SECTION ON PRAYER · 139 – SUFFICIENT RECITATION FOR THE ILLITERATE
830 – From Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him): While we were reciting the Qur’an, and among us were Bedouins and non-Arabs, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) came to us and said: “Recite, all of it is good. Soon there will come people who will recite the Qur’an as one straightens an arrow. They will hasten to receive their reward (in this world), and will leave nothing for the Hereafter.”
831 – From Sahl ibn Sahl as-Sāʿidī (may Allah be pleased with him): One day, while we were reciting the Qur’an, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) came to us and said: “Praise be to Allah, Allah’s Book is one. Among you are black, white, and red. Recite it before there comes a people who will arrange the Qur’an as an arrow is straightened and set in place, who will hasten for its reward and will not defer it to the Hereafter.”
EXPLANATION
The recitation of one who reads the words of the Noble Qur’an with sincerity (ikhlas, sincerity) is preferred over the recitation of one who reads with ostentation, even if the latter’s pronunciation is more correct. This hadith is among the miraculous sayings. It is foretold that in the future, great care will be given to the recitation of the Qur’an with tajwīd (proper pronunciation and rules), but there will be no care for sincerity (ikhlas); the reciter will seek immediate material compensation for his recitation, and will not consider the reward to be given in the Hereafter. In our time, there are many who have fallen into the outcome described in this hadith. May our Lord grant us all sincerity (ikhlas).
832 – From ʿAbdullāh ibn Abī Awfā (may Allah be pleased with him): A man came to the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, “I am unable to learn anything from the Qur’an. Teach me something from the Qur’an that will suffice me.” The Messenger of God said: “Say: ‘Subḥānallāh (Glory be to Allah), al-ḥamdu lillāh (Praise be to Allah), lā ilāha illā Allāh (There is no god but Allah), Allāhu akbar (Allah is the Greatest). There is no power and no strength except with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.’” The man said, “O Messenger of Allah, this is praise for Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, but what is there for me?” The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Say: ‘O Allah, have mercy on me, provide for me, grant me well-being, and guide me (hudā, guidance).’” When the man stood up, he gestured with his hand, indicating “like this.” The Messenger of God said, “This man has filled his hand with goodness.” [511]
EXPLANATION
One who knows nothing from the Noble Qur’an except al-Fātiḥa should recite only al-Fātiḥa in prayer until he learns more. If he does not know al-Fātiḥa, it is preferable for him to recite these praises taught by the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) rather than other praises. However, one who learns these words can also learn the short surahs, and he must do so immediately.
833 – From Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him): We used to perform supererogatory (nafl) prayers, and in standing and sitting we would supplicate (dua, supplication), and in bowing and prostration we would glorify (Allah).
834 – Ḥammād narrated from Ḥumayd (may Allah be pleased with him): He transmitted the same hadith as above, but did not mention the supererogatory (nafl) prayer. The narrator says: al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī said: Whether he is the imam or praying behind the imam, in the ẓuhr and ʿaṣr prayers he would recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥa, and he would recite tasbīḥ (glorification), takbīr (saying 'Allāhu akbar'), and tawḥid (the oneness of God) as much as the recitation of Sūrat Qāf or Sūrat adh-Dhāriyāt.