1009/1 - Abu Sa‘īd Rāfi‘ ibn al-Mu‘alla (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: “Shall I teach you the greatest Surah in the Qur’an before you leave the mosque?” He held my hand, and when we were about to leave, I said: “O Messenger of Allah, you said you would teach me the greatest Surah in the Qur’an.” He said: “Surat al-Fātihah; it is the seven oft-repeated verses and the great Qur’an that I have been granted.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
1) Surat al-Fātihah is the greatest Surah in the Qur’an, for it is the Mother of the Book, and all the meanings of the Qur’an refer back to this Surah.
2) It was called the seven oft-repeated verses because it consists of seven verses, which are recited in each Rak‘ah in every prayer.
3) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) attracted his Companions’ hearts by benefiting them and teaching them in a good way. Look how he took that Companion by the hand and walked with him to the mosque’s door. Such attitude creates harmony and love.
1010/2 - Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said about Surat al-Ikhlās: “By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, it equals one third of the Qur’an!”
In another version: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) asked his Companions: “Are you not able to recite one third of the Qur’an in one night?” They found this difficult and said: “None of us would be able to do that, O Messenger of Allah.” He said: “Surat al-Ikhlās equals one third of the Qur’an.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
1011/3 - He also reported that a man heard another man reading Surat al-Ikhlās and repeating it. In the morning, he went to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and told him about that, as if he considered it to be little. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, it equals one third of the Qur’an.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
1012/4 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said about Surat al-Ikhlās: “It equals one third of the Qur’an.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) Surat al-Ikhlās is called as such because Allah Almighty devoted it to Himself, not mentioning in it but His names and attributes (the Arabic term Ikhlās means sincerity and devotion). It comprises the oneness of Allah Almighty.
2) Tawhīd (belief in the oneness of Allah) covers one third of the Qur’an, whose sciences revolve around three branches: Tawhīd, rulings, and recompense. Hence, Surat al-Ikhlās is a third of the Qur’an, because it contains pure Tawhīd.
3) In declaring Surat al-Ikhlās a third of the Qur’an, the Hadīth refers to the reward and it does not mean that this Surah is sufficient in place of the other meanings in the Qur’an.
1013/5 - Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man said: “O Messenger of Allah, I love this Surah; Al-Ikhlās.” He said: “Your love for it admitted you into Paradise.” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; and he classified it as Hasan (sound)] [Also narrated by Al-Bukhāri as Mu‘allaq Hadīth (in which one or more narrators are omitted from the beginning of its isnād)]
1) Love for this Surah which includes Tawhīd is a reason for entering Paradise. Indeed, Tawhīd is the key to the door to Paradise.
2) Good deeds lead to Paradise, and the best deed is establishing Tawhīd in one’s life.
1014/6 - ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Āmir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Have you not seen that some verses were revealed (to me) tonight the like of which has never been seen before? They are Surat al-Falaq and Surat an-Nās.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1015/7 - Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to seek refuge (with Allah) against the jinn and the evil eye, until the two refuge-seeking Surahs were revealed (Al-Falaq and Al-Nās). After they had been revealed, he used them for seeking Allah’s protection and left everything else.” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; and he classified it as Hasan (sound)]
1) Ruqyah (faith-healing verses), by the Qur’an in general and by the refuge-seeking Surahs and verses in particular, provides protection for the believer against the evil eye and any harm posed by humans or jinns.
2) It points out the merit of the two refuge-seeking Surahs, i.e. Surat al-Falaq and Surat al-Nās, as they contain total resort to Allah Almighty and abandonment of any attachment to worldly means. No one seeks refuge through them with faith and sincerity except that Allah Almighty will grant him refuge.
3) Finding sufficiency in the Qur’an is the way of the fortunate and guided servants of Allah Almighty.
1016/8 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Indeed there is a Surah in the Qur’an of thirty verses, which interceded for a man until he was forgiven. It is Surat al-Mulk.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and Al-Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hasan (sound)] In the version narrated by Abu Dāwūd: “which intercedes...”
1) It points out the merit of Surat al-Mulk, as it intercedes for a person who recites it.
2) A person who holds onto the noble Qur’an is promised intercession and forgiveness, by Allah’s will.
The number of the verses of Surahs has been well known since the Prophet’s time till this day, which is a proof that Allah Almighty has preserved His Book in terms of its meanings and words. So, to claim that the Qur’an was distorted is an act of disbelief that brings one out of the fold of Islam.
1017/9 - Abu Mas‘ūd al-Badri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If a person recites the last two verses of Surat al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
It is said that “suffice him” means: suffice him against any harm during that night or be sufficient for him instead of Qiyām al-Layl (offering voluntary night prayer).
1018/10 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not make your houses graves. Indeed, Satan keeps away from a house where Surat al-Baqarah is recited.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) It shows the merit of Surat al-Baqarah and the two verses at its end. He who recites them will be protected against all evils.
2) Reciting Surat al-Baqarah at home provides protection against Satan, preventing him from entering. Now we know how to protect our houses!
3) We are instructed to fill our houses with recitation of the Qur’an lest they should be like graves.
1019/11 - Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “O Abu al-Mundhir, do you know which verse in the Book of Allah is the greatest?” I replied: “It is the verse of Al-Kursi.” Thereupon, he patted me in the chest and said: “Rejoice at this knowledge, O Abu al-Mundhir!” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) The verse of Al-Kursi is the greatest verse in the Book of Allah, for it comprises sublime meanings involving the oneness of Allah and His excellent names and attributes.
2) The verse of Al-Kursi contains ten phrases about the attributes of Allah Almighty, all of which manifest sincere belief in the oneness of Allah Almighty.
3) Knowing the oneness of Allah is the great knowledge that is a cause for joy and bliss.
1020/12 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) put me in charge of the Zakah of Ramadan. Somebody came to me and started to scoop away some food-stuff. I caught him and said: “I must take you to the Messenger of Allah.” He said: “I am a needy man with a large family, so I have a pressing need.” I let him go. When I saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) the next morning, he asked me: “O Abu Hurayrah, 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 said: “He told you a lie and he will return.” I was sure, based on the Prophet’s statement, that he would return. I waited for him. He sneaked up again and started to scoop away from the food-stuff. I caught him and said: “I must take you to the Messenger of Allah.” 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 again.” So, I took pity on him and let him go. I went at dawn to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) who asked me: “O Abu Hurayrah, 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 said: “He told you a lie and he will return.” I waited for him and he came again to steal the food-stuff. I arrested him and said: “I must take you to the Messenger of Allah, 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 the verse of Al-Kursi, for there will be a guardian appointed over you from Allah, and no devil will approach you till morning.” So, I let him go. The next morning, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) asked me: “What did your prisoner do last night.” I answered: “He promised to teach me some words which he claimed Allah will benefit me with. So, I let him go." The Messenger of Allah asked: “What are those words that he taught you?" I said: “He told me: When you go to bed, recite the verse of Al-Kursi from the beginning to the end, and there will be a guardian appointed over you from Allah who will protect you during the night, and no devil will approach you until morning.” The Messenger of Allah said: “Verily, he has told you the truth though he is a liar. O Abu Hurayrah, do you know with whom you were speaking for the last three nights?” I said: “No.” He said: “That was a devil.” [Surat al-Bukhāri]
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1) A person should be keen to recite the verse of Al-Kursi when he goes to bed, for it protects against all evils.
2) We should accept the truth from whoever comes with it, even if he is a liar, as the truth has a light that makes it recognizable.
3) It is a sign of the truthfulness of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) that he knew what had taken place with that Companion, even though he was not present with him. This was by revelation from Allah Almighty. {[Allah is] Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His [knowledge of the] unseen to anyone, except whom He has approved of messengers.} [Surat al-Jinn: 26-27]
4) The devil can take a human form or the form of dogs and snakes. A believer who protects himself with legitimate Prophetic Dhikr will not be harmed by the devils in the least.
1021/13 - Abu al-Dardā’ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever memorizes the first ten verses of Surat al-Kahf will be protected from the Anti-Christ.” In another version: “the last ten verses of Surat al-Kahf.” [Both narrated by Muslim]
1) The trial of the Anti-Christ is the greatest ever on earth since Allah Almighty created Adam (peace be upon him) till the coming of the Hour.
2) One of the means of protection from the Anti-Christ is memorizing the first or last ten verses of Surat al-Kahf.
3) It shows the Prophet’s mercy towards his Ummah, as he guided them to what protects them from trials in general and the trial of the Anti-Christ in particular, by resorting to the noble Qur’an.
1022/14 - Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Jibrīl (Archangel Gabriel) (peace be upon him) was sitting with the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) when he heard a creaking sound from above. He raised his head and said: “That is a gate in the heavens that was opened today; it had never been opened before today.” An angel descended from it, and Gabriel said: “That is an angel that descended to earth; he had never descended before today.” He [the angel] offered the greeting of peace and said to the Prophet: “Rejoice at two lights that have been given to you, which none of the prophets were given before you: the opening Surah of the Qur’an and the concluding verses of Surat al-Baqarah. You will not read one letter of them but you will be given it.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) It shows the special merit of Surat al-Fātihah and the concluding verses of Surat al-Baqarah, beginning from: {The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers} to the end of the Surah.
2) If a believer recites these two last verses, having certitude in them, Allah Almighty will certainly grant him what is asked in them.
3) It highlights the merit of this Ummah, as Allah Almighty gave them and their Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) certain virtues, to the exclusion of other nations and prophets.