48/22. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3403 — Surah Kafirun Before Sleep
Something Else: Concerning the Recitation of the Surat: Al-Karifun, As-Sajdah, Al-Mulk, Az-Zumar, Bani Isra’il, and Al-Musabbihat
Surah Kafirun Before Sleep and Disavowal of Shirk
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3403
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3403
حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ رَجُلٍ، عَنْ فَرْوَةَ بْنِ نَوْفَلٍ، رضى الله عنه أَنَّهُ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَلِّمْنِي شَيْئًا أَقُولُهُ إِذَا أَوَيْتُ إِلَى فِرَاشِي قَالَ " اقْرَأْْ : ( قلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ ) فَإِنَّهَا بَرَاءَةٌ مِنَ الشِّرْكِ " . قَالَ شُعْبَةُ أَحْيَانًا يَقُولُ مَرَّةً وَأَحْيَانًا لاَ يَقُولُهَا . حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ حِزَامٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ آدَمَ، عَنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ فَرْوَةَ بْنِ نَوْفَلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّهُ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَهُ بِمَعْنَاهُ وَهَذَا أَصَحُّ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَرَوَى زُهَيْرٌ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ فَرْوَةَ بْنِ نَوْفَلٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَهُ وَهَذَا أَشْبَهُ وَأَصَحُّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ شُعْبَةَ . وَقَدِ اضْطَرَبَ أَصْحَابُ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ فِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ . وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ مِنْ غَيْرِ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ قَدْ رَوَاهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ نَوْفَلٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ هُوَ أَخُو فَرْوَةَ بْنِ نَوْفَلٍ .
Farwah bin Nawfal (ra) narrated that: He Came To The Prophet (ﷺ) And Said: “O Messenger Of Allah, Teach Me Something That I May Say When I Go To My Bed.” So He Said: “Recite: Say: ‘O You Disbelievers’ For Verily It Is A Disavowal Of Shirk.” Shu`Bah Said: “Sometimes He Would Say: ‘One Time’ And Sometime He Would Not Say It.” (Another Chain) From Farwah Bin Nawfal, From His Father: "That He Came To The Prophet (ﷺ)" Then He Mentioned Similar In Meaning. And This Is More Correct. [Abu `Eisa Said:] And Zubair Reported This Hadith From Ishaq, From Farwah Bin Nawfal, From His Father From The Prophet (ﷺ), With Similar Wording. This Is More Appropriate And More Correct Than The Narration Of Shu`Bah. The Companions Of Abu Ishaq Were Confused In The Narration Of This Hadith. This Hadith Has Been Reported Through Routes Other Than This. `Abdur-Rahman Is The Brother Of Farwah Bin Nawfal.
[4] Al-Kāfirūn 109.Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3403In-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 34English translation : Vol. 6, Book 45, Hadith 3403
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3403
This Hadith centers on Surah Kafirun before sleep. Farwah bin Nawfal, or according to the more correct route mentioned in the text, his father, came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asking for something to say when going to bed. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) directed him to recite, “Say: O you disbelievers,” and explained the reason: it is a disavowal of shirk. The Hadith is simple but powerful. Bedtime is not only a time to rest; it can also be a time to renew one’s faith and reject worship of anything besides Allah. The narration also mentions differences in the chain, and Abu Eisa states which route is more correct. The teaching remains focused on reciting this surah before sleep.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ask for beneficial words to say before sleep.
- Reciting Surah Al-Kafirun at bedtime is connected in the text to disavowal of shirk.
- Bedtime dhikr can renew a person’s commitment to pure worship of Allah.
