Benefits and Virtues of Surah 23 Al-Muminoon

virtues-benefits-surah-al-muminun

23. Al-Mu’minun

23.1 It was narrated from Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said:

“There is no one among you who does not have two abodes: An abode in Paradise and an abode in Hell. If he dies and enters Hell, the people of Paradise inherit his abode. This is what Allah says:

‘These are indeed the inheritors.’” [23:10]

Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4341

23.2 Narrated ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه)

“When revelation came to the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم), one could hear what sounded like the drone of bees before his face. One day revelation was coming to him, he faced the Qiblah, raised his hands and said:

‘O Allah! Increase us, do not diminish us. Favor us, do not withhold from us, make us pleased and be pleased with us.’

He (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: ‘Ten Ayah were revealed to me, whoever abides by them shall enter Paradise (and they are):

‘Successful indeed are the believers…’ until the completion of ten Ayat (23:1-10).”

Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3173

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23.3 It was narrated from ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Laila that his father Abu Laila (رضي الله عنهم) said:

“I was sitting with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) when a Bedouin came to him and said: ‘I have a brother who is sick.’ He said: ‘What is the matter with your brother?’ He said: ‘He suffers from a slight mental derangement.’ He said: ‘Go and bring him.’” He said: “(So he went) and he brought him. He made him sit down in front of him and I heard him seeking refuge for him with Fatihatil-Kitab; four Verses from the beginning of Al-Baqarah, two Verses from its middle: ‘And your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God – Allah),’ [2:163] and Ayat Al-Kursi; and three Verses from its end; a Verse from Al ‘Imran, I think it was: ‘Allah bears witness that La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He),’ [3:18] a Verse from Al-A’raf: ‘Indeed, your Lord is Allah,’ [7:54] a Verse from Al-Mu’minun: ‘And whoever invokes (or worships), besides Allah, any other ilah (god), of whom he has no proof,’[23:117] a Verse from Al-Jinn: ‘And He, exalted is the Majesty of our Lord,’ [72:3] ten Verses from the beginning of As-Saffat; three Verses from the end of Al-Hashr; (then) ‘Say: He is Allah, (the) One,’ [112:1] and Al-Mu’awwidhatain. Then the Bedouin stood up, healed, and there was nothing wrong with him.”

Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 4, Book 31, Hadith 3549

23.4 It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin Sa’ib (رضي الله عنه) said:

“The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) recited Al-Mu’minun [Al-Mu’minun 23] in the Subh prayer, and when he came to the mention of ‘Eisa, he was overcome with a cough, so he bowed in Ruku’.”

Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 820

23.5 Yazid ibn Yabnus (رضي الله عنه) said,

“We went to ‘A’isha (رضي الله عنها) and said, ‘Umm al-Mu’minin, what was the character of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, like?’ She replied, ‘His character was the Qur’an. Can you recite the surah entitled “The Believers”?’ She said, ‘Recite:

“It is the believers who are successful: those who are humble in their prayer; those who turn away from worthless talk; those who actively pay zakat; those who guard their private parts.” (23:1-5)’

She said, ‘That was the character of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.'”

23.6 Mufti Shafi Usmani (رحمه الله) related about

أفحسبتم أنما خلقناكم عبثا وأنكم إلينا لا ترجعون

Then did you think that We created you uselessly and that to Us you would not be returned?”

فتعالى الله الملك الحق لا إله إلا هو رب العرش الكريم

So exalted is Allah , the Sovereign, the Truth; there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Noble Throne.

ومن يدع مع الله إلها آخر لا برهان له به فإنما حسابه عند ربه إنه لا يفلح الكافرون

And whoever invokes besides Allah another deity for which he has no proof – then his account is only with his Lord. Indeed, the disbelievers will not succeed.

وقل رب اغفر وارحم وأنت خير الراحمين

And, [O Muhammad], say, “My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of the merciful.” (23:115-118)

The last few verses of this Surah Al-Mu’minun from verse 115 to verse 118 have special merit. Baghawi and Thalabi have related from Sayyidna Ibn Masud (رضي الله عنه) that he came across a person who was very ill. He recited the above verses into the sick man’s ears and he was cured immediately. The Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) asked him what he had whispered in the sick man’s ears to which Sayyidna ‘Abdullah Ibn Masud (رضي الله عنه) replied that he had recited these verses (115 to 118) in his ears. Thereupon the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said, “I swear by Him Who has power over my life that if a person with genuine faith were to recite these verses on a mountain, the mountain itself may move from its place”. (Qurtubi and Mazhari)

(Ma’ariful Qur’an, Fath al Qadir 3/502)

23.7 Imam Ibn Adi, Hakim and Bayhaqi (رحمهم الله) narrated from Hazrat Anas (رضي الله عنه) in Al-Asma Wa-Sifat that

The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said, “Allah created the gardens of Eden and planted trees in it. Then He asked them to say something and they recited,

قد أفلح المؤمنون

The believers have already prospered (23:1).”

(Mustadraq Hakim, Dur al-Manthur)

23.8 Imam Ibn Sunni, Ibn Mandah and Abu Naeem (رحمهم الله) narrated from the father of Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Harith At-Taimi (رحمه الله) in Al-Marifah

That the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) dispatched us in a regiment and commanded that in the morning and evening we should recite

أفحسبتم أنما خلقناكم عبثا وأنكم إلينا لا ترجعون

Then did you think that We created you uselessly and that to Us you would not be returned?” (23:115)

We recited it, we obtained booty and remained safe. Allah Knows Best.

(Dur al-Manthur)

23.9 Duas

رب انصرني بما كذبون

My Lord, support me because they have denied me (23:26)

رب أنزلني منزلا مباركا وأنت خير المنزلين

My Lord, let me land at a blessed landing place, and You are the best to accommodate [us] (23:29)

رب فلا تجعلني في القوم الظالمين

My Lord, then do not place me among the wrongdoing people (23:94)

رب أعوذ بك من همزات الشياطين

And say, “My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils,

وأعوذ بك رب أن يحضرون

And I seek refuge in You, my Lord , lest they be present with me. (23:97-98)

ربنا آمنا فاغفر لنا وارحمنا وأنت خير الراحمين

‘Our Lord, we have believed, so forgive us and have mercy upon us, and You are the best of the merciful (23:109)