Jami' at-Tirmidhi
Chapters on The Virtues of the Qur'an
كتاب ثواب القرآن عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
Chapter 1
مَا جَاءَ فِي فَضْلِ فَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah came to Ubayy ibn Ka‘b while he was praying and called, ‘Ubayy!’ Ubayy turned but did not answer. He then shortened his prayer, went to the Messenger, and said, ‘Peace be upon you, Messenger of Allah.’ The Messenger replied, ‘And upon you be peace. What prevented you from answering when I called you?’ Ubayy said, ‘I was praying.’ He asked, ‘Have you not found in what Allah revealed to me: “Respond to Allah and the Messenger when he calls you to what gives you life”?’ Ubayy said, ‘Indeed; I will not do so again, if Allah wills.’ The Prophet asked, ‘Would you like me to teach you a surah the like of which was not revealed in the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, or the Criterion?’ Ubayy said, ‘Yes, Messenger of Allah.’ The Prophet asked, ‘What do you recite in prayer?’ Ubayy replied, ‘The Mother of the Qur’an.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘By the One in whose hand is my soul, nothing like it was revealed in the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, or the Criterion. It is the seven oft-repeated verses and the Magnificent Qur’an that I have been given.’ Reports from Anas ibn Malik and Abu Sa‘id ibn al-Mu‘alla are also cited on this topic. Abu ‘Isa graded this hadith hasan sahih.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The quoted verse is Qur’an 8:24. Umm al-Qur’an (‘Mother of the Qur’an’) is al-Fatihah. The source says ‘the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, and the Furqan’; the English witness expands this as ‘the entire Qur’an.’ The description ‘seven oft-repeated’ (sab‘an min al-mathani) also refers to al-Fatihah.
Chapter 2
مَا جَاءَ فِي فَضْلِ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ وَآيَةِ الْكُرْسِيِّ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah sent out a sizable expedition and asked each man how much of the Qur’an he knew. When he came to one of the youngest, he asked, ‘What do you know, so-and-so?’ He replied, ‘Such-and-such, and Surah al-Baqarah.’ The Prophet asked, ‘You know Surah al-Baqarah?’ He said yes. The Prophet said, ‘Go; you are their commander.’ One of their leading men said, ‘By Allah, Messenger of Allah, I only refrained from learning Surah al-Baqarah because I feared I would not be able to stand in prayer with it.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Learn the Qur’an, recite it, and stand in prayer with it. The example of the Qur’an for one who learns it, recites it, and stands in prayer with it is that of a bag filled with musk, whose fragrance spreads everywhere. The example of one who learns it and then sleeps while it remains within him is that of a bag tied shut over musk.’ Abu ‘Isa graded this hadith hasan.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic says the Messenger asked the men to recite what they knew, and the young man became their commander because he knew Surah al-Baqarah. The Arabic ‘qama bihi’ means standing in prayer with the Qur’an. The English witness clarifies this as voluntary night prayer. Abu ‘Isa notes that al-Layth ibn Sa‘d transmitted the report from Sa‘id al-Maqburi, from ‘Ata’, from the client of Abu Ahmad, from the Prophet as a mursal report, omitting Abu Hurayrah. Qutaybah related that version from al-Layth.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Do not turn your houses into graveyards. Satan does not enter a house in which Surah al-Baqarah is recited.’ Abu ‘Isa graded this hadith hasan sahih.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic compares houses where worship and recitation are absent to graveyards.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Everything has a pinnacle, and the pinnacle of the Qur’an is Surah al-Baqarah. In it is a verse that is the foremost of the Qur’an’s verses: Ayat al-Kursi.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Abu ‘Isa said this is a gharib hadith, known only through Hakim ibn Jubayr. Shu‘bah criticized Hakim ibn Jubayr and judged him weak. ‘Pinnacle’ translates sanam, literally a camel’s hump, used here for the highest or most prominent part.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Whoever recites Ha Mim al-Mu’min through “To Him is the return” (Qur’an 40:1–3) and Ayat al-Kursi in the morning will be protected by them until evening; and whoever recites them in the evening will be protected by them until morning.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Abu ‘Isa graded this hadith gharib. Some scholars criticized ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr al-Mulayki regarding his memory. Zararah ibn Mus‘ab was the son of ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf and the grandfather of Abu Mus‘ab al-Madani. The English witness says ‘when he gets up’ for the morning recitation; the Arabic simply says ‘when morning comes.’
Chapter 3
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Layla reported that Abu Ayyub al-Ansari had a storeroom containing dates, from which a ghoul would take. He complained about this to the Prophet, who said, ‘Go, and when you see her, say: “In the name of Allah, answer the Messenger of Allah!”’ Abu Ayyub caught her, and she swore she would not return, so he released her. He went to the Prophet, who asked, ‘What happened to your captive?’ Abu Ayyub said she had sworn not to return. The Prophet said, ‘She lied; she will return to lie again.’ This happened again, and the Prophet repeated, ‘She lied; she will return to lie again.’ The third time Abu Ayyub caught her, he said, ‘I will not let you go until I take you to the Prophet.’ She said, ‘I will tell you something: Recite Ayat al-Kursi in your house, and no Satan or anything else will come near you.’ Abu Ayyub went to the Prophet and told him what she had said. He replied, ‘She told the truth, though she is a habitual liar.’ A report from Ubayy ibn Ka‘b is also cited on this topic. Abu ‘Isa graded this hadith hasan gharib.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic identifies the narrator in the chain as ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Layla, reporting from Abu Ayyub al-Ansari. The captured being is called al-ghul (ghoul) in the source; the Prophet describes her as a habitual liar (kaḏūb).
Chapter 4
مَا جَاءَ فِي آخِرِ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Mas‘ud al-Ansari reported that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Whoever recites the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him.’ Abu ‘Isa graded this hadith hasan sahih.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic leaves ‘suffice him’ (kafatāhu) unqualified; interpretations include sufficing for protection, night prayer, or general spiritual benefit.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Al-Nu‘man ibn Bashir reported that the Prophet said, ‘Allah wrote a Book two thousand years before creating the heavens and the earth, and from it He sent down two verses with which He concluded Surah al-Baqarah. They are not recited in a home for three nights without Satan drawing near it.’ Abu ‘Isa graded this hadith hasan gharib.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic says the two verses are not recited in a home for three nights without Satan approaching it, i.e. when they are recited, Satan does not approach. The English witness renders this condition directly as ‘if they are recited for three nights.’
Chapter 5
مَا جَاءَ فِي سُورَةِ آلِ عِمْرَانَ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Al-Nawwas ibn Sam‘an reported that the Prophet said, ‘The Qur’an and its people who acted upon it in this world will come, with Surah al-Baqarah and Surah Al ‘Imran preceding it.’ Al-Nawwas said: The Messenger of Allah gave three images of them that I have never forgotten. He said, ‘They will come like two canopies with light between them; or like two dark clouds; or like a canopy formed by birds flying in ranks, pleading on behalf of those who recited them.’ Reports from Buraydah and Abu Umamah are also cited on this topic. Abu ‘Isa graded this hadith hasan gharib through this route. He explained that scholars understood this and similar reports to mean that the reward for reciting the Qur’an will come. The report from al-Nawwas supports their interpretation, since the Prophet said, “and its people who acted upon it in this world,” indicating that the reward for acting will come.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic gives three possible images: two canopies with a bright opening between them (ghiyabatan wa-baynahuma sharq), two dark clouds, or a canopy formed by birds in orderly ranks. They will intercede or plead for their companion. Abu ‘Isa explains the hadith as the coming of the reward for reciting and acting on the Qur’an, not merely the physical book.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Muhammad ibn Isma‘il said: Al-Humaydi related from Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah, in explaining the report of ‘Abd Allah ibn Mas‘ud, that he said, ‘Allah has created nothing in the heavens or the earth greater than Ayat al-Kursi.’ Sufyan said, ‘That is because Ayat al-Kursi is the speech of Allah, and Allah’s speech is greater than His creation of the heavens and the earth.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
This is an explanatory report, not presented here as a prophetic hadith. The wording attributes the statement about Ayat al-Kursi to ‘Abd Allah ibn Mas‘ud and the rationale about Allah’s speech to Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah.
Chapter 6
مَا جَاءَ فِي فَضْلِ سُورَةِ الْكَهْفِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Ishaq said that he heard al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib say: A man was reciting Surah al-Kahf when he saw his riding animal start to run. He looked and saw something like a cloud. He went to the Messenger of Allah and told him. The Prophet said, ‘That was the tranquility that descended with the Qur’an—or descended upon the Qur’an.’ A report from Usayd ibn Hudayr is also cited on this topic. Abu ‘Isa graded this hadith hasan sahih.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic offers two phrasings: sakinah descended with the Qur’an or upon the Qur’an. The English witness instead says ‘because of the Qur’an’ in the second phrasing. The unnamed man’s riding animal is described as running (tarkud), not merely stamping its feet.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu al-Darda’ reported that the Prophet said, ‘Whoever recites three verses from the beginning of Surah al-Kahf will be protected from the trial of the Dajjal.’ Muhammad ibn Bashshar also transmitted it through Mu‘adh ibn Hisham, from his father, from Qatadah, with the same chain and similar wording. Abu ‘Isa graded this hadith hasan sahih.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The hadith specifies three verses from the beginning of Surah al-Kahf; the English witness renders fitnat al-Dajjal as ‘the turmoil of the Dajjal.’
Chapter 7
مَا جَاءَ فِي فَضْلِ يس
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Anas reported that the Prophet said, ‘Everything has a heart, and the heart of the Qur’an is Ya-Sin. Whoever recites Ya-Sin, Allah records for him, for its recitation, the reward of reciting the Qur’an ten times.’ Abu ‘Isa said this is a gharib hadith, known only through the report of Humayd ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman; in Basra they knew it from Qatadah only through this route. Harun Abu Muhammad is an unknown narrator. Abu Musa Muhammad ibn al-Muthanna also related it through Ahmad ibn Sa‘id al-Darimi, from Qutaybah, from Humayd ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman. A report from Abu Bakr al-Siddiq is also cited, but Abu ‘Isa says it is unsound due to its chain, which is weak. A report from Abu Hurayrah is also mentioned on this topic.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
This is a weakly supported report: Abu ‘Isa explicitly says Harun Abu Muhammad is unknown and that the Abu Bakr version is weak and unsound. The Arabic says Allah records a reward equivalent to reciting the Qur’an ten times.
Chapter 8
مَا جَاءَ فِي فَضْلِ حم الدُّخَانِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Whoever recites Ha Mim al-Dukhan during the night will wake to find seventy thousand angels seeking forgiveness for him.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Abu ‘Isa graded this hadith gharib, known only through this route, and said ‘Umar ibn Abi Khath‘am is considered weak. Muhammad said he is munkar al-hadith (a narrator whose reports are rejected).
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Whoever recites Ha Mim al-Dukhan on Friday night will be forgiven.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Abu ‘Isa graded this hadith gharib, known only through this route. Hisham Abu al-Miqdam is considered weak. The chain also has a gap: al-Hasan did not hear from Abu Hurayrah, according to Ayyub, Yunus ibn ‘Ubayd, and ‘Ali ibn Zayd. ‘Friday night’ translates laylat al-jumu‘ah, the night associated with Friday.
Chapter 9
مَا جَاءَ فِي سُورَةِ الْمُلْكِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Ibn ‘Abbas reported that one of the Prophet’s Companions pitched his tent over a grave, unaware that it was a grave. He heard someone inside reciting Surah al-Mulk, ‘Blessed is He in whose hand is the dominion,’ until he completed it. The Companion went to the Prophet and told him what had happened. The Messenger of Allah said, ‘It is a protector; it is a savior, saving him from the punishment of the grave.’ A report from Abu Hurayrah is also cited on this topic. Abu ‘Isa graded this hadith hasan gharib through this route.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic says that there was a person in the grave reciting Surah al-Mulk; the English witness adds that the Companion heard him. The chapter is also called Tabarak (‘Blessed is He’). The Arabic calls the surah al-mani‘ah (the protecting/preventing one) and al-munjiyah (the saving one).
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet said, ‘There is a surah of thirty verses in the Qur’an that intercedes for a man until he is forgiven: “Blessed is He in whose hand is the dominion” (Surah al-Mulk).’ Abu ‘Isa graded this hadith hasan.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic describes the surah as interceding on behalf of a man until he is forgiven; Tabarak alladhi bi-yadihi al-mulk is the opening of Surah al-Mulk.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Jabir reported that the Prophet would not sleep until he recited “Alif Lam Mim. The sending down…” (Surah as-Sajdah, 32) and “Blessed is He in whose hand is the dominion” (Surah al-Mulk). Abu ‘Isa said that several people transmitted a similar report from Layth ibn Abi Sulaym, and Mughirah ibn Muslim also transmitted a similar report from Abu al-Zubayr, from Jabir, from the Prophet. Zuhayr reported that he asked Abu al-Zubayr, ‘Did you hear Jabir mention this hadith?’ Abu al-Zubayr replied, ‘Safwan or Ibn Safwan informed me of it.’ Zuhayr appears to have rejected the claim that this report came from Abu al-Zubayr directly from Jabir. Hannad also transmitted a similar version through Abu al-Ahwas, from Layth, from Abu al-Zubayr, from Jabir, from the Prophet. In another chain, Layth transmitted from Abu al-Zubayr, from Tawus, who said, ‘These two surahs surpass every surah of the Qur’an by seventy good deeds.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic names the nightly recitations as Alif Lam Mim Tanzil (Surah as-Sajdah) and Tabarak alladhi bi-yadihi al-mulk (Surah al-Mulk). The transmission discussion includes a challenge by Zuhayr: Abu al-Zubayr said Safwan or Ibn Safwan told him the report, rather than claiming to hear it directly from Jabir. The final statement is attributed to Tawus and is not part of the Prophet’s wording.
Chapter 10
مَا جَاءَ فِي إِذَا زُلْزِلَتْ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Anas ibn Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Whoever recites “When the earth is shaken” (Surah al-Zalzalah), it is equivalent for him to half the Qur’an. Whoever recites “Say: O disbelievers” (Surah al-Kafirun), it is equivalent to a quarter of the Qur’an. Whoever recites “Say: He is Allah, the One” (Surah al-Ikhlas), it is equivalent to a third of the Qur’an.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Abu ‘Isa graded this hadith gharib, known only through the report of this narrator, al-Hasan ibn Salm. A report from Ibn ‘Abbas is also cited on this topic. The fractions are half, one-quarter, and one-third respectively.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Ibn ‘Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘“When the earth is shaken” (Surah al-Zalzalah) is equivalent to half the Qur’an; “Say: He is Allah, the One” (Surah al-Ikhlas) is equivalent to a third of the Qur’an; and “Say: O disbelievers” (Surah al-Kafirun) is equivalent to a quarter of the Qur’an.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
This is a parallel report with the same fractions in a different order. Abu ‘Isa graded it gharib, known only through Yaman ibn al-Mughirah.