THE HEART OF THE QUR’ĀN SŪRAH YĀ SĪN

THE HEART OF THE QUR’ĀN: SŪRAH YĀ SĪN www.giftofjumuah.com The Heart of the Qur’ān: Sūrah Yā Sīn There is no doubt in regard to the fact that the Qur’ān certainly holds a truly lofty status, and it is a definitive source of direction and mercy for all of humanity. Furthermore, in this time and age, more than ever before, there is an urgent need for us to refer back to the Qur’ān and follow its guidance. We must utilize the Qur’ān to treat our physical, spiritual, social, political, economical, and all other problems. This is why Imām al-Shāṭibī () writes: ،‫ َوَإ َّن ُه لَا َط ِرتُ َق ِإ َلى الَّل ِه ِ ِس َوا ُه‬،‫ َوُتُوُرإْل َأ ْتْ َصا ِر َوإْل َبَ َصائِ ِر‬،‫ َوإ َن ُة إل ِر َساَل ِة‬،‫ َ َون ْن ُبُو ُع ا ْلِ ِح ْك َم ِة‬،‫ َو ُع ْم َد ُة ا ِلْم َّل ِة‬،‫«ِإ َّن إ ْل ِكِ ََتا َب َق ْد ََت َقَ َّرَر َإ َّن ُه ُك ِلَ َّ َت ُة إل َّش ِرَت َ َع ِة‬ .»‫ َوَلا َت َمَ ُّس َك ِب َش ْي ٍء ُنَجاِلَ ُقَ ُه‬،‫َوَلا َنَجا َة ِتَ َ َع ْي ِرِه‬ (‫)كِ َتاب ال ِمواف َقاب‬ “It is a well-established fact that the Qur’ān is the central point of reference for all of the directives of Islām. It is the foundation of Islām, the source of all wisdom, a clear sign of Allāh’s Message, and it enlightens our vision and insight. There is no way to get to Allāh except by the path that it guides us on, and there is no salvation without it. Nothing which contradicts it deserves to be followed.” (Kitāb al-Muwafaqāt) When we treat problems with the Qur’ān, then they will be solved, and the right course to follow will be found. When we treat different illnesses and various weaknesses by utilizing the Qur’ān, then we will attain healing, strength, and vitality. Allāh says in the Qur’ān: ‫ُﵒﵘُﵜ‬:ُ‫ﵸُﵝال ِّإ ۡس َراء‬٨٢ُ‫ُلِّلۡ ُم ۡؤ ِّمنِّي َنُ َول َاُيَ ِّزي ُدُٱل َّظَّٰلِّ ِّمي َنُإِّل َّاُ َخ َسا ٗرا‬ٞ‫ُ َو َر ۡحمَة‬ٞ‫ﵹ َو ُن َن ِّز ُُلُ ِّم َُنُٱ ۡل ُقُ ۡر َءا ِّنُ َماُ ُه َوُ ِّش َفآء‬ “And We have revealed such a Qur’ān that is a cure (from physical and spiritual diseases) and mercy for the believers. (However) It does not increase those who reject it except in loss.” (Isrā’ 17:82) One of the chapters of the Qur’ān which is very effective in easing difficulties, and is extremely beneficial to read is Sūrah Yā Sīn. 1



THE HEART OF THE QUR’ĀN: SŪRAH YĀ SĪN www.giftofjumuah.com .»‫ َوَم ْن َق َرَإ ب ٓس َكِ ََت َب الَّل ُه َل ُه ِتَ ِقَ َرا َءِت َهَا ِق َرا َء َة إلَ ُقَ ْرإ ِن َع ْش َر َم َّرا ٍب‬،‫ َوَق ْلب إ َل ُ َق ْرإ ِن ب ٓس‬،‫«ِإ َّن ِل ُك ِل َس ْي ٍء َق َْلتَا‬ (‫)سنن إليرمدي‬ “Surely, everything has a heart, and the heart of the Qur’ān is (Sūrah) Yā Sīn. Allāh will record anyone who recites (Sūrah) Yā Sīn as having recited the (entire) Qur’ān ten times.” (Sunan Tirmidhī) Imām al-Ghazzālī () states: ‫ ولذإ سنهب نا َلقَلب‬،‫ و ِهومَ َقررقنها علي إن َلع وجه وإج َستَه‬،‫« وجه إطَلاق دلك علنها نان المدارعلي إلأتمان وصحِتَه نالاعيراف نالحشروإلنشر‬ .»‫إلذي نه صجة إل َبدن وقوامه‬ (‫) َتقَسيرإلأ ِلوسي‬ “One of the reasons for referring to Sūrah Yā Sīn as the heart of the Qur’ān could be because in this sūrah, themes relating to the Day of Judgement, and the Resurrection have appeared with particular details and an eloquent presentation. From the principles of faith, there is the belief in the Hereafter, something on which the soundness of human deeds depends. The awareness of the Hereafter makes a person ready for good deeds, and this is what stops one from indulging in impermissible desires and things which are unlawful. The way that soundness of the body depends on soundness of the heart, similarly, soundness of one’s faith (īmān) depends on one’s concern for the Hereafter.” (Rūḥ al-Maʿānī) The Qur’ān focuses a great deal on ʿAqā’id (beliefs), and the core of ʿAqīdah comprises of three things: 1) Tawḥīd (Oneness of Allāh). 2) Risālah (Prophethood). 3) Ākhirah (the Hereafter). Since Sūrah Yā Sīn explains these three subject matters very eloquently, therefore it is referred to as the heart of the Qur’ān. In another ḥadīth, Abū Hurairah () reports that the Prophet () said: .»‫« َم ْن َق َرَإ ب ٓس ِفى َلَ ْتَ َل ٍة َإ ْص َب َح َم ْعْ ُقُورإ َل ُه‬ (‫)م َس َتد إبي َت َعلي‬ “Whoever recites (Sūrah) Yā Sīn during the night will rise up in the morning as one forgiven by Allāh.” (Musnad Abū Yaʿlā) Jundub ibn ʿAbdullāh () narrates that the Prophet () said: ‫ِن ْل َك‬ ‫ُع ِ َق َر َل ُه‬ ‫ا ْب ِي َ َعا َء‬ ‫َلَ ْتَ َل ٍة‬ ‫َق َرَإ‬ .»‫إل َّلَ ْتَ َل ِة‬ ‫ِفى‬ ،‫الَّل ِه‬ ‫َو ْج ِه‬ ‫ِفى‬ ‫ب ٓس‬ ‫« َم ْن‬ (‫)ص ِحتَح ائن ج َتان‬ “Whoever recites (Sūrah) Yā Sīn at night seeking the pleasure of Allāh shall be forgiven that night (by Allah).” (Ṣahīh Ibn Ḥibbān) Maʿqal ibn Yasār () narrates that the Prophet () said: 3

THE HEART OF THE QUR’ĀN: SŪRAH YĀ SĪN www.giftofjumuah.com ‫ َوإ ْس ُت ْحِ ِر َج ْب ﵹٱّ َّل ُُلُل َ ُٓاُإِّ َلَّٰ َهُُإِّل َّاُ ُه َُوُٱلۡ َحيُُٱلۡ َقيو ُمُۚﵸُﵝال َب َق َرُةُالآيةُﵕﵕﵒﵜ ِم ْن‬،‫ ئَ َرَل َم َع ُك ِل إ َن ٍة ِم ْن َهَا َت ََما ُتُو َن َم َلكا‬،‫«إ ْل َ َب َقَ َرُة َ َس َتَا ُم إْلَ ُقَ ْرإ ِن َو ُد ْرَ ُون ُه‬ ‫ َوا ْق َرُءو َ َها َعلَى‬،‫ َلا َتَ ْقَ َرُو َ َها َرج ٌل ئُ ِرن ُد الَّل َه وإل َّذا َرإْلأ ِج َرَة ِإ َّلا ُع ِقَ َر َل ُه‬،‫ َ بو ٓس َق ْلب إْلَ ُقَ ْرإ ِن‬،‫ َإ ْو َق ُو ِص َل ْب بِسِوَرِة إ ْل َبَ َقَ َرِة‬،‫ َق ُو ِص َل ْب ِت َهَا‬،‫َنْج ِب إْلَ َ َع ْر ِش‬ .»‫َ ِم ْوَنا ُ َك ْم‬ (‫)م َس َتد إحمد‬ “Sūrah al-Baqarah is the highest point and peak of the Qur’ān, and eighty angels were sent with each verse of it. Allāhu lā Ilāha illā Hūwa al-Ḥayy al-Qayyūm (Āyat al-Kursī) were taken from beneath the ʿArsh (Throne) and attached to it (meaning to Sūrah al-Baqarah). Sūrah Yā Sīn is the heart of the Qur’ān. No one recites it seeking the pleasure of Allāh and intending the Hereafter, except that one is forgiven by Allāh. Recite it on your dying people.” (Musnad Aḥmad) Based on the above narrations, some scholars have stated: ‫إل َّر ْح َم َة‬ ‫ِلَ ُ َت ْي ِرَل‬ ‫إَْل َم ِ َت ِب‬ ‫ِع َْت َد‬ ‫ِق َرا َء َت َهَا‬ ‫َ َوك َا َّن‬ .‫الَّل ُه‬ ‫بَ َّش َرُه‬ ‫ِإ َّلا‬ ‫َع ِسي ٍر‬ ‫َإ ْم ٍر‬ ‫ِع َْت َد‬ ‫ُتَ ْقَ َرُإ‬ ‫لَا‬ ‫َإ َّت َهَا‬ :‫َهَ ِد ِه إل ُّ ِسوَرِة‬ ‫ ِم ْن َخَ َصا ِْت ِض‬:‫َقا َل َتَ ْعض إْلَ ُعَ َل َما ِء‬ ‫« َوِلِ ََه َدإ‬ .»‫َإ ْع َل ُم‬ ‫ َوالَّل ُه‬،‫َوَِل َن ْس ُهَ َل َع ََل ْ َت ِه ج ُرو ُج إل ُّرو ِج‬ ،‫َوإ ْل َي َرَك َة‬ (‫) َتقَسير ائن ك َثير‬ “From the specialty of this Sūrah (Yā Sīn) is that it is not read at the time of any difficult task except that Allāh will make it easy. Its recitation on a dying person is for the sake of achieving mercy and blessings of Allāh, and to cause the easy removal of the soul; and Allāh knows best.” (Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr) Imām Aḥmad () has narrated that the great scholars used to say: .»‫ ِع َْت َد إَْل َم ِتَ ِب خُ ِ َقف َع ْتَ ُه ِت ََها‬- ‫ َتَ ْعَ ِني ب ٓس‬- ‫ ِإ َدإ ُق ِ ئرَ ْب‬:‫« َكا َن إَْل َم ْ َس َت َح ُة ََت ُقُ ُوِلو َن‬ (‫) َتقَسير ائن ك َثير‬ “When (Sūrah) Yā Sīn is recited close to a dying person, Allāh will ease the difficulties (of death) for them.” (Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr) It is narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās () that the Prophet () said: .‫ ب ٓس‬:‫ تَعَني‬- »‫«َِل َو ِد ْدب َإ َّت َهَا ِفى َق ْل ِب ُك ِل ِإبْ َسا ٍن ِم ْن ُإ َّم ِني‬ (‫)م َستَد إليرار‬ “I desire that (Sūrah) Yā Sīn be in the heart of every person of my (Ummah).” (Musnad al-Bazzār) Yaḥyā ibn Kathīr states: ‫َوَق ْد‬ ،‫ُت ْمَ ِش َي‬ ‫َج َّني‬ ‫َق َر ٍج‬ ‫ِفى‬ ‫ئَ َرْل‬ ‫ََل ْم‬ ‫ُي ْ ِصب ُح‬ ‫ِجن َن‬ ‫َق َرَإ َ َها‬ ‫ َوَم ْن‬.،»‫م َئَ ُوْتَرْ َصل ِِفد ُىق َق ََدلِر ٍ َجك َإجل ََّّتن ْيح ُيِرَنْ ُِصةب َح‬:ْ َ‫بائْ ُٓنس ََعَلَ ْتَِ َطلَّتَا َةَل‬ ‫سِوَرَة‬ ‫َق َرَإ‬ ‫َم ْن‬ ‫َإ َّن‬ ‫َن ََل َعَ ِني‬ :‫َك ِثَي ٍر‬ َ ‫ئْ ُن‬ ‫َنْج َني‬ ‫« َوَقا َل‬ ‫إ ِبي‬ ‫َج َّد َث ِني‬ ‫ َقا َل‬،‫ َد َك َرُه إل َّتَ ْ َع َل ِن ُّي َوائْ ُن َعَ ِ َط َّتَ َة‬،‫َم ْن َج َّرَت ََها‬ (‫)تَقَسير إ َلقَرطَني‬ 4

THE HEART OF THE QUR’ĀN: SŪRAH YĀ SĪN www.giftofjumuah.com “This narration has reached me that whoever recites (Sūrah) Yā Sīn at night will remain happy until the morning; and whoever recites it in the morning will remain happy until the evening. The person who related this to me has experienced this. Thāʿlabī said: ‘Ibn ʿAṭīyah mentioned this,’ and Ibn Aṭīyah says: ‘Experience confirms this.’” (Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī) CONCLUSION The general merits of the Qur’ān alone, especially those which include Sūrah Yā Sīn, are tremendous and beyond what we can ever imagine. Therefore, we should recite this noble chapter of the Qur’ān knowing full well that we are uttering the words of Allāh, and that these words are nourishment for our heart and soul, a means of guidance, reward, attaining Allāh’s pleasure, a means of reflection, happiness and ease, and countless other benefits that only Allāh alone knows. Additionally, we need to adhere to the Qur’ān in every aspect of our lives, make it our point of reference for laws and basically everything, use it as light to find our way through difficult situations, resort to it for safety during turmoils, and abide by it in public and private. When we do these things, then by Allāh’s permission, we will find relief, strength, honour, and success; and Allāh will also be pleased with us. Allāh says in the Qur’ān: ‫ُﵗﵕﵑﵜ‬:ُ‫ﵸُﵝال َأ ۡع َراف‬١٥٧ُُ‫ﵹفَٱلَّ ِّذي َنُُ َءا َم ُنوُاُُبِّهِّۦُ َو َع َّز ُروهُُُ َونَ َص ُرو ُُهُ َوٱ َّت َب ُعوُاُٱلنو َُرُٱلَّ ِّذ ٓيُُأُن ِّز َلُُ َم َع ُه ُٓۥُأُو َ َٰٓلئِّ َكُُ ُه ُُمُٱلۡ ُم ۡفلِّ ُحو َن‬ “Hence, the people who believe in him (the Messenger), respect him, assist him, and follow the light which was revealed to him are the ones who shall be successful.” (Aʿrāf 7:157) Our salvation cannot come about without a determined and genuine return to the Qur’ān, and by giving it the precedence and priority that it truly deserves, in fulfillment of the purpose for which it was revealed. This comes about by establishing its directives, contemplating upon its meanings, grasping the significance of its contents, taking lessons from its warnings, reflecting on the narratives of the past, and being certain about its commands and their rewards, as well as its prohibitions and the threats that accompany them. When we revive the Qur’ān in our hearts and lives, then it will allow us to live in safety and prosperity. When we abide by its commandments and recommendations, and refrain from its prohibitions and discouragements, then our existence in this world will be actualized; and our outcome in the Hereafter will be prosperous. The poet says: ‫َق َبَا َإ ُّت َهَا إَْل ََقا ِري ِن ِه ُم َت َمَ ِ َسكا ۞ ُ ِمجلًّا َل ُه ِفى ُك ِل َجا ٍل ُم َِتحلا‬ ‫َ َه ِ َتنتَا َم ِربيَا َوإ ِل َذإ َك َع َلَ ْنِهَما ۞ َمل َاِبس َإ ْتُ َوا ٍر ِم َن إل ََّبا ِج َوال ُحل ْا‬ ‫َج َري الل ُه ِنا ْلخَ ْي َرا ِب َع ََّتا َإ ِت ََّمة ۞ ََل ََتا َتَ َ َق ُلِوإ إ َل ُقَ َرإ َن َع ْدنا َو َس َْل َسلَا‬ If you are someone who recites it (the Qur’ān), acts in compliance with it, and reveres it at all times, Then take delight in the fact that your parents will be adorned with crowns and garments of light. 5

THE HEART OF THE QUR’ĀN: SŪRAH YĀ SĪN www.giftofjumuah.com May Allāh graciously reward the scholars who transmitted the Qur’ān to us, pure and pristine, just as it was revealed. May Allāh allow us all to benefit from the Qur’ān and may He guide us to follow its straight path. Āmīn. ‫الَّله َإ َك َي ُرإ َّن ِدئ َن ُمحَّم ٍد ۞ وكِ َتَا َن ُه َإ ْق َوي َوَإ ْق َوُم ِقبَلا‬ ‫طَ ََل َ َعب ن ِه شمس إلِهَ َدا َن ِة لِلِ َوَري ۞ َوإبي لَ َها و ْ َضف إلكما ِل ُإ ُقولا‬ ُ ‫لِ ْلِ َوَري‬ ‫قروعا‬ ‫َح ََم َ َع ْب‬ ۞ ‫إلني‬ ‫شرَت َعَ ِ َت ِه‬ ‫فى‬ ‫َإ ْن ََل ُح‬ ‫وال َحَ ُّق‬ ‫وإضِولا‬ ‫لا َن ْد ُكروإ إلكِتَ َب إل َّسِوإَِل َف عتَ َد ُه ۞ َط ََل َع إل َّنها ُرق َا ْطْ ِقَ ُِتوإ إ َل ِ َق ْتَ ِدنلا‬ Allāh is certainly the Greatest. The religion and Scripture brought by Prophet Muḥammad () are the strongest and most accurate statements. With his advent rose the sun of guidance that is complete in every way, and it shone upon all of humanity. The laws that he brought contain the clear truth and address all of foundational and subsidiary matters. There is no need to mention other scriptures in the presence of the Qur’ān. Daybreak has arrived, so you may put out your candles. 6