Is there any saheeh hadeeth about the virtues of Soorat Ta-Ha?

 

I would like to find out about the virtue of reading Soorat Ta-Ha, and the virtue of reading it every night three times in succession for a certain period. Thank you very much.

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly: 

The following ahaadeeth about the virtues of Soorat Ta-Ha are
saheeh: 

-1-

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be
pleased with him) said concerning Bani Israa’il (al-Isra’), al-Kahf, Maryam,
Ta-Ha and al-Anbiya’: They are among the best of the earliest ones that I
learned by heart. 

Narrated by al-Bukhaari (4994). 

Al-Bayhaqi said in Shu’ab al-Eemaan:  

He was referring to the superiority of these soorahs because
of what they contain of stories of the Prophets (blessings and peace be upon
them) and the nations. 

And they were among the first soorahs to be revealed at the
beginning of Islam, because they are Makkan soorahs, and they were among the
first parts of the Qur'aan to be recited and memorized. End quote. 

Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar said in Fath al-Baari (8/388): 

What Ibn Mas’ood meant was that they were among the first
parts of the Qur’aan that he learned, and that they have a special virtue
because they contain stories of the Prophets and the nations. End quote. 

-2-

It was narrated from Abu Umaamah (may Allaah be pleased with
him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: “The greatest name of Allaah appears in three soorahs of the
Qur’aan: in al-Baqarah, Aal ‘Imraan and Ta-Ha.” 

Narrated by Ibn Majaah (3856) and al-Haakim (1/686); classed
as hasan by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (746). 

He (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

With regard to the words of al-Qaasim ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan
(the one who narrated it from Abu Umaamah) that the greatest name is found
in the verse (interpretation of the meaning):  “And (all) faces shall be
humbled before (Allaah), Al-Hayyul-Qayyum (the Ever Living, the One Who
sustains and protects all that exists)” [Ta-Ha 20:111] in Soorat Ta-Ha,
I could not find anything to support it. It is more likely in my view that
it is in the verse at the beginning of the soorah:
“Verily, I am Allaah! Laa ilaaha illa Ana (none has the right to be
worshipped but I)” [Ta-Ha 20:14], and that is in
accordance with some saheeh ahaadeeth. See: al-Fath (11/225) and
Saheeh Abi Dawood (1341). End quote. 

Secondly: 

Concerning the virtues of Soorat Ta-ha there are some da’eef
(weak) ahaadeeth, which I will quote here to draw attention to them and warn
people against them. 

-1-

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“Allaah, may He be blessed and exalted, recited Ta-Ha and
Ya-Seen one thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, and
when the angels heard the Qur'aan they said: Glad tidings to the nation to
whom this is revealed, glad tidings to the hearts that carry this, glad
tidings to the tongues that speak it.” 

Narrated by al-Daarimi (2/547). The editor said: Its isnaad
is very weak. Ahmad said of ‘Umar ibn Hafs ibn Dhakwaan: We rejected his
hadeeth and regarded him as very weak. In al-Mu’jam al-Awsat (5/133)
it says: Ibn Hibbaan said in al-Majrooheen (1/208): This is a
fabricated text. Ibn al-Jawzi said likewise in al-Mawdoo’aat (1/110).
Ibn Katheer said in Tafseer al-Qur’aan il-Azeem (5/271): It is weird.
Al-Albaani said in al-Silsilah al-Da’eefah (1248): It is munkar. See
also al-Kaamil (1/216) and Lisaan al-Meezaan (1/114). 

-2-

It was narrated that Ma’qil ibn Yasaar (may Allaah be pleased
with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said:

“Learn the Qur'aan, accept as permissible what it permits,
regard as forbidden what it forbids, follow its guidance and do not reject
anything in it. Whatever you are confused about in it, refer it to Allaah
and to those who are in authority after I am gone, so that they may tell
you. Believe in the Tawraat and Injeel and Zaboor, and what the Prophets
brought from their Lord, but be content with the Qur’aan and what it
contains of clarity, for it is an intercessor whose intercession will be
accepted. Each verse will have light on the Day of Resurrection. I have been
given Soorat al-Baqarah among the early Revelation, and I have been given
Ta-Ha and Ta-Seen-Meems and Ha-Meems from the tablets of Moosa and I have
been given the Opening of the Book (al-Faatihah) from beneath the Throne. 

Narrated by al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak (1/757) and he
said: This hadeeth has a saheeh isnaad although they (al-Bukhaari and
Mulsim) did not narrate it. Also narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Mu’jam
al-Kabeer (20/225). Classed as da’eef by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah
al-Da’eefah (2826) and by Ibn Hibbaan in al-Majrooheen (2/65). 

-3-

That the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) used to say in his du’aa’:

“O Lord of Ta-Ha and Yaa-Seen, O Lord of the Holy Qur’aan.” 

Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (5/173-174): 

There is no difference of opinion among the scholars that
this hadeeth is a lie against the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him). End quote. 

-4-

“Whoever reads Ta-Ha will be given the reward of the
Muhaajireen and Ansaar on the Day of Resurrection.” 

This was quoted by al-Zamakhshari and al-Baydaawi with regard
to the virtues of Soorat Ta-Ha, but it is a fabricated hadeeth. 

See: al-Kashf al-Ilaahi by al-Tarabulsi (1/178). 

With regard to what you asked about the virtue of reading it
three times every night, I could not find that in the books of the Sunnah,
and I did not even find it in the books of mawdoo’ (fabricated) reports.
Nothing concerning that has been proven from the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him), so you should be careful and avoid that,
and strive to follow the saheeh Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him), and shun that which is da’eef (weak) and
mawdoo’ (fabricated). 

And Allaah knows best.

 

Reward for memorizing Qur’aan

 

What is the reward for becoming a Haafiz?.

Praise be to Allaah.
 

 

Whoever memorizes Qur’aan and acts upon it,
Allaah will reward him and honour him greatly for that, so that he will rise in status in Paradise to a level commensurate with what he memorized
of the Book of Allaah.

Al-Tirmidhi (2914) and Abu Dawood (1464)
narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “It will be said to the companion of
the Qur’aan: Recite and rise in status, recite as you used to recite in the world, for your status will be at the last verse that you recite.”
This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 5/218, no. 2240, after which he said: 

Note that what is meant by the “companion of
the Qur’aan” is the one who memorizes it by heart, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “The one who knows more
Qur’aan should lead the people in prayer,” meaning the one who has memorized the most.  The differentiation in status in Paradise will depend on
how much was memorized in this world, not how much one will recite on that day as some people imagine. This clearly points to the virtue of the
hafiz who has memorized the Qur’aan, but that is subject to the condition that he memorizes it for the sake of Allaah, not for worldly purposes or
financial gain. Otherwise the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Most of the hypocrites of my ummah are among those
who have memorized Qur’aan.” 

Concerning the virtue of the hafiz who
memorizes the Qur’aan, al-Bukhaari (4937) narrated from ‘Aa’ishah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The
likeness of the one who reads Qur’aan and memorizes it is that he is with the righteous honourable scribes. The likeness of the one who reads it
and tries hard to memorize it even though it is difficult for him, he will have two rewards.” 

For the hafiz who has memorized the Qur’aan,
praying qiyaam al-layl is easy. And the Qur’aan will intercede for him on the Day of Resurrection, because the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: “Fasting and the Qur’aan will intercede for a person on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say, ‘O Lord, I
deprived him of food and desires during the day, so let me intercede for him.’ The Qur’aan will say, ‘O Lord I deprived him of his sleep at night,
so let me intercede for him.’ Then they will both intercede for him.” Narrated by Ahmad, al-Tabaraani and al-Haakim; classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 3882 

And Allaah knows best. 

It should be noted here that there is a weak
(da’eef) hadeeth that is quoted concerning the virtue of memorizing Qur’aan. This hadeeth says, “The bearer of the Qur’aan, if he regards what it permits as halaal and what it forbids as haraam, he will intercede for ten of his family members on the Day of Resurrection, all of whom deserved to enter Hell.” This was narrated by al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Eemaan (The Branches of Faith) from Jaabir; it was classed as da’eef by al-Albaani in Da’eef al-Jaami’.

 

 

The Holy Qur’aan

 

What is the Qur’aan?

Praise be to
Allaah.

The
Qur’aan is the word of the Lord of the Worlds, which Allaah revealed
to His Messenger Muhammad

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), to bring mankind forth
from darkness into light: 

“It is He Who sends down manifest Ayaat
(proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) to His
slave (Muhammad) that He may bring you out from darkness into light

[al-Hadeed
57:9 – interpretation of the meaning] 

Allaah
has told us in the Qur’aan the stories of the earlier and later generations
and the creation of the heavens and the earth. He has explained in detail
what is halaal and what is haraam, the basics of good manners and morals,
the rulings of worship and dealings with others, the lives of the Prophets
and the righteous, and the reward and punishment of the believers and
disbelievers. He has described Paradise, the abode of the believers,
and He has described Hell, the abode of the disbelievers. He has made
it (the Qur’aan) an explanation of all things:

“And We have sent down to you the Book
(the Qur’aan) as an exposition of everything, a guidance, a mercy, and
glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves (to Allaah as Muslims)”

[al-Nahl 16:89 – interpretation of the meaning] 

The
Qur’aan explains the names and attributes of Allaah and what He has
created. It calls us to believe in Allaah, His angels, His Books, His
Messengers and the Last Day: 

“The Messenger (Muhammad) believes in
what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers.
Each one believes in Allaah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers.
(They say,) ‘We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers’
— and they say, ‘We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our
Lord, and to You is the return (of all)’”

[al-Baqarah 2:285 – interpretation of the meaning] 

The
Qur’aan describes the Day of Judgement and what will happen after death
– the resurrection, the gathering, the judgement and being brought to
account. It describes the Cistern, the Siraat (bridge over Hell), the
Balance [in which deeds will be weighed], the blessings and torment,
and the gathering of mankind on that great Day: 

“Allaah! Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has
the right to be worshipped but He). Surely, He will gather you together
on the Day of Resurrection about which there is no doubt. And who is
truer in statement than Allaah?

[al-Nisaa’ 4:87 – interpretation of the meaning] 

The
Qur’aan calls us to examine and ponder the signs of Allaah in the universe
and the verses of the Qur’aan: 

“Say: ‘Behold all that is in the heavens
and the earth’”

[Yoonus 10:101 – interpretation of the meaning] 

“Do they not then think deeply in the
Qur’aan, or are their hearts locked up (from understanding it)?”

[Muhammad 47:24 – interpretation of the meaning] 

The Qur’aan is the Book of Allaah for all
of mankind: 

“Verily, We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the
Book (this Qur’aan) for mankind in truth. So whosoever accepts the guidance,
it is only for his ownself; and whosoever goes astray, he goes astray
only for his (own) loss. And you (O Muhammad) are not a Wakeel (trustee
or disposer of affairs, or guardian) over them”[al-Zumar 39:41 – interpretation
of the meaning] 

The Qur’aan confirms the Books which came
before it, the Tawraat (Torah) and Injeel (Gospel), and it is a witness
over them, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book
(this Qur’aan) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it
and Muhaymin (trustworthy in highness and a witness) over it (old Scriptures)”[al-Maa'idah
5:48] 

After the Qur’aan was revealed, it became
the Book for all of mankind until the Hour begins. Whoever does not
believe in it is a kaafir who will be punished with torment on the Day
of Resurrection, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“But those who reject Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), the torment will touch them
for their disbelief (and for their belying the Message of Muhammad)”[al-An’aam
6:49] 

Because of the greatness of the Qur’aan and
the signs, miracles, parables and lessons contained therein, in addition
to its eloquence and beautiful style, Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning): 

“Had We sent down this Qur’aan on a mountain, you
would surely have seen it humbling itself and rent asunder by the fear
of Allaah. Such are the parables which We put forward to mankind that
they may reflect”[al-Hashr 58:21] 

Allaah has challenged mankind and the jinn
to produce something like it, even one soorah or one aayah, but they
could not do that and will never be able to do that, as Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning): 

“Say: ‘If the mankind and the jinn were together
to produce the like of this Qur’aan, they could not produce the like
thereof, even if they helped one another’”[al-Israa’ 17:88] 

Because the Qur’aan
is the greatest of the heavenly Books, the most complete, the most perfect
and the last of them, Allaah commanded His Messenger Muhammad

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to convey it to all of mankind,
as He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“O Messenger (Muhammad)! Proclaim (the Message) which
has been sent down to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you
have not conveyed His Message. Allaah will protect you from mankind”
[al-Maa'idah 5:67] 

Because of the importance
of this book and the ummah’s need for it, Allaah has honoured us with
it. He sent it down to us and has guaranteed to preserve it. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr
(i.e. the Qur’aan) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)” [al-Hijr
15:9] 

Reward for reading the Qur’aan in translation

 

Asalamu-Alaikum,

This is in regards to Question 2237 'Reading Soorat
Yaa-Seen in congregation on Friday nights'. Actually I am referring to the hadeeth
you mentioned where The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever reads
one letter of the Book of Allaah will have one hasanah (reward) for doing so,
and every hasanah will be multiplied by 10. I do not say that ‘Alif, laam,
meem’ is one letter, but ‘Alif’ is a letter, ‘laam’ is
a letter and ‘meem’ is a letter.’”

I was wonderring if this hadith was also true if one is reading the Qur'an in
a different language (i.e. English Translation) in order to actually understand
what he is reading?

Thank You, Allahu-Akbar

Praise be to Allaah.

We ask Allaah to reward you for your keenness. In response to your
question, the reward mentioned in this hadeeth is only for the one who reads the
Qur’aan as it is in Arabic, not for the one who reads the interpretation of the
meanings in any other language. However, if a person reads a translation of the meanings
in order to understand the meaning and benefit from what the aayaat are saying, then he
will be rewarded for doing this, and his reward is with Allaah, because the Muslim will be
rewarded for reading tafseer (explanation and commentary), and a translation is tafseer.
But there is no indication that the person who reads a translation will earn the reward
mentioned in the hadeeth. The bounty of Allaah is immense. And Allaah knows best.

“They are among the best and earliest and they are among the first I received”

 

What is the meaning of the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) concerning al-Isra’, al-Kahf and Maryam, “They are among the best and earliest and they are among the first I received”?.

Praise be to Allaah.

These are not the words of
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), rather they
are the words of the Sahaabi ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased
with him). Al-Bukhaari narrated in his Saheeh (4994) with his isnaad
from ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Yazeed who said: I heard Ibn Mas’ood say concerning
Bani Israa’eel, al-Kahf, Maryam, Ta-Ha and al-Anbiya’: “They are among the
best and earliest and they are among the first I received”. 

Perhaps the oldest
explanation that has come down to us is what was stated by Imam Abu ‘Ubayd
al-Qaasim ibn Salaam in his book Fadaa’il al-Qur’aan (hadeeth no.
385) where he says, after narrating it: 

The words “among the best
and earliest” mean: the earliest words I learned of the Qur’aan, and that is
because these soorahs were revealed in Makkah. End quote. 

The scholars quote this
report from Ibn Mas’ood as evidence that the order of the soorahs in the
Mus-haf of ‘Uthmaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) is tawqeefi (i.e.,
fixed and not subject to ijtihaad) and is as it was at the time of the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Al-Haafiz Ibn
Katheer says in Tafseer al-Qur’aan al-‘Azeem (1/49): al-Bukhaari is
the only one who narrated it, and what is meant is that the order of these
soorahs in the Mus-haf of Ibn Mas’ood is the same as that in the Mushafs of
‘Uthmaan. The words “among the best and earliest” mean that they were among
the first to be revealed, and the words “they are among the first I
received” mean among the first that I acquired and memorized. End quote. 

See: al-Burhaan fi
‘Uloom al-Qur’aan (1/257). 

The Standing Committee (al-Majmoo’ah
al-Thaaniyah, 3/128) was asked the following question: How sound is this
hadeeth: the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said
concerning Bani Israa’eel, al-Kahf, Maryam, Ta-Ha and al-Anbiya’: “They are
among the best and earliest and they are among the first I received”?  

They replied: The hadeeth
mentioned was narrated by al-Bukhaari in a mawqoof report going back to Ibn
Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him), and it means that they were among
the first soorahs to be revealed. The phrase “they are among the first I
received” mean they were among the first that I memorized. End quote. 

See also the answer to
question no. 90186. 

And Allaah knows best.

What is the role of ‘Eesa (peace be upon him)?

 

I would like to know what is the duties and functions of Jesus as "Al-Masih" in Islam. Many Christian anti-Islamic sites have been asking this question. Its not that my faith is not strong, but I could not explain my answer properly. Perhaps you can help me. 

Praise be to Allaah. 

‘Eesa (peace be upon him)
has two roles: 

1-                
His first role, which was before Allaah raised him up to heaven
when the Jews wanted to crucify him. His role at that time was, like
that of any other Prophet, to convey the Message. Allaah gave him the
Injeel (Gospel) to confirm the Tawraat (Torah), and He gave him miracles
which are well known, such as healing the blind and lepers, and raising
the dead by Allaah’s leave, and other well known miracles.

“He called his people to worship Allaah
Alone and to believe in Him alone (Tawheed), and he was a witness against
them throughout his stay among them.” 

2-                
His second role will come at the end of time, when the Dajjaal
will emerge. Allaah will send ‘Eesa down to the earth, and he will be
a leader of the believers who will rule them according to the Islamic
sharee’ah. He will kill the Dajjaal, and the Mahdi will appear during
his time. Blessings will come down from Allaah such that the milk of
one camel will be sufficient for a large number of people, and wealth
will be abundant. During his time Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj (Gog and Magog)
will emerge and will spread mischief throughout the earth. “Allaah will
destroy them and ‘Eesa (peace be upon him) will rule the earth according
to Islamic sharee’ah, until he dies and the Muslims offer the funeral
prayer for him.” Then Allaah will send a cool breeze which will take
the soul of every believer, and after that none will be left except
the most evil of people, upon whom the Hour will come.

Was Idrees the first of the Messengers?

 

I read in some history books that Idrees was the first of the Messengers and that he came before Nooh. Is this correct?.

Praise be to Allaah.
 

 

The first of the Messengers (peace and
blessings be upon them) was Nooh (peace be upon him), and the last of them was Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Before
Nooh, no Messenger was sent, and from this we realize that the historians are mistaken in their view that Idrees (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) came before Nooh, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Verily, We have sent the Revelation to
you (O Muhammad) as We sent the Revelation to Nooh (Noah) and the Prophets after him”

[al-Nisa’ 4:163] 

According to the saheeh hadeeth which talks
of intercession (on the Day of Resurrection), “… the people will come to Nooh and will say to him, ‘You are the first Messenger whom Allaah sent
to the people of the earth…’” So there was no Messenger before Nooh, and there is no Messenger after Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him), because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Muhammad is not the father of any of your
men, but he is the Messenger of Allaah and the last (end) of the Prophets”

[al-Ahzaab 33:40] 

With regard to the descent of ‘Eesa ibn
Maryam (peace be upon him) at the end of time, he will not come down as a Messenger with a new message, rather he will come down as a ruler who
rules according to the sharee’ah of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), because ‘Eesa and other Prophets are obliged to
believe in Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And (remember) when Allaah took the
Covenant of the Prophets, saying: ‘Take whatever I gave you from the Book and Hikmah (understanding of the Laws of Allaah), and afterwards there
will come to you a Messenger (Muhammad) confirming what is with you; you must, then, believe in him and help him.’ Allaah said: ‘Do you agree (to
it) and will you take up My Covenant (which I conclude with you)?’ They said: ‘We agree.’ He said: ‘Then bear witness; and I am with you among the
witnesses (for this)’”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:81] 

This Messenger who confirmed what was with
them is Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), as was narrated in saheeh reports from Ibn ‘Abbaas and others. 

Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn
‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him), 1/315