Weakness of the Hadeeth: Virtues of Surah al-Hashr (59)

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

Fatwa of Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله:

Question: Assalaam `alaikum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh. I ask you about this Hadeeth if it is Saheeh or Dha`eef: on the authority of Ma`qil bin Yasaar on the authority of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that he said: “If anyone says on entering the morning: ‘I seek refuge in Allaah the all-Hearing the All-knowing from the accursed devil’, three times and recites the last three verses of Surah al-Hashr (59) then Allaah deputes over him seventy thousand angels who pray for his forgiveness till the evening. And if he dies during the day, he dies as a martyr. And, if anyone recites it in the evening then (too) he is of the same station.” What is the authenticity of this Hadeeth?

Answer: “It is not authentic, rather it is a weak Hadeeth, and its attribution to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم is not correct. But it is legislated upon the Believer…at all times to do the Adhkaar (remembrance of Allaah) and Istighfaar and the recitation of the Qur’aan, such things are enjoined at all times. The Believer is recommended to engage in the remembrance of Allaah, praising Him and in doing the Istighfaar, at all times as Allaah تعالى said in His Book:

﴿ يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ اذْكُرُواْ اللَّهَ ذِكْراً كَثِيراً - وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلاً ﴾

{O you who believe! Remember Allaah with much remembrance. And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [i.e. the early morning (Fajr) and `Asr prayers].} [Surah al-Ahzaab (33): 41-42]

And the Prophet صلى الله علسه وسلم said: “The dearest words to Allaah are four: Subhaan-Allaah, Al-Hamdulillaah, Wa laa ilaaha illallaah, Allaahu-Akbar. There is no harm for you in which order you begin (them while remembering Allaah)” [Saheeh Muslim (5329) on the authority of Samurah bin Jundub رضي الله عنه]

And he صلى الله علسه وسلم said: “Subhaan-Allaah, wal-Hamdulillaah, wa laa ilaaha illallaaah, wallaahu akbar are from al-baaqiyaat al-saalihaat (the good righteous deeds that last).” [Ibn Jareer al-Tabaree in his Tafseer (15/166) and graded as “Saheeh bi shawaahidihee” (Saheeh due to supporting chains) by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Saheehah (3264)]

The Prophet صلى الله علسه وسلم also said: “The Mufarradoon have gone ahead.” They (the Companions of the Prophet) said: “Allaah’s Messenger, who are Mufarradoon?” He صلى الله علسه وسلم said: “They are those males and females who remember Allaah much.” [Saheeh Muslim (6474)]

The remembrance of Allaah is enjoined upon all times, night and day, in travelling and in residence, in the house and on the road, and in Masjid and in other places. And from the Adhkaar is what we have mentioned: Subhaan-Allaah, wal-hamdulillaah, wa laa ilaha illallaah, wallaahu akbar, wa laa haula wa laa quwwata illaa billaah, subhaan Allaahi wa bi hamdih, subhaan Allaahil-`adheem, laa ilaaha illallaahu wahdahoo laa sharika lahoo, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd yuhyee wa yumeet wa huwa `alaa kulli shai’-in qadeer, subhaan Allaahi wa bi hamdihi subhaan Allaahil-`adheem, all these are good.

--end of quote

Source: http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/11523

What the Muhadditheen have said about the Hadeeth:

Imaam Tirmidhee said: Mahmoud bin Ghailaan informed us, that Abu Ahmad al-Zubairiee informed us, that Khaaled bin Tahmaan Abu al-`Alaa’ al-Khaffaaf informed us, that Nafi` bin Abu Nafi` informed me on the authority of Ma`qil ibn Yasaar رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“If anyone says on entering the morning: ‘I seek refuge in Allaah the all-Hearing the All-knowing from the accursed devil’, three times and recites the last three verses of Surah al-Hashr (59) then Allaah deputes over him seventy thousand angels who pray for his forgiveness till the evening. And if he dies during the day, he dies as a martyr. And, if anyone recites it in the evening then (too) he is of the same station.”

[Tirmidhee (2922) and he said: “This narration is strange, and we do not know any other route except this.” It was also reported in Musnad of Imaam Ahmad (19795), al-Daarimee (2/458), al-Baghawee in his Tafseer (7/309) and graded as “Dha`eef” by Shaikh al-Albaanee.]

In the chain of this narration is Khaaled bin Tahmaan. Ibn Hajar said about him in al-Taqreeb: “Truthful, accused of being a Shi`a, and then (in his old age) he mixed up (in the chains of narrations).”

Abu Ja`far al-`Uqailee listed him among the weak narrators.

Ibn Hibbaan mentioned him among the reliable scholars but said used to commit mistakes.

Al-Dhahabee said: “Truthful, Shi`ee.”

Yahyaa ibn Ma`een said: “Dha`eef”, and in another narration from him he said: “Dha`eef, and ten years before his death, he mixed up (got confused in the chains of narrations), but before that, he was reliable.”

A few more weak narrations on the virtues of Surah al-Hashr:

1. On the authority of Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The Great names of Allaah are in the last six aayaat of Surah al-Hashr.” [Dha`eef Jami` al-Sagheer (853), and graded as “Dha`eef” by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Dha`eefah (2773)]

2. On the authority of Anas bin Maalik رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم advised a man that when he goes to bed, to recite Surah al-Hashr. And he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “If you die, you will a martyr.” Or he said: “you will be from the people of paradise.” [Ibn Sunni (712) and graded as “Dha`eef” by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Dha`eefah (2217). Ibn Hajar said: “Its chain is very weak”.]

3. On the authority of Anas bin Maalik رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever reads the last part of Surah al-Hashr then all his past and future sins will be forgiven.” [Ibn Hajar said in al-Khisaal al-Mukaffirah (1/66): “In its chain is Yazeed bin Aabaan and he is weak. Also in its chain is Muhammad bin Yunus, scholars have spoken a lot about him.”]

4. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “O `Alee! If you feel a headache, put your hand on it (the head) and recite the last part of Surah al-Hashr.” [reported by al-Shawkaanee in al-Fawaaid al-Majmoo`ah (313) with two chains and in both the condition of the narrators are unknown]

5. Abu Umaamah رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever recites (in the night) the end part of Surah al-Hashr and then dies, (Jannah) will be affirmed for him. And whoever recites it in the morning and then dies, (Jannah) will be affirmed for him.” [reported by Ibn `Adee in al-Kaamil fee al-Du`afaa’ (4/335) and he said it is a rejected narration. Ibn al-Faisaraanee said in Dhakheeratul Huffaadh (4/2368), in its chain is Saleem bin `Uthmaan who would narrate spurious narrations and this is one of them]