Question:
Assalamualaikum ustaz. May you always be in the best of health. I would like to ask about a video clip which states the Prophet PBUH’s advice to Sayyidatina ‘Aisha in which it is said that the Prophet PBUH said do not sleep before doing these four things which are completing the recitation of the Quran, getting syafa’ah from the prophets, make peace with all the Muslims and performs hajj and umrah. In that video, it is stated that ‘Aisha asked the Prophet PBUH on how to perform those in such a short time. Then, the Prophet smiled and answered: Reciting surah al-Ikhlas three times is equivalent to finishing the Quran, offering praise and salutations for me and the previous prophets, recite istighfar for the Mu’min and say tasbih, tahmid and tahlil is equivalent to performing hajj and umrah. Is there a hadith like that? Because it is not stated on the resources. Hope for an explanation from ustaz.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam w.b.t,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Among the matters that every Muslim should take seriously is to not just say something comes from the Prophet PBUH before ensuring its authenticity. The Prophet PBUH already warned those who try to commit falsehood under the name of the Prophet PBUH. He said:
لاَ تَكْذِبُوا عَلَىَّ، فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ فَلْيَلِجِ النَّارَ
"Do not tell a lie against me for whoever tells a lie against me (intentionally) then he will surely enter the Hell-fire."
Sahih al-Bukhari (106)
In another narration, it is narrated from Zubair bin al-‘Awwam, the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ
Whosoever tells a lie against me intentionally then surely let him occupy his seat in Hell-Fire
Sahih al-Bukhari (107)
These are among the great warnings from the Prophet PBUH towards those who commit falsehood using his name. Even if from one angle, what is ascribed seems good like calling people towards good deeds and the like, but still, the ends do not justify the means. Ascribing something to the Prophet PBUH falsely is a crime which is forbidden and prohibited. The act of always being cautious in citing and ascribing any saying or actions to the Prophet PBUH should be done by all Muslims.
Coming back to the question presented, the hadith is stated in the book Durroh Al-Nasihin Fi Al-Wa’zhi Wa Al-Irsyad written by Sheikh Uthman bin Hassan al-Khuwairi. We cite the original text here.
روي عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم انه قال لعائشة رضي الله عنها: يا عائشة لا تنامي حتى تعملي أربعه أشياء: حتى تختمي القران وحتى تجعلي الأنبياء لك شفعاء يوم القيامة، وحتى تجعلي المسلمين راضين عنك، وحتى تجعلي لك حجة وعمرة.
فدخل صلى الله عليه وسلم، فبقيت على الفراش حتى أتم الصلاة، فلما أتمها قالت: يا رسول الله، فداك أبي وأمي، أمرتني أربعه أشياء لا اقدر في هذه الساعة أن أفعلها
فتبسم رسول الله وقال: إذا قرأت قل هو الله احد ثلاثا فكأنك ختمت القران، وإذا صليت علي وعلى الأنبياء من قبلي فقد صرنا لك شفعاء يوم القيامة، وإذا استغفرت للمؤمنين فكلهم راضون عنك، وإذا قلت : سبحان الله والحمد لله ولا اله إلا الله والله اكبر فقد حججت واعتمرت
“It is narrated from the Prophet PBUH that he said to ‘Aisha RAnha: O ‘Aisha, do not sleep until you do four things. Until you finish reading the Quran, until you make the prophets your intercessor in the hereafter, until you make peace with the Muslims and until you perform hajj and umrah. Then, the Prophet PBUH entered his room and pray. When the Prophet PBUH finished his prayer, ‘Aisha R.Anha said: O Messenger of Allah PBUH, you asked me to do four things and I am unable to do them in such a short time. Then, the Prophet smiled and said: If you recite Qul Huwallahu Ahad three times, it is equivalent to finishing the whole book of al-Quran. If you say salawat to me and the prophets before me, then we will grant you our syafaah in the hereafter. If you seek forgiveness for the mu’min, then they all will be content with you. If you recite: subhanallah, walhamdulillah and la ilaha illlallah wallahu akbar, then you already performed your hajj and umrah.”
This narration is also cited in the book Durroh al-Nasihin fi al- Wa’zhi wa al-Irsyad (Refer Durroh Al-Nasihin Fi Al-Wa’zhi Wa Al-Irsyad,cetakan Dar Ihya’ Al-Kutub Al-‘Arabiyah, pg 93).
Some said that these advices were given to Sayyidatina Fatimah and not Sayyidatina ‘Aisha. However, just because it is mentioned in a book does not necessarily indicate that the narration is sahih. It shall be proved either through its sanad or matn.
We found that the narration is not mentioned in any accredited books of hadith. On top of that, the narration comes without sanad. This makes it bear the characteristic of mawdu’ hadith (fake/fabricated). It does not authentically come from the Prophet PBUH and can be said as fabricated if it is to be ascribed to the Prophet PBUH.
There are many sahih hadiths which state on things to do before going to sleep. Among them is:
- Taking ablution before sleep. This is in accordance with a hadith narrated from al-Barra’ bin ‘Azib that the Prophet PBUH said:
إِذَا أَتَيْتَ مَضْجَعَكَ فَتَوَضَّأْ وَضُوءَكَ لِلصَّلاَةِ، ثُمَّ اضْطَجِعْ عَلَى شِقِّكَ الأَيْمَنِ، وَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِي إِلَيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ، وَأَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ، رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ، لاَ مَلْجَأَ وَلاَ مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلاَّ إِلَيْكَ، آمَنْتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ، وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ. فَإِنْ مُتَّ مُتَّ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ، فَاجْعَلْهُنَّ آخِرَ مَا تَقُولُ
"When you want to go to bed, perform ablution as you do for prayer, then lie down on your right side and say: 'Allahumma aslamtu wajhi ilaika, wa fawwadtu 'amri ilaika wa alja'tu dhahri ilaika, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika, la malja'a wa la manja minka illa ilaika. Amantu bikitabik al-ladhi anzalta wa binabiyyika al-ladhi arsalta'. If you should die then (after reciting this) you will die on the religion of Islam (i.e., as a Muslim); so let these words be the last you say (before going to bed)"
Sahih al-Bukhari (6311)
- Reciting certain surah and dhikr before sleep. Among the hadith narrated is from ‘Aisha R.anha:
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا أَوَى إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ جَمَعَ كَفَّيْهِ ثُمَّ نَفَثَ فِيهِمَا فَقَرَأَ فِيهِمَا {قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ} وَ{قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ} وَ{قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ} ثُمَّ يَمْسَحُ بِهِمَا مَا اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ يَبْدَأُ بِهِمَا عَلَى رَأْسِهِ وَوَجْهِهِ وَمَا أَقْبَلَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ
Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) went to bed every night, he used to cup his hands together and blow over it after reciting Surat Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas, and then rub his hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub, starting with his head, face and front of his body. He used to do that three times.
Sahih al-Bukhari (5017)
In another narration, the Prophet PBUH taught his ummah to recite two last verses of Surah al-Baqarah. Narrated by Abu Hurairah RA that the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ قَرَأَ بِالآيَتَيْنِ مِنْ آخِرِ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ كَفَتَاهُ
If somebody recites the last two Verses of Surat al-Baqara at night, it will be sufficient for him.
Sahih al-Bukhari (5009)
And many more sahih hadith on ethics before sleeping which authentically narrated from the Prophet PBUH.
In conclusion, the narration which tells about the Prophet PBUH’s advice to ‘Aisha on four things to do before sleeping is not a hadith authentically narrated from him. Be cautious in ascribing words or actions to the Prophet PBUH.
May Allah give us all true understanding. Wallahua’lam.