6/42. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 804a — Quran as an Intercessor
The virtue of reciting the Qur’an and Surat al-Baqarah
Hadith About Quran Intercession and the Virtue of Surah Baqarah
Sahih Muslim : 804a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 804a
حَدَّثَنِي الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو تَوْبَةَ، - وَهُوَ الرَّبِيعُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ - حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ سَلاَّمٍ - عَنْ زَيْدٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا سَلاَّمٍ، يَقُولُ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو أُمَامَةَ، الْبَاهِلِيُّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " اقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ شَفِيعًا لأَصْحَابِهِ اقْرَءُوا الزَّهْرَاوَيْنِ الْبَقَرَةَ وَسُورَةَ آلِ عِمْرَانَ فَإِنَّهُمَا تَأْتِيَانِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كَأَنَّهُمَا غَمَامَتَانِ أَوْ كَأَنَّهُمَا غَيَايَتَانِ أَوْ كَأَنَّهُمَا فِرْقَانِ مِنْ طَيْرٍ صَوَافَّ تُحَاجَّانِ عَنْ أَصْحَابِهِمَا اقْرَءُوا سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ فَإِنَّ أَخْذَهَا بَرَكَةٌ وَتَرْكَهَا حَسْرَةٌ وَلاَ تَسْتَطِيعُهَا الْبَطَلَةُ " . قَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ الْبَطَلَةَ السَّحَرَةُ .
Abu Umamah Narrated from:
Recite the Qur'an, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite It. Recite the two bright ones, al-Baqara and Surah Al 'Imran, for on the Day of Resurrection they will come as two clouds or two shades, or two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading for those who recite them. Recite Surah al-Baqara, for to take recourse to it is a blessing and to give it up is a cause of grief, and the magicians cannot confront it. (Mu'awiya said: It has been conveyed to me that here Batala means magicians.)
Reference : Sahih Muslim 804aIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 302USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1757
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 804a
This hadith gives a powerful reason to recite the Qur’an. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said to recite the Qur’an because it will come on the Day of Resurrection as an intercessor for its reciters. He then named the two bright ones: Surah al-Baqara and Surah Al Imran. They are described as coming like two clouds, two shades, or two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading for those who recite them. The hadith also singles out Surah al-Baqara. Taking hold of it is called a blessing, leaving it is described as a cause of grief, and the magicians cannot confront it. The lesson stays close to the text: regular Qur’an recitation is not empty reading. It has weight with Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Qur’an is described as an intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection.
- Surah al-Baqara and Surah Al Imran have a special place in this narration.
- Taking recourse to Surah al-Baqara is called a blessing.
- Leaving Surah al-Baqara is described as a cause of grief.
