Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I m used to reciet surah yaseen after fajr prayer and some other aayah from quran ...is it also a bida ... Cant we read Dua- Noor or any thing after prayers ...I dont make them a norm ..but is used to read them...they are not the part of Compulsory prayers ...R not they good for making our dua heard..??

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Answer:

Reciting quran surahs

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

One is encouraged to recite as much of the Glorious Quran as is easy and possible for one to recite, whenever one is able to do so; for the recitation of the Quran is indeed beneficial and a blessing to the believers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 29 Surah Ankabut verse 45: Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee and establish Regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verse 78: Establish regular prayers at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night and the morning prayer and reading: for the recitation of the Quran in the morning (fajr) carry their testimony.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2137 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "If anyone recites a letter from Allah's Book he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a tenfold reward. I do not say that ‘Alif-Lam-Mim’ are one letter, but ‘alif’ is a letter, ‘lam’ is a letter and ‘mim’ is a letter."

One may recite any Surah or any number of Surahs one wishes from the Glorious Book of Allah, whenever one wishes to do so. And if one wishes to recite Surah Yaa-Seen and some other Surahs after Fajr, he will get his reward in full from Allah Subhanah. This recitation of the Quran cannot be termed as a ‘bida’ or innovation in any way.

A ‘bida’ or innovation is something, which one insists is and makes it a part of a deen; when it is not endorsed by Allah and His Messenger (saws). For example, if one makes it a custom and a ritual to recite only Surah Yaa-Seen (or any particular Surah) everytime one visits the graveyard; or one recites only Surah Yaa-Seen everytime after Fajr prayers thinking that the recitation of this specific Surah (or any other particular Surah) would get him a special or an extra reward as compared to the recitation of other Surahs, when the Messenger of Allah (saws) has not confirmed it; then it would be termed a bida or innovation! An act will only be termed a ‘bida’ if one innovates a new thing in the deen assigning a special reward for it from oneself, when such an act is not endorsed by Allah and His Messenger (saws).

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), he can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), he can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan