14 NOvember 2003

.: THE NOBLE QUR`AN :.

1. The companions of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam would recite this Surah before parting. Imam ash-Shafi`ee said that if people pondered over this Surah, it would be sufficient for them. Which Surah is this?

It is Surah al-`Asr, which is as follows [translation]:

By Al-`Asr
Verily man is in loss
Except those who believe and do righteous deeds and recommend one another to the truth
and recommend one anther to patience

At-Tabari recorded from `Abdullah bin Hisn bin Abi Madeenah that he said, "Whenever two men from the companions of the Messenger of Allah used to met, they would not part until one of them had recited Surah al-`Asr in its entirety to the other, and one of them had given the greetings of peace to the other."

Imam ash-Shafi`ee said, "If people were to ponder on this Surah, it would be sufficient for them."

2. Which surah is said to be one-third of the Qur`an?

It is Surah al-Ikhlas, which is as follows [translation]:

Say: He is Allah, One.
Allah Allah, the Eternal, Absolute
He begets not, nor was He begotten.
And there is none comparable to Him.

Al-Bukhari recorded from Abu Sa`id radhiallahu `anhu that a man heard another man reciting, "Say He is Allah One..." and he was repeating over and over. So when the morning came, the man went to the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam and mentioned that to him as though he was belittling it. The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "By He in Whose Hand is my soul, verily it is equivalent to a third of the Qur`an." This was also recorded by Abu Dawud & An-Nasa`i.

Al-Bukhari recorded from Abu Sa`id radhiallahu `anhu that the Messenger of Allah said to his companions, "Is one of you not able to recite a third of the Qur`an in a single night?" This was something that was difficult for them and they said, "Which of us is able to do that, O Messenger of Allah?" So he replied, "Allah is the One, As-Samad, is a third of the Qur`an."

3. This Surah will intercede on behalf of its reciter until he is forgiven/admitted to Paradise. Name this Surah.

It is Surah al-Mulk.

Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Hurayrah radhiallahu `anhu that Allah's messenger sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "Verily, there is a chapter in the Qur`an which contains thirty Ayat that will intercede on behalf of its reciter until he is forgiven. (It is) 'Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion...'" This hadeeth was collected by at-Tirmidhi and the four Sunan compilers.

At-Tabarani and al-Hafiz ad-Diya' al-Maqdisi both recorded from Anas radhiallahu `anhu that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "There is a chapter of the Qur`an that will argue on behalf of its reciter untol it causes him to enter into Paradise. (It is): 'Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion...'" [At-Tabarani in al-Aswat]

4. This companion was entrusted with the first compilation of the Qur`an (into one manuscript) by Abu Bakr and `Umar ibn al-Khattab radhiallahu `anhuma. Who was he?

He was Zayd bin Thabit, radhiallahu `anhu.

Abu Bakr radhiallahu `anhu, who was then the khalifah, told him, "You are an intelligent young man and we do not doubt you. You used to write the revelation for the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam and we want you to collect the Qur`an." [Bukhari] Once, after the Prophet's death, some people entered in upon Zayd and asked him, "Narrate to us something from the  Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam." He responded, "And what can I narrate to you? I used to be a neighbour of the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam so whenever any inspiration came to him, he would call me to write it..." [Ibn Abi Dawood]

Zayd had memorised the Qur`an during the Prophet's lifetime. Anas bin Malik radhiallahu `anhu said, "Only four people memorised the Qur`an before the Prophet's death: Ubay bin Ka`b, Mu`adh bin Jabal, Zayd bin Thabit and Abu Zayd." [Bukhari]

He was also present at the time of the Prophet's last recitation to Jibreel in the Ramadhan before he passed away. Abu `Abd ar-Rahman as-Sulamee said, "Zayd witnessed the last recitation (of the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam to Jibreel) and because of this, Abu Bakr relied upon him in its compilation and `Uthman put him in charge of writing it (during the second compilation)." [az-Zarkashee]

5. Which two chapters of the Qur`an have been called the "two lights" and will shade their people of the Day of Resurrection?

They are Surah al-Baqarah and Surah al-`Imran.

Imam Ahmad narrated that Abu Nu`aym narrated to them that Bishr bin Muhajir said that `Abdullah bin Buraydah narrated to him for his father: "I was sitting with the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam and I heard him say, "Learn Surah al-Baqarah because in learning it, there is blessing; in ignoring it, there is sorrow and the sorceress cannot memorise it." He sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam kept silent for a while and then said, "Learn Surah al-Baqarah and Surah al-`Imran because they are two lights and they shade their people on the Day of Resurrection, just as two clouds, two spaces of shade or two lines of (flying) birds. The Qur`an will meet its companion in the shape of a pale-faced man on the Day of Resurrection when his grave is opened. The Qur`an will ask him, 'Do you know me?' The man will say, 'I do not know you.' The Qur`an will say, 'I am your companion, the Qur`an which has brought you thirst during the heat and made you stay up during  the night. Every merchant has his certain trade. But this day, you are behind all types of trade.' Kingship will then be given to him in his right hand, eternal life in his left hand and the crown of grace will be placed on his head. His parents will also be granted two garments that the people of this life could never afford. They will say, 'Why were we granted these garments?' It will be said, 'Because your son was carrying the Qur`an.' It will be said (to the reader of the Qur`an), 'Read and ascend through the levels of Paradise.' He will go on ascending as long as he recites, whether reciting it slowly or quickly.'" [Ahmad]

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