50/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5436 — Best Two Surahs to Recite
What was Narrated Concerning Al-Mu'awwidhatain (Two Surahs Seeking Refuge with Allah)
Hadith About the Best Two Surahs and Fajr Recitation
Sunan an-Nasai : 5436
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5436
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْحَارِثِ، - وَهُوَ الْعَلاَءُ - عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ، مَوْلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، قَالَ كُنْتُ أَقُودُ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي السَّفَرِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا عُقْبَةُ أَلاَ أُعَلِّمُكَ خَيْرَ سُورَتَيْنِ قُرِئَتَا " . فَعَلَّمَنِي { قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ } وَ { قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ } فَلَمْ يَرَنِي سُرِرْتُ بِهِمَا جِدًّا فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ لِصَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ صَلَّى بِهِمَا صَلاَةَ الصُّبْحِ لِلنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنَ الصَّلاَةِ الْتَفَتَ إِلَىَّ فَقَالَ " يَا عُقْبَةُ كَيْفَ رَأَيْتَ " .
'Uqbah bin 'Amir Narrated from:
I was leading the Messenger of Allah [SAW] (on his mount) on a journey, and the Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'O 'Uqbah, shall I not teach you the best two Surahs that can be recited?' And he taught me: 'Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the daybreak.' And 'Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind...' He thought that I did not seem too overjoyed with them, so when he stopped to pray Subh, he recited them when he led the people in the Subh prayer. When the Messenger of Allah [SAW] finished praying, he turned to me and said: 'O 'Uqbah, what do you think?'
[1] Al-Falaq 113.[2] An-Nās 114.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5436In-book reference : Book 50, Hadith 9English translation : Vol. 6, Book 50, Hadith 5438
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5436
This hadith about the best two Surahs to recite records the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم teaching Uqbah on a journey. He asked, “Shall I not teach you the best two Surahs that can be recited?” Then he taught Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas. Uqbah did not seem too overjoyed at first. Later, when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم led the people in Subh prayer, he recited those same two Surahs. After the prayer, he turned to Uqbah and asked what he thought. The hadith teaches value through both words and practice. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not only name the Surahs; he recited them in prayer. That helped Uqbah see their place with his own ears.
What we learn from this hadith
- Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas are described as two of the best Surahs to recite.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught their value and then recited them in Subh prayer.
- Sometimes a lesson becomes clearer when it is shown in practice.
