11/46. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 953 — Great Recitation Before Allah
The virtue of reciting Al-Mu'awwidhatain
Surah Al-Falaq and An-Nas: A Hadith on Great Recitation
Sunan an-Nasai : 953
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 953
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ، أَسْلَمَ عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، قَالَ اتَّبَعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ رَاكِبٌ فَوَضَعْتُ يَدِي عَلَى قَدَمِهِ فَقُلْتُ أَقْرِئْنِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ سُورَةَ هُودٍ وَسُورَةَ يُوسُفَ . فَقَالَ " لَنْ تَقْرَأَ شَيْئًا أَبْلَغَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ { قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ } وَ { قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ } " .
'Uqbah bin 'Amir Narrated from:
I followed the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he was riding, and I placed my hand on his foot and said : O Messenger of Allah, teach me Surah Hud and Surah Yusuf. He said: 'You will never recite anything greater before Allah than: "Say: I seek refuge with (Allah), the Lord of the daybreak." And "Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 953In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 78English translation : Vol. 2, Book 11, Hadith 954
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 953
This Hadith about Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas records a moment between Uqbah bin Amir and the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. Uqbah followed the Prophet while he was riding, placed his hand on his foot, and asked to be taught Surah Hud and Surah Yusuf. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied that he would never recite anything greater before Allah than “Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the daybreak” and “Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind.” The wording of the hadith gives a strong value to these two surahs. It does not reduce the place of other surahs; it simply highlights the greatness of these two in the exact words of the report.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم pointed Uqbah to Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas.
- The Hadith describes these two surahs with strong praise.
- Seeking refuge with Allah is the main theme named in the recitation.
- A short recitation can carry great meaning before Allah.
