Chapter 2: CONCLUDING SECTION

Translation: There are a few ahaadith over and above the forty already discussed, which certainly need to be mentioned.

Translation: In this section, some special virtues of certain Surahs are given. These Surahs are short, but have many virtues and rewards. In addition, there are one or two important matters, regarding which the readers of the Qur-aan Shareef need to be warned.

Translation: Hadhrat Abdul Malik ibn Umair رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ reports that Rasulullah ﷺ said, “In Surah Faatihah, there is a cure for all sicknesses.”

Note: The virtues of Surah Faatihah are found in many Ahaadith. It is reported in one Hadith that while a Sahaabi رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ was reading Nafl Salaah, Rasulullah ﷺ called him. Since he was reading Salaah he did not answer. After completing the Salaah he went to Rasulullah ﷺ , who asked him why he did not answer as soon as he was called. He replied that he could not do so because he was reading Salaah. Rasulullah ﷺ asked if he did not read the following Aayah in the Qur-aan Shareef:

Translation: “O you who believe! Answer the call of Allah Ta’ala and His Messenger whenever they call you.” (Surah Anfaal – Aayah 24)

Rasulullah ﷺ then said, “I will tell you of a Surah which is the greatest and the most virtuous in the Qur-aan Shareef. It is Surah Faatihah, which has seven aayaat. These are the Sab’ul Masaani (seven aayaat that are often repeated) and represent the Glorious Qur-aan Shareef.” Some pious Ulama have mentioned that whatever was in the earlier Books revealed by Allah Ta’ala is found in the Qur-aan, and the message of the Qur-aan is found in Surah Faatihah, and that which is in Surah Fatihah is found in Bismillaah and that which is in Bismillah is to be found in its first letter بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ (ba). It is explained that ا ب (ba) is a letter used to join and stands for uniting. Surely the final aim is to unite an aabid (worshiper) with Allah Ta’ala. Some Sufia have gone still further and have said that whatever there is in (ba) is to be found in its dot, which signifies the Unity of Allah Ta’ala, a thing which is undividable or united as a single dot. Some Ulama are reported to have said that the following Aayah is a Dua for fulfilling both our worldly and Deeni objects.;

Translation: “Only You do we worship and only Your help do we seek.” (Surah Faatihah – Aayah 4)

According to another Hadith, Rasulullah ﷺ said, “By Him Who is the owner of my life, a Surah like this has neither been revealed in the Torah nor in the Injeel nor in the Zaboor nor in the rest of the Qur-aan.” The Ulama have stated that the reading of Surah Faatihah with firm Imaan and Yaqeen cures all sicknesses whether spiritual or worldly, external or internal. To use its aayaat as a taaweez (amulet) and also licking its writing is useful in the treatment of diseases. It is mentioned in the Sihaah books of Hadith (the six authentic books of Hadith) that the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ used to read Surah Faatihah and blow upon those bitten by a snake or a scorpion and even on the person suffering from fits and on the mentally ill. Rasulullah ﷺ had also allowed this. There is another narration to the effect that Rasulullah ﷺ recited this surah and blew on Saa’ib bin Yazeed رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ and applied his saliva on the spot where he had some pain. According to another Hadith it is said that if, at the time of going to sleep, one reads surah Faatihah and Surah Ikhlaas and blows on himself, he will be protected from all dangers except death. According to one narration, Surah Faatihah is equivalent to two-thirds of the Qur-aan Shareef in reward. It is also reported that Rasulullah ﷺ has said, “I have been given four things from the special treasure of the Arsh, from which nothing has ever been given to anyone before. These are Surah Faatihah, Aayatul Kursi, the last few aayaat of surah Baqarah and Surah Kausar.” Hadhrat Hasan Basri رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ reports the saying of Rasulullah ﷺ that whoever reads Surah Faatihah is like one who reads the Torah, the Zaboor, the Injeel and the Qur-aan Shareef. It is reported in one Hadith that shaytaan cried, wept and threw dust on his head four times; (1) When he was cursed. (2) When he was thrown out of Jannah onto the earth. (3) When Hadhrat Muhammad ﷺ was made a Nabi. (4) When Surah Faatihah was revealed.

Sha’bi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ says that once a man came to him and complained of pain in his kidney. Sha’bi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ asked him to read Asaasul Qur-aan (the foundation of the Qur-aan) and blow on the aching spot. When he asked what was meant by Asaasul Qur-aan, Sha’bi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ replied, Surah Faatihah. It is written in the established practices of Mashaa’ikh that Surah ), the Most Glorious Name of Allah Faatihah is the Isme A’zam (Ta’ala and it should be read for achieving all our objects. There are two ways of reading it:

One method is to read this surah forty-one times for forty days, in the time between the sunnat and fardh of the Fajr Salaah. The meem of

Translation: بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ (Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem) should be read jointly

Translation: الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ (Alhamdu lillaahi). Whatever it is intended for, with the laam of it will Insha-Allah (if Allah Ta’ala wills) be fulfilled. In the treatment of a patient or of one who is affected by sihr (black magic), it should be recited and blown on water to be used for drinking. The second method is to read it seventy times between the sunnat and fardh of the Fajr Salaah on the first Sunday of a new moon, after which the number is reduced by ten every day until the course ends with a reading of ten times on the seventh day. This weekly course should be repeated for four weeks. If the purpose is achieved at the end of the first month, well and good, otherwise this course should be repeated for the second and, if necessary, for the third month. The surah is also written with rosewater, musk and saffron, on a porcelain plate, then the writing is washed off and the water is given to the patient for drinking for forty days. This is a sure treatment of chronic diseases. To read it seven times and blow on the patient is a good treatment for toothache, headache and pain in the stomach. All these points have been briefly quoted from the kitaab ‘Mazaahir-e-Haq’. ‘Muslim Shareef’ has a Hadith in which Ibn Abbaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا says that once Rasulullah ﷺ was sitting amongst us and said; “Today, a door has been opened in Jannah which was never opened before, and out of it came down an angel who had never come down before. The angel said to me, ‘Receive the good news of two anwaar (two lights) which have not been given to anyone before you. One is Surah Faatihah and the other is the last few aayaat of Surah Baqarah.’” These two Surahs have been called Noor because on the Day of Qiyaamah they will travel in front of their readers (brightening up their path).

Translation: Hadhrat Ata ibn Abi Rabaah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says that Rasulullah ﷺ said, “Whoever reads Surah Yaaseen in the beginning of the day, all his needs for that day are fulfilled.”

Note: Many rewards of surah Yaaseen are mentioned in the Ahaadith. It is said in one Hadith;

“Everything has a heart, and the heart of the Qur-aan is Surah Yaaseen. Whoever reads Surah Yaaseen, Allah Ta’ala records for him a reward equal to that of reading the entire Qur-aan Shareef ten times.”

According to another Hadith, Allah Ta’ala recited Surah Yaaseen and Surah Taaha 1000 years before the creation of the Heavens and the Earth, and after hearing this, the Malaaikah said, “Blessed be that Ummah onto whom the Qur-aan Shareef will be sent down, and blessed be the hearts that will memorise it, and blessed be the tongues that will recite it.” Nabi ﷺ said, “Whoever reads Surah Yaaseen only for the pleasure of Allah, all his earlier sins are forgiven. Therefore, make it a practice of reading this Surah for your dead.” According to one Hadith, Surah Yaaseen is named in the Torah as Mun’imah (giver of good things), because it contains benefits for its reader in this life as well as in the Aakhirah, it removes from him the afflictions of this world and the next and takes away the fear of the next life. This Surah is also known as Raafi’ah and Khaafidah, i.e. that which gives honour and respect to the believers and disgraces the disbelievers. According to a Hadith, Rasulullah ﷺ said, “My heart wishes that Surah Yaaseen be in the heart of every person of my Ummah.” According to another Hadith, if anybody reads Surah Yaaseen every night and then dies, he dies as a shaheed (martyr). It is reported in yet another Hadith, “Whoever reads Surah Yaaseen is forgiven. Whoever reads it in hunger, is satisfied. Whoever reads it having lost his way, finds the way. Whoever reads it on losing an animal, finds it. When one reads it, fearing that the food will run short, that food becomes enough. If one reads it next to a person who is suffering the pain of death, his death is made easy for him. If anyone reads it for a woman experiencing difficulty in child-birth, her delivery becomes easy.” Muqri (rahmatullahi alaih) said, “If Surah Yaaseen is read by one who fears the ruler or an enemy, he gets rid of this fear.” According to another Hadith, if somebody reads Surah Yaaseen and Surah Was-Saaffaat on Friday and begs of Allah Ta’ala for something, his Dua is granted. (Most of the above has been drawn from ‘Mazaahir-e-Haq’, though the Ulama of Hadith have questioned some of the narrations).

Translation: Hadhrat Ibn Mas’ood رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ reports that Rasulullah ﷺ said, “Whoever reads Surah Al-Waaqi’ah every night will never starve.” Hadhrat Ibn Mas’ood رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ used to instruct his daughters to recite this Surah every night.

Note: The rewards of Surah Waaqi’ah are also reported in many Ahaadith. There is a narration to the effect that whoever reads Surah Hadeed, Waaqi’ah and Ar-Rahmaan, is counted amongst the dwellers of Jannatul-Firdaus (the highest level of Jannah). There is a Hadith in which it is stated that Surah Waaqi’ah is Surah Al-Ghina (wealth, contentment). Read it and teach it to your children. Another narration says: “Teach it to your wives.” Hadhrat Aa’ishah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا is reported to have emphasised its reading. It is foolish of us to read it only for the sake of worldly wealth. If instead, it is read for the contentment of the heart and for the sake of the next world, then worldly wealth will come to us without asking.

Translation: Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ narrates that Rasulullah ﷺ said, “In the Qur-aan there is a Surah consisting of thirty aayaat which will intercede for its reader until he is forgiven. This is Surah Tabaarakal-lazi.”

Note: About Surah Mulk, there is also a narration that Rasulullah ﷺ said, “My heart wishes that this surah be in the heart of every believer.” According to a Hadith, a person who reads Surah Mulk and Surah Sajdah between Maghrib and Esha Salaah, is like a person who stands in Salaah throughout Laylatul-Qadr. It is also reported that if someone reads these two Surahs, seventy rewards are added to his account and seventy sins are wiped out. According to another narration, if one reads these two surahs, a reward equal to that of standing in Salaah throughout Laylatul Qadr is written for him. This is also mentioned in ‘Mazaahir’. Tirmizi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ reports from Ibn Abbaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا , “Some Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ put up a tent at a place without knowing that there was a grave there. Suddenly, they heard someone reading Surah Tabaarakal-lazi. They reported this to Rasulullah ﷺ who explained to them that this Surah guards a person against Allah’s punishment and frees him (from Jahannam).” Hadhrat Jaabir رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ reports that Rasulullah ﷺ would not go to sleep until he had recited Surah Alif-Laam-Meem Sajdah and Tabaarakal-Lazi. Khalid bin Ma’daan رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ has said that a narration reached him as follows; “There was a man who was a great sinner, but he used to recite Surah Sajdah. He never read anything else besides this. This Surah spread its wings over that man and submitted to Allah Ta’ala, ‘O My Rabb! This man used to recite me very frequently. So the intercession of this surah was accepted. It was ordered that each sin in his account should be replaced by a reward.” Khalid bin Ma’daan رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ has also reported; “This Surah pleads for its reader in the grave and says, ‘O, Allah Ta’ala! If I am contained in Your Book, then accept my intercession, otherwise write me off from Your Book.’ This Surah appears in the form of a bird, spreads its wings over the dead and guards against the punishment in the grave.” He has reported all these rewards for Surah Tabarakal-lazi as well. He himself would never go to sleep unless he had read these two surahs. Taa’oos رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ has said, “These two surahs carry sixty virtues more than that of those carried by any other surah.” The punishment in the grave is not an ordinary thing. After death, the first stage that one has to pass through is the grave. Whenever Hadhrat Usmaan رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ stood by a grave, he used to weep so much that his beard would become wet with tears. Somebody asked him why he wept more at the mention of the grave than he did at the mention of Jannah and Jahannam. He replied, “I have heard from Rasulullah ﷺ that the grave is the first stage towards the Aakhirah.

Whoever is saved from the punishment in the grave, the stages that follow will become easy for him, and whoever is not saved from the punishment in it, the coming stages will be more difficult for him. I have also heard that no scene is more horrible than that of the grave.”

Translation: “O, Allah Ta’ala! save us from this punishment through Your Mercy and Grace.”

Translation: Hadhrat Ibn Abbaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا says, “Somebody asked Rasulullah ﷺ as to which act is the most rewarding. Rasulullah ﷺ replied, ‘Al-haal wal-murtahil.’ The man asked, ‘O,

Translation: Rasulullah! What is Al-haal wal-murtahil?’ Rasulullah ﷺ replied, ‘It is that reader of the Qur-aan who starts reading from the beginning and continues till he reaches its end, and after the end, he starts at the beginning again. Whenever he stops, he starts again.’”

الْحَالُّ (al-haal) means one who reaches a halting Note: The Arabic word الْمُرْتَجِلُ place and the word (al-murtahil) means one who departs. In other words, as soon as the reading of the Qur-aan Shareef is finished, one should begin another recitation. It should not be that when one reading is finished the next may be started later on. The term الْحَالُّ وَالمُرْتَحِلُ al-haal wal murtahil is explained in a narration in ‘Kanzul-Ummaal’ to mean ا خَاتِمُ الْمِفْتَاحُ ) al-khaatimatul miftaah (one who concludes and opens), i.e.

one who completes the whole reading of the Qur-aan Shareef and then immediately starts another. Probably this has led to the practice generally prevalent in our country, according to which, when the reader finishes the entire Qur-aan Shareef, he does not stop after reading the last surah مُفْلِحُوْن ) )

but also reads from the beginning of the Qur-aan up to (muflihoon. Doing so has only become a custom and the people do not care to continue further and complete the next reading. This Hadith teaches us that as soon as one reading of the Qur-aan Shareef is completed, a new reading should be started immediately and brought to completion. It is written in ‘Sharhul Ihya’ as well as in Allamah Suyuti’s رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ ‘Al-Itqaan’ that according to Daarami رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ whenever Rasulullah ﷺ read surah Naas (the last surah), he would also read surah Baqarah up to (مُفْلِحُوْنَ( ) muflihoon after which he would make dua which is read on completion of the entire Qur-aan.

Translation: Hadhrat Abu Musa Ash’ari عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ reports that Rasulullah ﷺ said, “Guard the Qur-aan well. I swear by Him in Whose hands my life is, the Qur-aan escapes from the hearts more quickly than camels do from their strings.”

Note: If a man becomes careless when looking after an animal and the animal frees itself from the string, it will escape. Similarly, if the Qur-aan Shareef is not looked after and it is neglected, it will not be remembered and will disappear from the heart. The fact that the Qur-aan Shareef is memorised is a miracle of the Qur-aan Shareef itself. Otherwise memorising a book half or even one-third its size is not only difficult but rather impossible. Therefore, the fact that the Qur-aan Shareef is memorised is mentioned by Allah Ta’ala as a favour in Surah Qamar, where it is repeated over and over:

Translation: “We have made the Qur-aan easy for memorising it, so is there anyone who will memorise it?” (Surah Qamar – Aayah 17)

The author of ‘Jalalain’ writes that the question in this aayah is in fact a command. Therefore, Allah Ta’ala has stressed over and over again the importance of memorising the Qur-aan Shareef, but if we Muslims are so foolish as to think that this act is useless and a waste of time and energy, then this mistake on our part is sufficient to justify our destruction. It is a matter of surprise indeed that, when Hadhrat Uzair عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ recited the Torah from memory, he was raised to such a level that he was called the “Son of God”. Indeed we are ungrateful to Allah Ta’ala for His blessing and favour on us, where He has made the memorising of the Qur-aan Shareef so easy for all of us (and not only for an individual as in the case of Taurah). It is for such people that the Qur-aan Shareef says;

Translation: “And those who do wrong will come to know to which place they will return.” (Surah Shua’raa – Aayah 227)

It is only through the grace and blessing of Allah Ta’ala that the Qur-aan Shareef gets memorised. Afterwards, if a person neglects it, he is made to forget it. There are severe warnings for those who forget the Qur-aan Shareef after having memorised it. Rasulullah ﷺ is reported to have said, “The sins of my Ummah were shown to me. I did not find any sin as great as that of forgetting the Qur-aan after having learnt it.” In another Hadith it is mentioned, “The one who forgets the Qur-aan after having learnt it, will appear in the Court of Allah Ta’ala as a leper (a person with a very bad skin disease).” According to a narration of Razeen رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ in ‘Jam’ul-Fawaa’id’, the following Aayah refers to it:

Translation: “But whosoever turns away from My advice (the Qur-aan and zikr), shall surely have a narrowed (difficult) life and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Qiyaamah. He will say: ‘O my Rabb, why have You raised me blind, when indeed I was one who could see.’ He (Allah Ta’ala) will say, ‘This (is how it shall be for you) Our Aayaat came to you, but you forgot them. In the same way you will be forgotten today.’” (Surah Taahaa – Aayah 124 - 126)

Translation: Hadhrat Buraydah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ reports that Rasulullah ﷺ said, “He who reads the Qur-aan so that he might get something to eat from the people, will come on the Day of Qiyaamah in such a condition that his face will only be of bones, on which there will be no flesh.”

Note: This means that those who read the Qur-aan Shareef to fulfill the needs of this world will get no share in the Aakhirah. Rasulullah ﷺ said, “We read the Qur-aan. There are amongst us Arabs as well as non-Arabs. Go on reading the Qur-aan as you do now. Soon, some people will come who will put right the pronunciation of the letters of the Qur-aan as an arrow (i.e. they will work hard to beautify it and spend hours in improving the pronunciation of each and every letter), but all this will be for a worldly reason. They will not be concerned about the Aakhirah.” This Hadith further shows that recitation in a pleasing voice is of no use if there is no sincerity and if the purpose is only to earn worldly benefit. ‘There will be no flesh’ means that when a person uses the best of all things (i.e. the Qur-aan) for earning the lowly things of this world, the best of all parts of the body i.e. his face, will lose its beauty. Once, Imraan bin Husain رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ happened to pass by a person giving advices after reciting the Qur-aan Shareef and then begging from the people. He was sorry to see this painful sight and recited Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilaihi raaji’oon (verily we are from Allah Ta’ala and will return to Him). He said that he had heard from Rasulullah ﷺ that whoever recites the Qur-aan Shareef should beg for his needs only from Allah Ta’ala. Shortly, there will come a time when people will recite the Qur-aan Shareef and then beg of the people. It is reported from some Ulama that the example of a person who earns the things of this world through the knowledge of Deen is like a person who cleans his shoes with his cheeks. The shoes will no doubt be cleaned, but this act is most stupid. It is such people who are referred to in the following Aayah of the Qur-aan Shareef:

Translation: These are the people who have purchased misguidance (error) at the price of guidance. So their trade shall neither be profitable nor will they be guided.” (Surah Baqarah – Aayah 16)

Hadhrat Ubayy ibn Ka’b رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says, “I taught a Surah of the Qur-aan to a man who gave me a bow as a gift. I mentioned this to Rasulullah ﷺ who said that I had accepted a bow from Jahannam.”

A similar story has been mentioned by ‘Ubaadah ibn Saamit رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ in whose case Rasulullah ﷺ said, “You have hung between your shoulders a spark from Jahannam.” According to another Hadith Rasulullah ﷺ said, “If you are prepared to put a yoke (steel buckle) of Jahannam around your neck, you may accept it.” Some words of advice for Huffaaz who are working in Madrasahs only for the sake of money. It is humbly requested that they should think about their position and responsibility. This improper conduct on their part is being made an excuse by some people for stopping the reading or memorising of the Qur-aan Shareef. Those people are not only responsible for the evil consequences, but the huffaaz are also responsible for stopping the teaching of the Qur-aan Shareef. These huffaaz think that they are engaged in the propagation of the Qur-aan, but in reality they are obstructing it through their misconduct and bad intentions. The Ulama have not permitted the acceptance of salary for teaching the Qur-aan Shareef so that it becomes the primary motive. In fact, the real motive of the teachers should only be to promote the teaching and propagation of the knowledge of the Qur-aan. No salary can be a return for the noble act of teaching the Qur-aan. The salary is only for meeting personal needs and has been permitted when forced by circumstances, in case of dire necessity.

QUR-AAN CHAPTER 3 FINAL NOTE - SUMMARY OF THE FORTY AHAADITH MENTIONED IN PART ONE

The purpose of describing the beauties and virtues of the Qur-aan Shareef in the previous pages is to promote love for it. Love for the Qur-aan Shareef is needed for developing a love for Allah Ta’ala and vice versa. Love for one leads to the love for the other. The purpose of creation of man in this world is that he recognises Allah Ta’ala, and all other creation are created for the service of man. As a Persian poet says:

Poetic Translation: The clouds, the winds, the moon, the sun and the sky are constantly at work,

So that you earn your living and do not eat in forgetfulness, The whole creation is involved in working for you in obedience,

The law of justice will not be fulfilled if you fail to obey (Allah Ta’ala).

So man should learn a lesson from their punctuality and obedience in their functions of rendering service to Him.

Temporary changes are sometimes caused in their functions by Allah Ta’ala as a warning and reminder. There is no rain when it should rain; no wind blows when it should blow; similar changes are seen in the moon and the sun through their eclipses. In short, everything is subject to some change, to caution and warn those who do not fulfil their duty to their Creator. How surprising indeed that all these things are made obedient to fulfil man’s needs, yet their obedience does not lead man to his own submission to the Creator. Love alone provides the best help for obedience and submission to Allah Ta’ala.

Translation: Verily, the lover submits to his beloved.

Translation: When a person falls in love with someone, submission and obedience to the beloved becomes his habit and a second nature. Disobedience to the beloved becomes difficult, just as being obedient to someone whom one does not love. One way of developing love for someone is to look at his beauty and excellence. Looking at his beauty may be through physically seeing him or pondering over his beauty. If a look at a beautiful face can lead to natural love, then a sweet heart-captivating voice can also sometimes produce a magnetic effect. A Persian poet says:

Poetic Translation: Looks alone do not inspire love, Often this wealth is attained through charming words.

Sometimes it is the sweetness of the voice which draws the heart unconsciously and sometimes it is the beauty and wisdom of speech or words which causes one to fall in love. Experienced men have suggested that in order to develop love, one should think about the fine qualities of the beloved and none other than the beloved should find a place in one’s heart. It is true even in the case of earthly love that the sight of a beautiful face or a hand urges one to see the other parts of the body of the beloved, so that love may increase and the yearning of the heart may be satisfied, but that stage of satisfaction is never reached.

As an Urdu poet says:

مرض براه مرض برهتا كيا جول جول دواكى

The disease worsened as the treatment progressed.

If after sowing the seeds in a field, one does not care to water it, no crop will grow there. Similarly, after falling in love unintentionally, if one does not pay attention to the beloved, this love will disappear in time to come. But if one keeps on thinking about and imagining the charming features, the built as well as the habits, behaviour and the manner of speaking of the beloved, love will go on increasing every moment.

Poetic Translation: Unusual are the ways in the school of love, One who learns his lesson gets no leave.

If you forget the lesson of love, you will be left out at once by the beloved. But the more you learn it, the more you are caught up in it. In the same way, if a man wants to develop love with someone worthy of love, he should find out the excellence, the charms and the valued qualities of the beloved and should not be satisfied with what he knows, but should always be eager to know more about them. When, even in the case of a human, the lover is not satisfied with a partial view of the beloved, and is always on the lookout for more chances to see as much of the beloved as he can, then Allah Ta’ala, the Pure and Blessed, Who is the source of all beauty and elegance, (and in fact there is no beauty in this world except His) is certainly such a beloved Whose loveliness and perception knows no bounds and is limitless. One of the ways He shows His beauty and excellence is through the Qur-aan Shareef, which is the Word of Allah Ta’ala Himself. What greater pleasure can there be for a Aashiq (lover of Allah Ta’ala), than the fact that the Qur-aan is Allah Ta’ala’s own Revelation. A poet says:

Poetic Translation: O, flower! How pleased am I with you, you have the smell of someone (beloved).

Even if we leave aside the consideration that the Qur-aan Shareef was revealed by Allah Ta’ala and it is His word, the relationship that the Qur-aan Shareef has with Rasulullah ﷺ is enough for a Muslim to adore it. Study of the Qur-aan itself makes one realise that there is no excellence elsewhere that cannot be found in the Glorious Qur-aan. A poet says:

Poetic Translation: The limits of sight are narrow and the flowers of your beauty numerous; He who plucks the flowers of your spring complains of not being fully capable of his hold.

There is another verse to this effect:

Poetic Translation: How many of your graces can be adored; Your charms are innumerable and my restless heart is one.

It is evident to the careful reader of the above Ahaadith, that there is hardly any important thing of this world to which our attention has not been drawn. Whatever taste for love and beauty one may possess, its excellence and perfection will be found in the Qur-aan Shareef. Whatever enjoyment and beauty one enjoys from the entire or portion of the world can all be found in the Qur-aan Shareef. In the first Hadith, the excellence of the Qur-aan Shareef has been compared against all the beauty of the worldly things. Take any example of love. If a person has love for someone for any number of reasons then we should know that the Qur-aan Shareef has unlimited number of reasons to be loved. The Qur-aan Shareef is superior to all other lovable things, taken individually or collectively in every respect. If one loves somebody because of obtaining a great number of benefits from him, Allah Ta’ala has promised (Hadith two) that He will give to the reader of the Qur-aan Shareef more than what was begged of Him by all other persons. If somebody is adored for his personal greatness, attainment or excellence, Allah Ta’ala has said (in the same Hadith) that the superiority of the Qur-aan Shareef over all other books is like the superiority of Allah Ta’ala Himself over His creation, of the master over his slave and of the king over his subjects. If anybody is fond of wealth, property, servants and animals, and loves to raise and breed animals of a particular kind, he is warned (in Hadith three) that the knowledge of the Qur-aan Shareef is far more valuable than any number of good animals acquired even without labour or crime. If a Sufi seeks piety and fear of Allah Ta’ala, and works hard to acquire them, Rasulullah ﷺ has said (Hadith four) that those who become an expert in the study of the Qur-aan Shareef will be reckoned amongst the Malaaikah. The piety of the Malaaikah cannot be excelled by anybody, because they cannot pass even a moment in disobedience to Allah Ta’ala. Also if anybody takes pride in getting double the reward or if he likes that his words should carry a double weight, he should consider how even the reader who falters in his recitation gets double the reward. If any jealous person finds joy in evil conduct, and jealousy has become a part and parcel of his nature and he cannot give up this vice, he can be rightly jealous of a Haafiz whose excellence is worth being jealous of, as said by Rasulullah ﷺ (Hadith five). Let one who enjoys fruit and cannot live without it, know that the Qur-aan Shareef is like a citron. If anybody is fond of sweets, he should know that Qur-aan Shareef is sweeter than dates (Hadith six refers to this). If anybody is desirous of honour and dignity and cannot resist being a member of some council, he should know that the Qur-aan Shareef raises the rank of its reader, both in this world as well as in the Aakhirah (This is mentioned in Hadith seven). If anybody wants a sincere and dedicated companion, who should be ready to defend him in every dispute, he should know that the Qur-aan Shareef is ready to defend its devotee in the court of the Emperor of all emperors (as mentioned in Hadith eight). If a person devotes his life to the in-depth study of the finer points of different subjects and appreciates these finer points, and it turns him away from the greatest pleasure of this world, then he should know that the contents of the Qur-aan Shareef is a treasure full of fine points (as described in Hadith eight). If somebody attaches importance to discovering hidden secrets, and considers expertise in the criminal investigation department as an accomplishment and devotes his life to acquiring it, he should know that the body of the Qur-aan Shareef reveals those mysteries whose depths are boundless (which is referred to in Hadith eight). If one likes the construction of lofty buildings and wants his special house to be on the 7th floor, then verily the Qur-aan Shareef raises its devotee to the 7000th floor in Jannah (as referred to in Hadith nine). If anybody desires to do business which should bring maximum profit with a minimum amount of effort, he should know that the recitation of each letter of the Qur-aan Shareef will earn him ten blessings (as referred to in Hadith ten). If anybody wants to be a king and desires the crown and a throne, and has to fight battles in this world to attain it, he should consider that the Qur-aan gets for the parents of those devoted to it, a crown whose brilliance cannot be compared to in this world (This is mentioned in Hadith eleven). If there is any expert in acts of juggling who can catch a burning coal in his hand or can put a burning match-stick in his mouth, he should realise that the Qur-aan Shareef provides safety even against the fire of Jahannam (For this see Hadith twelve). There are people who want to have good relations with government officers and take pride in relating how, as a result of their recommendation to an officer, an accused had not been punished but had been set free. For having contact with these officers, they spend their time and money in flattering and arranging dinners for them and so on. Those reciting the Qur-aan Shareef will intercede on behalf of ten people who had been condemned to Jahannam (This is mentioned in Hadith thirteen). Now let us consider Hadith fourteen. If somebody is fond of flowers and gardens and loves sweet smells, he should realise that the Qur-aan Shareef has been compared to musk. If someone loves perfumes and wants to bathe in dried musk, then the example of the Qur-aan Shareef is like a musk vase. This is only as an example. In reality musk has no comparison with the fragance of the Qur-aan Shareef. The particles of this earth cannot be likened to the Heavenly ones. A Persian Poet says:

Poetic Translation: That sprinkling of musk is in fact the act of your looks; It is out of expediency that lovers accuse the Chinese deer (reported to yield musk).

A person who is often punished and only works because of the fear of receiving punishment, and encouraging him to do work is useless, will be benefited to know that one whose heart is empty of the Qur-aan, is like a ruined house (as mentioned in Hadith fifteen). If a person is in search of the best form of all ibaadah and is careful to devote himself to that ibaadah which brings him the maximum reward, he should know that recitation of the Qur-aan Shareef is superior to all other forms of ibaadah, and it is specially mentioned in Hadith sixteen that it is superior to nafl Salaah, fasting, tasbeeh and tahleel (recitation of Kalimah Tayyibah). Some people are deeply interested in pregnant animals, as they fetch more price than the ordinary ones. Rasulullah ﷺ has specifically said that the recitation of the Qur-aan Shareef is far more precious than such animals (see Hadith seventeen). Many people are always worried about their health. They exercise by running or going for a walk in the morning and have a bath every day. There are others who suffer from worry and anxiety. Rasulullah ﷺ has said that Surah Fatihah provides treatment for every disease and the Qur-aan Shareef cures the sickness of the hearts. People take pride in so many things that to list all is difficult, for example, some boast of their lineage or good habits, others of their popularity or foresight. Rasulullah ﷺ has said that the thing of real pride is the Qur-aan Shareef, which possesses all beauty and perfection. As a Persian verse says:

Poetic Translation: “What all the other beloveds possess collectively, You alone possess all that.” (For this see Hadith twenty)

Many people are fond of accumulating wealth. For this purpose, they practise miserliness in their food and dress, undergo many hardships and develop a craze that is not satisfied by any amount of wealth. Rasulullah ﷺ has advised us that the only thing that should be treasured as much as possible is the Qur-aan Shareef. No treasure of wealth is better than this (Hadith twenty-one refers to this). Similarly, if anybody likes a bright environment and uses ten electric bulbs to light up his room, he should know that the Qur-aan Shareef provides the best of light. People have a desire to receive presents and they expect gifts from their friends every day. They try to get more friends only with this motive. If any of their friends does not send them their share of fruit from his garden, they complain about him. They should realise that the Qur-aan Shareef is the best giver of gifts. Peace descends on those who recite the Qur-aan Shareef. If you want someone to die due to him making demands on you, then the Qur-aan Shareef will take revenge on your behalf. Some people flatter or praise the minister so that he may take their name in the court of the ruler and some flatter the workers of the minister so that they may praise him before the minister. Sometimes a person pleads with others so that they may mention his name in the presence of his beloved. Let all such people learn that through the Qur-aan Shareef, they may make themselves worthy of being mentioned by our beloved Allah Ta’ala Himself (see Hadith twenty-two). If a person is always eager to know about the most favourite thing of the beloved and he is prepared to carry out even the most difficult task to get it, he should know that there is nothing more beloved to Allah Ta’ala than the Qur-aan Shareef. (We find this mentioned in Hadith twenty-three). Some people want to have access to the court of the ruler, and with this object in mind, they plan and struggle all their lives. Through the Qur-aan Shareef we can become the special favourites of Allah Ta’ala, before Whom the greatest of kings is completely helpless. It is strange that in order to become a member of some council, or to join the hunting party of some man in authority, people make sacrifices of time, money and comfort. They use all sorts of tactics for approaching them and thereby spoil their Deeni as well as their worldly efforts, only for the sake of gaining some false honour. Is it then not necessary to make some effort to win the real honour by seeking it from Allah Ta’ala only? If they can spend their whole life in attaining the false honour of this world, we must spend at least a part of our lives in pleasing the Being Who gave us this life (see Hadith twenty-four). If you are fond of ‘Chistiyyat’ (one of the four branches of Sufism) and do not find comfort except in their Majlis (gatherings), you should know that gatherings for recitation of the Qur-aan are far more attracting to the heart and it also attracts the ears of the most unmindful person. If you want to attract the attention of our Great Master, you must devote yourself to the recitation of the Qur-aan Shareef (This is discussed in Ahaadith twenty-five and twenty-six). If we declare ourselves to be Muslims and also feel proud of Islam, then we should know that it is the command of Rasulullah ﷺ that the Qur-aan Shareef should be recited in a suitable manner. If our Islam is not just lip service and it has really something to do with obedience to Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul ﷺ , then we should realise that Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah ﷺ have commanded us to recite the Qur-aan Shareef. If you are a staunch nationalist and love a Turkish hat because you consider it to be a part of your Islamic dress, or if you are interested in national culture and promoting it by all possible means, and if you write articles in the newspapers for this purpose and pass resolutions in public meetings, then you should know that Rasulullah ﷺ has commanded us to do our best to propagate the Qur-aan Shareef (see Hadith twenty-seven). At this stage, it will not be out of place to express disappointment about the attitude of our national leaders in respect of the Qur-aan Shareef. They do not assist in its propagation but rather help in obstructing it. Learning the Qur-aan Shareef is looked upon by them as useless and a waste of time and effort. It is also considered an act whereby one uses his mind and physical effort in some useless work. It may be that some of them are not in favour of this attitude, but when a group of people are engaged in anti-Qur-aanic propaganda, silence on the part of our national leaders is just like helping them in the crime.

An Urdu poet says:

Poetic Translation: We admit, you will not disregard us, but We will be reduced to dust, before you become aware.

There are many who claim that the Madrasah where the Qur-aan Shareef is taught is only promoted by the Ulama for earning their sustenance. This is a serious attack on the intentions of all such teachers and Ulama. Those who make such accusations are responsible for this slander, which they will have to prove in the Aakhirah. Such people are humbly requested to consider the results of the efforts of these so-called ‘selfish teachers’ and also what the results of their own unselfish ideas would be. Rasulullah ﷺ has commanded us to teach and propagate the Qur-aan Shareef. They should judge for themselves how far they have personally contributed in carrying out the command of Rasulullah ﷺ .

Their attention is drawn to another misunderstanding. Some people might think that they are not a party to this anti-Quranic propaganda and therefore remain unconcerned, but this cannot save them from the anger of Allah Ta’ala. The Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ said to Rasulullah ﷺ ;

Translation: “Shall we be destroyed while there are righteous people amongst us.”

Rasulullah ﷺ replied, “Yes (it will be so), when evil shall become widespread.” There is another Hadith to the same effect where; “Allah Ta’ala ordered that a certain village should be overturned. Jibraa’eel عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ submitted that in that village there was a person who had never committed any sin. Allah Ta’ala said that it was true, however, in spite of him witnessing so much disobedience to Me (around him), there never appeared a frown on his face (in its disapproval).” In fact, it is because of these Ahaadith that the Ulama do not hesitate to point out the wrong when they see any disobedience to Allah Ta’ala being committed. It is unacceptable that some of our so-called intelligent people consider it to be narrow mindedness on the part of Ulama. This so-called broad-mindedness on the part of such people does not free them of their responsibility. They should understand that it is not the duty of the Ulama alone to check disobedience to the Commandments of Allah Ta’ala, but rather it is the duty of every Muslim who sees disobedience being committed and has the power to stop it. Bilaal bin Sa’d رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ has said; “If evil deeds are committed secretly, only the evil-doers suffer for it, but if they are committed openly and nobody stops them, then all the people are punished.” There are some who are fond of history and they travel to consult old books of history wherever they may find them. Such people should rather devote themselves to the study of the Qur-aan Shareef, in which they will find information that will compare to all the books put together that are the most authentic on history. (Hadith twenty-eight refers to this). If you want to acquire a high position that even the Ambiyaa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ are asked to sit in your company and participate in your gathering, you can do so through the Qur-aan (Hadith twenty-nine refers to this). If you are so lazy that you cannot do hard work, even then you can earn an honourable position without any hard work by means of the Qur-aan Shareef. You should sit down and keep listening silently to children reciting the Qur-aan Shareef in a Madrasah. Thereby you shall earn a lot of reward without any hard work on your part (This is referred to in Hadith Thirty). If you are fond of variety, you can find it in the various ideas and different subjects of the Qur-aan Shareef, some dealing with mercy, others with punishment, some relating to different stories and others to various commandments and so on. You can also change your mode of recitation, low at times and loud at others (see Hadith thirty-one). If your sins have exeeded all limits and you believe that you will die one day, Ahaadith thirty-two to thirty-four will encourage you to lose no time and start the recitation of the Qur-aan, because you can never find such an influential intercessor, whose intercession is certain to be accepted. On the other hand, if you are very respectful and your sense of respect and honour makes you avoid disputes with quarrelsome people, even at the cost of your valuable rights, you should try to avoid dispute with the Qur-aan on the Day of Qiyaamah, when it will be the strongest complainant, whose argument will be upheld and there will be nobody to defend you. If you are in need of a guide who would lead you to the house of your beloved, and you would pay him any price for leading you, you should resort to the recitation of the Qur-aan Shareef. Again if you want to safeguard yourself against imprisonment, you have no way out except the recitation of the Qur-aan Shareef. (Hadith 34) If you want to acquire the knowledge of the Ambiyaa عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ and you are keen about its knowledge, Hadith thirty-five shows that you can specialise in it through study of the Qur-aan Shareef. Similarly, if you are keen to develop the best of character, you can do so through the recitation of the Qur-aan Shareef. (Hadith 35) If you are very fond of mountainous areas and they alone provide you with the best recreation and satisfaction, you should know that the Qur-aan Shareef will provide recreation for you on mounds of musk on the Day of Qiyaamah, when the entire creation will be in a state of terror (Hadith thirty-six refers to this). If you want to excel in the worship of Allah Ta’ala by remaining busy in Nafl Salaah day and night, you should know that teaching and learning the Qur-aan Shareef is a better means of doing so (See Hadith 37-39). If you want to keep yourself away from all troubles and save yourself from all worries, you can do so simply by devoting yourself to the Qur-aan Shareef (This is pointed out in Hadith Forty).

Translation: 1. If you need to consult a doctor, you should know that Surah Faatihah provides treatment for all diseases (see Hadith one of part two Concluding Section).

2. If your many daily needs remain unfulfilled, why should you not recite Surah Yaaseen (see Hadith two of part two, Concluding Section).

3. If you chase after money, you should read Surah Waaqi’ah (see Hadith three of Part two, Concluding Section).

4. If fear of punishment in the grave worries you, it can also be relieved by the Qur-aan Shareef (see Hadith four of Part two Concluding Section).

5. If you are looking for a profession that will keep you busy all the time, you can find none better than the Qur-aan Shareef (see Hadith five of Part two, Concluding Section).

6. If one has acquired the wealth of the Qur-aan Shareef, he should carefully guard it so as not to lose it. To lose such a blessing after acquiring it is a great tragedy.

7. He should also abstain from such unworthy acts as might convert this blessing into a curse (see Ahaadith six and seven of Part two, Concluding Section).

Translation: I know that I am not capable enough to point out the beauties of the Glorious Qur-aan Shareef. I have explained them according to my humble understanding. However, this has opened up a field of contemplation for Ulama of deep understanding. According to those who are well versed in the art of love, the following five qualities of the beloved will arouse love. First, it is the existence of the beloved, which one loves. The passage of time does not change the Qur-aan Shareef, therefore this guarantees that it exists in all times and it is secure from any changes. Secondly, there should be a natural relationship between the lover and the beloved. The Qur-aan Shareef is the attribute of Allah Ta’ala. The relationship between the Creator and His creation, the Master and His servants, needs no explanation. A Persian poet says:

Poetic Translation: The Creator of mankind has, with the life of Man, a connection that is incomprehensible and unimaginable.

An Urdu poet says:

Poetic Translation: He has a relationship of friendliness with all; He reaches out to the heart of each and everyone.

The third, fourth and fifth qualities are Jamaal (beauty), kamaal (perfection) and Ihsaan (kindness), respectively. If the previous Ahaadith are studied, keeping the above three qualities in view, the Ulama will not be satisfied with what has been written by me, but they will themselves arrive at the conclusion that everything that promotes love and liking, such as the sense of respect and position, fondness and faithfulness, beauty and perfection, greatness and compassion, peace and pleasure, wealth and property, in short all such things that promote love are pointed out by Rasulullah ﷺ to be possessed in a wonderful way by the Glorious Qur-aan Shareef. It is but natural that some of these virtues may be hidden and may not be directly visible as is the case with most of the worldly valuables. We do not throw away a sweet litchi because of its rough outer cover. Nobody starts hating his beloved because she wears a purdah. He would try all possible means that she unveils herself. But if he does not succeed in unveiling her, the very sight of the purdah will excite him, provided he is sure that it is indeed his beloved behind the purdah. No doubt, the Qur-aan Shareef exceeds in all the virtues that bring about love, but if we fail to understand and realise those virtues due to some deficiency in us which then becomes a veil between us and the Qur-aan Shareef, then this veil should not make an intelligent person have a don’t care attitude and become indifferent towards the Qur-aan Shareef. We should attribute this failure to our own shortcomings and feel sorry at our loss. We should think more and more about the beauties of the Qur-aan Shareef and become worthy of understanding the kitaab of Allah Ta’ala. Usmaan واللّهعنة and Huzaifah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ have reported that, if hearts become clean of all filth, then one would never be satisfied with reading the Qur-aan Shareef. Saabit Bunaani رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ said, “I put in twenty years of effort to learn the Qur-aan Shareef and it has been giving me comfort for these twenty years.” Thus it is obvious that whoever makes taubah over his sins and then ponders upon the Qur-aan Shareef, will find it to possess all the beauties that all the beloveds collectively possess.

I wish I were also such a person. However, I request the readers that they should not look at the humble personality of the writer, because it will prevent them from realising their objective, but they should consider the subject-matter and its source. I am only a means of drawing their attention to these important matters. At this stage, it is just possible that some reader of this book might be blessed by Allah Ta’ala with a desire to learn the Qur-aan Shareef by heart and become a haafiz. If anyone has a desire to make his child a haafiz, then no special effort is required, because this tender age is most conducive to memorising the Qur-aan Shareef. But if some grown-up person desires to memorise the Qur-aan Shareef, I suggest that he should start with a special dua, which was recommended by Rasulullah ﷺ and has been found effective by many people. It has been reported by Tirmizi, Haakim and others رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ as follows: Hadhrat Ibn Abbas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ reports that he was once in the company of Rasulullah ﷺ when Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ came in and said; “O, Nabi of Allah Ta’ala! You are dearer to me than my father and mother. I try to memorise the Qur-aan but cannot do so, as it disappears from my memory.” Rasulullah ﷺ said; “Shall I tell you of a method that will benefit you as well as those to whom it is conveyed by you? You will then be able to remember whatever you learn.” At the request of Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ Rasulullah ﷺ said; “When the night preceding Friday comes, rise up in its last third portion, if possible, for that would be excellent, because this is the best part of the night, as this is the time when Malaaikah come down and Duas are specially accepted at this time. It was for this time that Hadhrat Ya’qoob عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ had been waiting when he had said to his sons that he would, in the near future, pray to his Rabb for forgiveness for them. If it is difficult to get up at that time, then you should get up in the middle part of the night and if even that is not possible, offer the four rakaat in the early part of the night. After reciting Surah Faatihah in each rakaat, Surah Yaaseen should be recited in the first rakaat, Surah Dukhaan in the second, Surah Alif Laam Meem Sajdah in the third and Surah Mulk (Tabarakal-Lazi) in the fourth. After completing at-tahiyyaat (glorification of Allah Ta’ala in the sitting posture in Salaat) you should praise and glorify Allah Ta’ala abundantly, send Durood on me and on all the Ambiyaa عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ and seek forgiveness for all believers and those Muslims who have passed away before you, and then recite the following Dua.”

Note: Before the dua it may be mentioned that several forms of hamd and sana (praise and glorification), etc., which are required to be recited before this dua are reported in other Ahaadith given in ‘Shurooh-e-Hisn’ and ‘Munaajaat Maqbul’. Those who can consult these kitaabs should find the details themselves and thereby enrich their dua. For the convenience of those who cannot read these books, brief extracts are given hereunder:

Translation: All praise be to Allah Ta’ala, the Lord of the Worlds, praises up to the (countless) number of His creatures, matching His pleasure, weighty as the weight of His Throne and expansive as the ink (needed) for the writing of His Words. O, Allah Ta’ala! I cannot comprehend the praise due to You. You are as You have praised Yourself. O, Allah Ta’ala! Send Your peace, blessings and prosperity upon our leader, the Ummi (not taught by anyone), the Hashimite Nabi Muhammad and upon all the Ambiyaa and Rasuls and upon Your favourite Malaaikah. O, Allah Ta’ala! Forgive us and our brethren who preceded us in faith, and place not in our hearts any hatred towards those who believe. O our Lord! You are Most Compassionate and Most Merciful. O, Master of the Worlds! Forgive me and my parents and all believers and Muslims, whether male or female. Verily, You are the Hearer and Granter of our Duas.

Translation: After this, the following dua which was taught by Rasulullah ﷺ to Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , as mentioned in the above Hadith, should be read:

Translation: O, Allah Ta’ala! Have mercy upon me, so that I always abstain from sinful deeds as long as I am alive, be kind to me so that I do not toil in vain pursuits, and bless me with solace in that which pleases You. O, Allah Ta’ala! The Originator of Heavens and Earth, Master of Glory and Honour, Lord of such Majesty, attainment of which cannot even be conceived. O, Allah Ta’ala! the Most Beneficent, I beg in the name of Your Majesty and the Noor of Your Countenance, to impose upon my heart the memorising of Your Book, as You have taught me the same, and grant me such a manner of recitation as pleases You. O; Allah Ta’ala! The Originator of Heavens and Earth, Master of Glory and Honour, Rabb of such Majesty, attainment of which cannot even be conceived! O, Allah Ta’ala, the Most Beneficent, I pray in the name of Your Majesty and the noor of Your Countenance, to brighten my vision with the noor of Your Book, bless my tongue with a flow in its reading, and, through its blessing, remove the heaviness of my heart, open my mind, and wash away (the sins of) my body. Certainly, there is none except You to support me in the cause of truth, and none except You can fulfil this desire of mine. There can be no safeguard (against evil) nor any power (over virtue) except with the help of Allah Ta’ala, the Most High, the Most Great.

Translation: Rasulullah ﷺ then said to Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , “Repeat this act for three, five or seven Fridays. If Allah Ta’ala so wills, your Dua will certainly be granted. I swear by Him Who made me a Nabi that the acceptance of the Dua of a Muslim will never go unanswered.” Ibn Abbaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا reports that hardly had five or seven Fridays passed when Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ came to Rasulullah ﷺ and said, “Previously I used to learn about four Aayaat but I was not able to remember them. Now I learn about forty Aayaat and I can remember them as clearly as if I have the Qur-aan Shareef open before me. Previously when I heard a Hadith and then repeated it, I could not remember it, but now when I hear Ahaadith and narrate them to others, I do not miss a single word.” May Allah Ta’ala bless both me and you with memorising of the Qur-aan Shareef and the Ahaadith by the mercy and tufail of His Nabi ﷺ .

Translation: O, Allah Ta’ala! By Your Mercy, send Your Peace and blessings on Muhammad ﷺ , the best of Your creation and our leader, and on his Family and on his Companions. You are the Most Compassionate of all the Most Merciful ones.

Translation: QUR-AAN CHAPTER 4 40 AHAADITH OF HADHRAT SALMAAN رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ

The forty Ahaadith given in the previous pages relate to a special subject-matter and as such it has not been possible to keep it short. These days, we have become easy going and it is difficult to bear even slight hardships in the cause of Deen. In view of this, I give here another set of forty Ahaadith, which are very short and are reported at one place from Rasulullah ﷺ . The beauty about it is that it embraces all the vital teachings of Islam and is unique in this respect. It is given in ‘Kanzul Ummaal’ and attributed to a group of the earliest Muhadditheen. Of the Ulama of later times, Moulana Qutbuddin Muhaajir Makki رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ has also mentioned it. Let those having an eagerness for Deen, memorise at least this Hadith and earn a great reward for doing so little. This Hadith is given below:

Translation: Hadhrat Salmaan رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ narrates that he had asked Rasulullah ﷺ about the forty ‘Ahaadith’ concerning which he had said that, if anyone from amongst his Ummah memorised them, he would enter Jannah. I asked which Ahaadith are they? Rasulullah ﷺ replied: “You should believe: (1) in Allah Ta’ala, i.e. in His Person and Attributes; and (2) The Last Day; and (3) The Malaaikah; and (4) The earlier Divine Books; and (5) All the Ambiyaa; and (6) The life after death; and (7) Destiny (Taqdeer), i.e. all that is good or bad is from Allah Ta’ala; and (8) That you bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah Ta’ala, and that Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger; and (9) That at the time of each Salaah, you perform the Salaah at its proper time after performing a perfect wudhu. And perfect wudhu is performed with keeping in mind the aadaab (etiquettes) and mustahabbaat (plural of mustahab desirable action). A fresh wudhu should preferably be performed at the time of each Salaah, although the previous wudhu would suffice, and this is mustahab. To make a good Salaah means to be mindful of the faraaidh, sunnan and mustahabaat. In another Hadith, it is said;

Translation: that during Salaah the saffs (rows) should be straight, i.e. the saffs should not be curved and there should be no gaps between the people. This is also included in the meaning of establishing Salaah.

Translation: (10) Pay the Zakaat (obligatory charity on wealth exceeding the nisaab); and (11) Fast during the month of Ramadhaan; and (12) Perform Hajj if you have wealth; (The availability of wealth has particularly been mentioned, because the lack of wealth is generally made an excuse for not performing Hajj. Otherwise it is evident that the other requirements that make the ajj obligatory should also be fulfilled.) (13) You should perform the twelve rakaats sunnat-e-mu’akkadah Salaah every day; (According to other Ahaadith these twelve rakaats are the two rakaats before the two fardh of Fajr Salaah, four rakaats before and two after the four fardh of Zuhr Salaah, two rakaats after the three fardh of Maghrib Salaah and two rakaats after the four fardh of Esha Salaah). (14) You should never miss the Witr Salaah at night; Witr Salaah is waajib (compulsory, but less than fardh and more important than sunnat) and is, therefore, specially emphasised; (15) You should not ascribe partners unto Allah Ta’ala; (16) You should not disobey your parents; (17) You should not use the property of orphans unjustly; (Unjustly implies that there is no harm in using the belongings of an orphan in a lawful manner, as is the case under certain circumstances.) (18) You should not drink wine; (19) You should not commit adultery; (20) You should not take false oaths; (21) You should not give false evidence; (22) You should not give in to your base desires (nafs); (23) You should not backbite a Muslim brother; (24) You should not slander a pure chaste woman (or a chaste man); (25) You should not have ill feelings towards your Muslim brethren; (26) You should not indulge in play and futile activities (27) You should join those who involve themselves in useless amusemnets (28) You should not call a short person; “O, you short one!” with the intention of finding fault with him; (there is no harm in a person being called by a nickname which has become associated with him, provided that the nickname is neither used to tease nor as a term of abuse. Using it to tease is not permissible.) (29) You should not indulge in jokes at the cost of others; (30) You should not indulge in slander amongst Muslims; (31) You should be ever grateful to Allah Ta’ala for His bounties; (32) You should be steadfast in suffering and calamity; (33) You should not be unmindful of the punishment of Allah Ta’ala; (34) You should not cut family ties with your relatives; (35) You should maintain good family ties with your relatives; (36) You should not curse any creation of Allah Ta’ala; (37) You should make the zikr and glorify Allah Ta’ala by repeating the words Subhaanallaah, Al-hamdulillaah (all praise is for Allah Ta’ala), Laa ilaaha illallaah (there is no god but Allah Ta’ala) and Allaahu Akbar frequently; (38) You should not miss the Friday and Eid Salaah; (39) You should believe that whatever difficulty or ease befalls you was predestined and could not be avoided, and whatever you have missed, would have never come to you; and (40) You should not give up the recitation of the Qur-aan Shareef under any circumstances.” Hadhrat Salmaan رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says that he asked Rasulullah ﷺ : “What reward would be given to one who memorises these Ahaadith?” Rasulullah ﷺ said, “Allah Ta’ala will raise him up in the company of the Ambiyaa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ and the Ulama.” May Allah Ta’ala, through His Grace, forgive all our sins and include us in the company of His obedient servants by His mercy alone. This is not beyond His generous grace. The readers are humbly requested to remember this sinner in their duas.

Translation: (Hadhrat Moulana) Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhlavi رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , Mazahirul-Uloom Saharanpur. 29 Zul Hijjah 1348 HIJRI.