Reads Surahs for special purposes Fatwa No: 84014
- Fatwa Date:21-4-2002
I have heard that if a person reads regularly Surah al-Waqi'ah (56) at night after Isha he will have prosperity and wealth, and if he recites Surah al-Mulk (67) on daily basis it will save from the punishment of grave. Like wise it is said of Surah Yasin (36) that if it is recited in the morning it will make your day good; the same is said about Surah al-Muzzammil (73) and Surah al-Ma'un (107) and reciting Surah al-Jumu'ah (62) on Fridays. What is your opinion about reading these Surah daily and making them a habit for these purposes? If it is correct please tell me which Surah should be read for which purpose.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
Here is an explanation concerning excellence of some Surahs of the Qur'an.
1) Surah of al-Waqi'ah. There is a weak Hadith reported by al-Baihaqi in the branches of Faith. Ibn Masoud (Radiya Allahu Anhu) reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "Whoever reads Surah of al-Waqi'ah every night, poverty will not come over him" . According to al-AlBani in his compilation of weak Hadith, it is weak.
However, al-Salaf (the worthy ancestors) acted according to such Hadith since it is permissible to perform some meritorious deeds in accordance with weak Hadith as long as it is not very weak and it is entered into under a general permissible principle and it should not contradict a sound Hadith. Ibn Kathir reported the above-mentioned narration in his introduction to Surah of al-Maidah (5).
2) Surah of al-Mulk. There are several sound Hadith concerning this Surah. Anas (Radiya Allahu Anhu) reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "There is Surah in the Qur'an. It consists of only 30 verses. It defends a person who recites it perpetually and leads him/her to Paradise. It is Tabarak (Surah No. 67)" . Abu Dawood in his Sunan and al-Tabarani in his collection "al-Ausat". al-AlBani said: 'It is a credible Hadith'.
Another Hadith reads: "Surah of Tabarak will prevent its reciters from being afflicted with torture of the tomb" . al-AlBani said: 'It is a sound Hadith.
3) Surah of Yasin. Several Hadith are recorded concerning this Surah. All of them are weak or fabricated.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "Whoever recites Yasin once, will be equal in reward as one who recites the whole Qur'an ten times" . al-Baihaqi in the branches of Faith, al-AlBani said: 'It is fabricated'.
Another Hadith reads: "Whoever recites Yasin for the sake of Allah, all his/her previous sins will be forgiven. So, recite it while one is dying" . al-Baihaqi in al-Sunan. al-AlBani said: 'It is weak.
4) As for Surahs of al-Muzzamil, al-Ma'oun, al-Jum'a, according to our knowledge there is nothing approved concerning such Surahs. But, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) used to recite al-Jum'a Surah in the first Raka'h of the Friday prayer, as reported from Abu Hurairah and recorded in Sahih Muslim .
Know that it is not permissible to act according to a fabricated Hadith since it is invented one.
Anyway, according to sound Hadith, there are some verses and Surahs that have preference and excellence. There is no doubt it is permitted to act according them. Among these Hadith the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) saying: "Whoever recites Surah of al-Ikhlas (No. 112) ten times, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise" . [ Ahmad ].
Another Hadith reads: "Whoever recites Surah of al-Kahf (The Cave-No. 18), Allah Grants him/her a light between him/her and The Ancient House (in Makkah)" . al-Baihaqi from Abu Sa'id .
A third Hadith reads: "Recitation of al-Ikhlas Surah equals in reward one third of reciting of the whole Qur'an" . [ Ahmad from Ubai ].
A fourth Hadith reads: "Whoever recites the verse of al-Kursi (No. 255 of Surah 2) after completing every obligatory prayer, nothing can prevent him/her from entering Paradise except death" . [ al-Nasa'i from Abu 'Umamah ].
A fifth Hadith reads: "Whoever recites the last two verses of al-Baqara (Surah 2) at night they will suffice him (for his welfare)" . [ Muslim from Ibn Masoud ].
As a final word, there are other Hadith that show virtues of reciting some particular Surahs and verses. Al-Sheikh al-AlBani (May Allah's Mercy be upon him) collected them in his sound compilation of Hadith. But, since it is difficult to mention all of them we urge you to consult the above-mentioned compilation, Riyad al-Saliheen and Miskat al-Masabih.
Allah knows best.