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:

Assalam o Alaikum

Burhan Bhai,

Why am I not able to find the below hadith reference in the hadith book of Tirmidhi????

Abdullah Ibn Abbas and Anas Ibn Malik (radhiallaho anhum ajmaeen) reported that the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said,

Whoever recited Surah Zilzilah (99) would get the reward of reciting half the Quran.

Whoever recited Surah al Kaafirun (109) would get a reward as if reading a quarter of the Quran.

Whoever recited Surah al Ikhlas (112) would get a reward as if reading one third of the Quran.

[At-Tirmidhi 2818/A]

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Reward for reciting zilzalah

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

There are several narrations recorded in the authentic and established Sunnah where the Messenger of Allah (saws) declared that the recitation of the blessed Surah Al-Ikhlaas (Surah 112) is equivalent in reward to the recitation of a third of the Glorious Quran.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1771 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘Get together, for I am going to recite one-third of the Qur'an before you.’ And those who could get together gathered there. Then the Messenger of Allah (saws) came out and recited the 112^th Surah Al-Ikhlaas of the Quran and then entered (his house). Some of us said to the others: ‘Perhaps there has been some news from the Heavens on account of which the Prophet (saws) has gone inside (the house).’ The Messenger of Allah (saws) again came out and said: ‘I told you that I was going to recite one-third of the Qur'an; keep in mind, this (Surah al-Ikhlas) is equivalent to one-third of the Qur'an!’

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.534 Narrated by Abu Said Al Khudri

The Prophet (saws) said to his companions, "Is it difficult for any of you to recite one third of the Qur'an in one night?" This suggestion was difficult for them so they said, "Who among us has the power to do so, O Allah's Messenger (saws)?" Allah Messenger (saws) replied: "Surah Al-Ikhaas (112^th Surah) is equal to one third of the Qur'an."

Al-Muwatta Hadith Hadith 15.17

Yahya related from Malik from Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abdullah ibn Sasaca from his father that Abu Said al-Khudri heard a man reciting Surat al-Ikhlaas (Sura 112), repeating it over and over again. In the morning he went to the Messenger of Allah (saws) and mentioned it to him. The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "By The One in whose Hands is my life, it (Surah Al-Ikhlaas) is equal to one third of the Qur'an."

But to the best of our knowledge there is no such authentic hadith which states that the recitation of Surah Zalzalah ((99^th) or any other Surah) is equivalent in reward to the recitation of half the Quran. Similarly there is no authentic hadith which states that the recitation of Surah Al-Kaafiroon ((109^th) or any other Surah) is equivalent in reward to the recitation of a quarter of the Quran! And Allah Alone Knows Best.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan