarah there is a verse which is the best of all the verses of the Qur’an. It is never recited in a house but Ash-Shaytan leaves: Ayat Al-Kursi.“

The blessings of reciting the last two verses of Surah Baqarah (2: 285-286)

Narrated Abu Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “If somebody recited the last two Verses of Surat Al-Baqara at night, that will be sufficient for him.” (Bukhari Volume 6, Book 61, Number 530)

 Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that while Gabriel was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) he heard a creaking sound above him. He lifted his head and said: This is a gate opened in heaven today which had never been opened before. Then when an angel descended through it, he said: This is an angel who came down to the earth who had never come down before. He greeted and said: Rejoice in two lights given to you which have not been given to any prophet before you: Falihat al-Kitab and the concluding verses of Suarah al-Baqara. You will never recite a letter from them for which you will not be given (a reward). (Sahih Muslim Book 004, Number 1760)

Virtues of reciting Surah Yaseen

Surat Ya-Sin, the 36th surah of the Qur’an, is undoubtedly one of the most important surahs. Often referred to as the heart of the Qur’an, it deals with important concepts and beliefs of Islam. It speaks of divine signs in the universe and nature, and the phenomena of death, resurrection, and final reckoning. Because of its vivid descriptions of these and other matters, its reading is highly recommended, even more than other surahs of the Qur’an, at certain times and in certain circumstances.

As stated in a report by Abu Ya`la on the authority of Abu Hurairah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

 “Whoever reads Ya-Sin at night (before retiring to bed) will be waking up while being forgiven of their sins.” In another report by Imam Ahmad on the authority of Ma`qal ibn Yasar, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Read it (Ya-Sin) on those among you who are nearing death.”

In light of the above and similar reports, scholars have said that one of the salient characteristics of Surat Ya-Sin is that its reading helps ease hardships and difficulties; its recital by the bedside of those in the throes of death is hoped to be a source of descent of Allah’s mercy and blessings upon them, thus eventually aiding in the easy release of the soul from body.

Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

 “Great scholars and teachers used to say that reading Ya-Sin will help ease the difficulties that a dying person experiences.” And finally, Al-Hafiz Al-Bazzar reports on the authority of Ibn `Abbas that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “I wish that it (Ya-Sin) is fully retained in the heart of every member of my Ummah (community).”

The Virtues of Surah Mulk

1. Abu Hurairah radiyallahu anhu reported Allah Ta’ala’s Messenger sallallahu alaihe wasallam as saying, “A Surah in the Qur’aan containing thirty verses interceded for a man till his sins were forgiven. It was Tabaarakallazi Biyadihil Mulk.” (Tirmizi, Abu Dawood, Nasai and Ibn Majah)

2. Ibn Abbas radiyallahu anhu said that one of the Prophet’s sallallahu alaihe wasallam companions setup his tent over a grave without realising that it was a grave and it contained a man who was reciting the Surah Tabaarakallazi Biyadihil Mulk up to the end. He went and told the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam who said, “It is The Defender; it is The Protector which safeguards from Allah Ta’ala’s punishment.” (Tirmizi)

3. Jabir radiyallahu anhu said it was the custom of the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam not to go to sleep until he had read Tabaarakallazi Biyadihil Mulk and Alif Laam Meem Tanzeel. (Ahmad, Tirmizi and Daramee)

4. Anas radiyallahu anhu reported Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam as saying, “There is a Surah which will plead for its reciter till it causes him to enter paradise (Tabaarakallazi Biyadihil Mulk).” (Tabrani)

5. Ibn Abbas radiyallahu anhu told a man, 

“Shall I not give you as gift a Hadith with which you will rejoice.” The man replied, “Why not!” Ibn Abbas radiyallahu anhu said, “Recite Surah Tabaarakallazi Biyadihil Mulk and teach it to your household and all your children and the children of your house and your neighbours for it is ‘The Protector and The Defender (or Ibn Abbas radiyallahu anhu said) it will plead with its Lord for its reciter and it will intercede for its reciter to protect him from the punishment of the fire and to save its reciter from the punishment of the grave. Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam has said, ‘It is my heart’s desire that this Surah be present in the heart of every person of my Ummah’.”