Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen
Chapter 183
Inducement towards the Recitation of some Special verses and Surah of the Noble
Qur’an
1009. Abu Sa`id Ar-Rafi` bin Al-Mu`alla (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Shall I teach you the greatest Surah in the Qur’an before you leave the mosque?” Then he (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam), 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 (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) 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.”
[Al-Bukhari].
1010. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported about Surat Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112): The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, it is equivalent to one-third of the Qur’an.”
According to another version, he (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said to his Companions, “Is anyone of you incapable of reciting one-third of the Qur’an in one night?” They considered it burdensome and said: “O Messenger of Allah, which of us can afford to do that?” He (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Surat Al-Ikhlas [Say: He is Allah (the) One] is equivalent to one-third of the Qur’an.”
[Al-Bukhari].
1011. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man heard another reciting Surat Al-Ikhlas repeatedly. The next morning he came to the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and informed him about it as if he considered it to be of little reward. On that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, this Surah is equal to one-third of the Qur’an.”
[Al-Bukhari].
1012. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Surat Ikhlas is equivalent to one-third of the Qur’an.”
[Muslim].
1013. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man said: “O Messenger of Allah! I love Surat-Al-Ikhlas [Say: He is Allah, (the) One].” He (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Your love for it will admit you to Jannah.”
[At-Tirmidhi].
1014. `Uqbah bin `Amir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Do you not know that last night certain Ayat were revealed the like of which there is no precedence. They are: `Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Rubb of the daybreak’ (Surah 113), and `Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Rubb of mankind’ (Surah 114).”
[Muslim].
1015. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to seek protection against the evil of jinn and the evil eyes till Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas were revealed. After they were revealed, he took to them for seeking Allah’s protection and left everything besides them.
[At-Tirmidhi].
1016. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) saying, “There is a Surah in the Qur’an which contains thirty Ayat which kept interceding for a man until his sins are forgiven. This Surah is `Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion.’ (Surat Al-Mulk 67).”
[At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].
1017. Abu Mas`ud Al-Badri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) saying, “He who recites the two Ayat at the end of Surat Al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
1018. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) saying: “Do not turn your houses into graveyards. Satan runs away from the house in which Surat Al-Baqarah is recited.”
[Muslim].
1019. Ubayy bin Ka`b (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Abu Mundhir! Do you know which Ayah in Allah’s Book is the greatest?” I replied: “It is `Allah la ilaha illa Huwal-Haiyul-Qayum (Allah! none has the right to be worshipped but He, the Ever Living...)’.” (2:255) Thereupon he (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) patted me in the chest and said, “Rejoice by this knowledge, O Abu Mundhir!”
[Muslim].
1020. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) put me in charge of charity of Ramadan (Sadaqat-ul-Fitr). Somebody came to me and began to take away some food-stuff. I caught him and said, “I must take you to the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam).” He said, “I am a needy man with a large family, and so I have a pressing need.” I let him go. When I saw the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) next morning, he asked me, “O Abu Hurairah! What did your captive do last night?” I said, “O Messenger of Allah! He complained of a pressing need and a big family. I felt pity for him so I let him go.” He (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “He told you a lie and he will return.” I was sure, according to the saying of the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) that he would return. I waited for him. He sneaked up again and began to steal food-stuff from the Sadaqah. I caught him and said; “I must take you to the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam).” He said, “Let go of me, I am a needy man. I have to bear the expenses of a big family. I will not come back.” So I took pity on him and let him go. I went at dawn to the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) who asked me, “O Abu Hurairah! What did your captive do last night?” I replied, “O Messenger of Allah! He complained of a pressing want and the burden of a big family. I took pity on him and so I let him go.” He (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “He told you a lie and he will return.” (That man) came again to steal the food-stuff. I arrested him and said, “I must take you to the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam), and this is the last of three times. You promised that you would not come again but you did.” He said, “Let go of me, I shall teach you some words with which Allah may benefit you.” I asked, “What are those words?” He replied, “When you go to bed, recite Ayat-ul-Kursi (2:255) for there will be a guardian appointed over you from Allah, and Satan will not be able to approach you till morning.” So I let him go. Next morning the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) asked me, “What did your prisoner do last night.” I answered, “He promised to teach me some words which he claimed will benefit me before Allah. So I let him go.” The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) asked, “What are those words that he taught you?” I said, “He told me: `When you go to bed, recite Ayat-ul-Kursi from the beginning to the end i.e.,[ Allah! none has the right to be worshipped but He, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursi encompasses the heavens and the earth, and preserving them does not fatigue Him. And He is the Most High, the Most Great].’ (2:255). He added: `By reciting it, there will be a guardian appointed over you from Allah who will protect you during the night, and Satan will not be able to come near you until morning’.” The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Verily, he has told you the truth though he is a liar. O Abu Hurairah! Do you know with whom you were speaking for the last three nights?” I said, “No.” He (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “He was Shaitan (Satan).”
[Al-Bukhari].
1021. Abud-Darda’ (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever commits to memory the first ten Ayat of the Surat Al-Kahf, will be protected from (the trial of) Ad-Dajjal (Antichrist).”
[Muslim].
In another narration, the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “(Whoever commits to memory) the last ten Ayat of Surat Al-Kahf, he will be protected from (the trial of) Ad-Dajjal (Antichrist).”
1022. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: While Jibril (Gabriel) was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam), he heard a sound above him. He lifted his head, and said: “This is a gate which has been opened in heaven today. It was never opened before.” Then an angel descended through it, he said: “This is an angel who has come down to earth. He never came down before.” He sent greetings and said: “Rejoice with two lights given to you. Such lights were not given to any Prophet before you. These (lights) are: Fatihah-til-Kitab (Surat Al-Fatihah), and the concluding Ayat of Surat Al-Baqarah. You will never recite a word from them without being given the blessings it contain s.”
[Muslim].
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