Four Surahs’ Series - Part Four ~ Surah Waaqi‘ah

Surah Waaqi‘ah is the 56th surah of the Quraan Majeed and can be found in the 27th juz (para), immediately after Surah Rahmaan.

The special virtue and benefit of Surah Waaqi‘ah is that the one who recites it every night will be saved from poverty. (Shu‘abul Imaan #2267)

On the occasion when Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) lay on his deathbed and was approaching his final moments, Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), who was the khaleefah at the time, came to visit him.

During the visit, Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked him, “Should I not instruct for you to be given an allowance?” Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “I have no need for it.” Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) responded, “The allowance will be for your daughters (after your demise).” To this, Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) answered, “Do you fear that my daughters will fall into poverty? (You should not have this fear as) I have instructed my daughters to recite Surah Waaqi‘ah every night. Indeed I heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mention, ‘The person who recites Surah Waaqi‘ah every night, poverty will never afflict him.’” (Usdul Ghaabah vol. 3, pg. 77)

One of the most common fears which people face is that of poverty. If they do not have this fear for themselves, then they have it for their children and progeny after them – especially their daughters, granddaughters, etc. In this regard, the commonly encountered mindset is, “What if she is divorced? Or widowed? Or her husband cannot support her?” To allay this fear of poverty, which is merely a distant possibility, it has now become a trend for parents to send their young daughters to universities, and subsequently into the corporate environment, so that they have a career ‘to fall back on’. It is as if we are saying – Allah Ta‘ala forbid! – that if we do not send our daughters into these sin-filled environments, Allah Ta‘ala will not give them their sustenance later on in life! The tragic reality is that many have fallen backwards in these sin-filled environments – backwards in their imaan, respect, chastity, etc. May Allah Ta‘ala protect us all, aameen.     

The problem is not one of understanding – it is one of imaan. Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had firm imaan that Allah Ta‘ala alone provides sustenance. Hence, he knew that the best ‘investment’ that he could leave for his daughters, securing their financial future, was Surah Waaqi‘ah. Such was his imaan that he even turned down the allowance of the khaleefah!

Let us all ‘invest’ in Surah Waaqi‘ah by reciting this surah, which comprises of just 5 pages, every single night, together with Surahs Yaseen, Mulk and Sajdah. Insha-Allah, the returns on this investment will be enjoyed in this world and the next. However, it is obvious that to attain the benefit of these recitations, one must also fulfil all the obligations of Deen and refrain from sin. 

May Allah Ta‘ala grant us the steadfastness to remain punctual on the recitation of these four surahs every night until we pass away, aameen.

​Four Surahs’ Series - Part Three ~ Surah Sajdah

Surah Sajdah is the 32nd surah of the Quraan Majeed and can be found in the 21st juz (para). As with Surah Mulk (Tabaarak), it has been reported that it was the blessed practice of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to recite Surah Sajdah every night. (Sunan Tirmizi #2892)

The special virtue and benefit of reciting Surah Sajdah every night is that it will protect the one who recites it from the punishment of the grave.

Khaalid bin Ma’daan (rahimahullah), a Taabi‘ee, mentioned the following:

“Indeed Surah Sajdah will dispute, in the grave, in defence of the one who would recite it. It will say, ‘O Allah! If am from Your kitaab then accept my intercession for him, and if I am not from Your kitaab then erase me from it!’ The surah will assume the form of a bird and will spread its wings over him (to protect him). It will intercede on his behalf and protect him from the punishment of the grave, and Surah Mulk also shares the same virtue.”

On account of this invaluable virtue, Khaalid bin Ma’daan (rahimahullah) would ensure that he would not go to sleep until he had recited Surah Sajdah and Surah Mulk. (Sunan Daarimi #3410)

Khaalid bin Ma’daan (rahimahullah) also mentioned the following (from the Sahaabah [radhiyallahu ‘anhum]):

There was once a man who was very sinful. However, he would recite Surah Sajdah on a regular basis, and besides this surah, there was nothing else that he would recite. (After he passed away,) Surah Sajdah (assumed the form of a bird) and spread its wings over him (to protect him). It said, “O my Rabb! Forgive him, for he would recite me in abundance!” Allah Ta‘ala then accepted the intercession of Surah Sajdah on his behalf and said to the angels, “In place of every sin that he has, record for him one good deed and raise him by one stage in Jannah.” (Sunan Daarimi #3408 and Mirqaat vol. 4 pgs. 679-681)

Surah Sajdah is a concise surah as it is approximately just four pages in length. Hence, reciting this surah will take just a few minutes, while the benefit of reciting it every evening will be enjoyed during the lengthy stay in the grave that we will all have to undergo.

May Allah Ta‘ala bless us all to recite Surah Sajdah as well as Surah Yaseen and Surah Mulk every night.   

Four Surahs’ Series – Part Two ~ Surah Mulk

Surah Mulk

Surah Mulk, commonly known by many as Surah Tabaarak, is the first surah of the twenty-ninth juz (para) of the Quraan Majeed. It is just less than three and a half pages in length. Accordingly, its daily recitation and even its memorization are extremely easy.

As with Surah Yaseen, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned regarding Surah Mulk, “I certainly wish that it (Surah Mulk) be in the heart of every individual of my Ummah.” (Tabraani – Majma‘uz Zawaaid #11477)

The importance of this surah can also be gauged by the fact that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would recite it every night. (Sunan Tirmizi #2892)

Some of the special virtues and benefits of reciting Surah Mulk are:

Protection from the Punishment of the Grave:

Sayyiduna Ibnu ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that on one occasion, a Sahaabi of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) pitched his tent somewhere without realizing that he had pitched his tent on a grave. After erecting his tent, he suddenly heard, from the ground, the voice of a person reciting the entire Surah Mulk. The Sahaabi then went to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and explained what he had witnessed. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) remarked, “It (Surah Mulk) is the surah that protects and the surah that saves – it saves the reciter from the punishment of the grave.” (Sunan Tirmizi #2890)

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that in the blessed era of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), we (the Sahaabah [radhiyallahu ‘anhum]) would refer to Surah Mulk as “Al-Maani‘ah” (that which protects from the punishment in the grave). Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) also mentioned that Surah Mulk is such a great surah that the one who recites it in the night has indeed done a lot and has done very well. (Tabraani - Majma‘uz Zawaa’id #11479)

Intercession for Forgiveness:

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned, “Indeed there is a great surah of the Quraan Majeed which consists of thirty verses. It will intercede for a person (who recites it punctually) until he gains forgiveness. This surah is Surah Tabaarak.” (Sunan Tirmizi #2891)

From the above ahaadeeth, we understand that we should all make it a point to recite Surah Mulk every night. This was the blessed habit of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) himself, and furthermore, regular recitation of this surah will assist us in the grave by protecting us from punishment.

Since this surah is relatively short, it will take just a few minutes to recite. 

May Allah Ta‘ala assist us to be punctual on the recitation of this Surah together with Surah Yaseen, Aameen

Four Surahs’ Series – Part One ~ Surah Yaseen

Surah Yaseen​

Surah Yaseen is indeed a unique surah, as it has been termed the ‘heart’ of the Quraan Majeed. Furthermore, reciting it once equals the reward of reciting the Quraan Majeed ten times. (Sunan Tirmizi #2887)

The importance of this surah, in the life of every believer, can be gauged by the fact that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) expressed his desire for every Muslim to memorise this surah mentioning, “I wish that it (Surah Yaseen) be in the heart of every individual of my Ummah.” (Bazzaar - Kashful Astaar #2305)

Some of the virtues and benefits for reciting Surah Yaseen are:

Forgiveness of Sins

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Whoever recites Surah Yaseen seeking reward from Allah Ta‘ala, his (minor) sins will be forgiven.” (Shu‘abul Imaan #2235)

Fulfilment of Needs

Sayyiduna Ibnu ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) mentioned, “Whoever recites Surah Yaseen in the morning, his tasks for that day will be made easy until the evening, and whoever recites it at the commencement of the night, his tasks for that night will be made easy.” (Sunan Daarimi # 3419)

It is thus evident that we should try to make it a point to recite Surah Yaseen every morning and evening. In this way, Allah Ta‘ala will fulfil our needs, make our tasks easy for us and forgive our sins. Let us make a determination that we will commence this practice from today and remain punctual on it until we leave this world.

May Allah Ta‘ala enable us all to enliven our hearts with the heart of the Qura'an Majeed. May the Qura'an Majeed intercede for us in our Qabr & on the day of Qiyamah, Aameen.