Question

What is the authenticity of the following narration?

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من قرأ في ليلة: الم تنزيل السجدة، و يس واقتربت الساعة، و تبارك الذي بيده الملك كن له نورا، وحرزا من الشيطان، ورفع له في الدرجات يوم القيامة

Translation

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Whomsoever recites in one night Surah Sajdah, Surah Yasin, Surah Qamar and Surah Mulk, these Surahs will be a light for him, a protection from Shaytan and a means of his ranks being raised on the Day of Qiyamah”

Answer

This narration is supposedly advice that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) offered to Sayyidah ‘Aishah (radiyallahu ‘anha). ‘Allamah Suyuti (rahimahullah) has pointed out a liar in the chain of narrators.

(Dhaylul La-Alil Masnu’ah, vol. 1, pg. 126, Tanzihush Shari’ah, vol. 1, pg. 300. Also see Mizanul I’tidal, vol. 1, pg. 525 and Lisanul Mizan, vol. 3, pg. 244)

There are authentic virtues of these Surahs which should be quoted instead. See here for one such example.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar