Famous Bid’ah about the Quran
The topic of the virtues of the Holy Qur’an is one of those topics you have to be very cautious while reading about it since fabrications and lies have sadly found their way to it. What makes this topic even more concerning, is that many of the fabricated hadiths are so common and so rife among Muslims all over the world, and many (may Allah forgive us all) are so fast to click that [share] button hoping for the ajer (reward) without confirming or checking what is being shared. As good as these intentions are, they are not so wildly different from those of the fabricators who attributed hadiths to the Prophet (PBUH) which he never said. Many of them sought after (ajer) reward with Allah for that, thinking – due to extreme ignorance – that they were simply encouraging people to read the Book of Allah, may He be exalted, whereas in fact they were doing something that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) warned against when he said: “Whoever tells a lie about me deliberately, let him take his place in Hell.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1291)
One of the examples of that is the report narrated by al-Haakim in al-Madkhal (54): how come you narrate from ‘Ikrimah from Ibn ‘Abbaas reports concerning the virtues of the Qur’an, surah by surah , when the companions of ‘Ikrimah narrate no such reports? He said: I saw that the people were turning away from the Qur’an and were focusing on the fiqh of Abu Haneefah and the Maghazi [accounts of the Prophet’s military campaigns] of Ibn Ishaaq, so I fabricated this hadith, seeking reward with Allah thereby. However, it is important to know that all scholars (People of knowledge) unanimously agree that it is forbidden to narrate a fabricated hadith and attribute it to the Prophet (PBUH). The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Whoever narrates a hadith about me, knowing it to be false, is a liar [like the one who fabricated it].” Narrated by Muslim.
An-Nawawi also said: It is forbidden to narrate a fabricated hadith, for one who knows that it is fabricated or thinks that that is most likely to be the case. Whoever narrates a hadith, knowing or thinking it to be fabricated, without pointing out its condition and explaining that it is fabricated, is included in this warning and is counted as one of those who tell lies about the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). End quote.
It is, of course, surprising to some Muslims to know that someone would still tell a lie about the Prophet (PBUH), while knowing the consequences to this deed. But what is even more surprising that fabrication of hadiths is still going on in this day and age, and that the fabricated hadiths continue to increase in number. So, it is not just something of the past; it is a contemporary problem.
As an example: This “so-called” hadith: (Ten protect against ten: Soorat al-Faatihah protects against the wrath of Allah; Soorat Yaa-Seen protects against thirst on the Day of Resurrection; Soorat al-Waaqi‘ah protects against poverty ; Soorat ad-Dukhaan protects against the terrors of the Day of Resurrection; Soorat al-Mulk protects against the punishment of the grave; Soorat al-Kawthar protects against disputes; Soorat al-Kaafiroon protects against disbelief at the time of death; Soorat al-Ikhlaas protects against hypocrisy; Soorat al-Falaq protects against envy; Soorat an-Naas protects against waswaas (whispers from the Shaytaan).)
This hadith has no trace anywhere, neither the records of hadith sahih nor the records fabricated hadith.
However with regard to some these surahs (Yaa-Seen, ad-Dukhaan, al-Waaqi‘ah and al-Kawthar.) which were mentioned in this so-called hadith, there are no sahih hadith that speaks of their virtues. Having said that, it does NOT mean that they have none, or they are lesser. It is all the miraculous word of Allah.
When it comes to Surah al-Faatihah, there are many hadiths which speak of its virtues, but none of which suggest that it protects against divine wrath as it was stated by the so called hadith.
And with regard to Soorat al-Mulk, it was narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “There is a surah in the Qur’an, thirty verses, which will intercede for the one who recites it until he is forgiven: ‘Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion…’ [al-Mulk].” Narrated by at-Tirmidhi (2891); he said: It is a hasan hadith, and it was confirmed by many other narrators of hadith. See Fatwa [26240] on IslamQ&A. Concerning Soorat al-Ikhlaas, there was also no confirmed reports about its virtues which suggests that it protects against hypocrisy.
Surah Al-Falaq and surah An-Naas protect against the Shaytaan, the evil eye, destructive envy (hasad) and all other evils. It was narrated from ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Seek refuge with them [Surah Al-Falaq and surah An-Naas], for you will not seek refuge with anything else like them.” Narrated by Abu Dawood (1563); classified as sahih by al-Albaani.
Conclusion: Lying about what the Prophet (PBUH) had said is a big sin, and has horrible consequences even if the intentions are good; it still does not justify lying since Islam does not need lying to embellish it. We, as Ummah, should be careful as to what we share on social media “with good intentions” because we can be part of the problem of spreading such fabrications.
May Allah guide us all to the right path. Amen.
