Muslim

Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
(1)
Zahrawayn:
This is the dual form of "Zahra’", meaning bright, luminous. Surah al-Baqarah and Surah Aal-e-Imran have been given this name due to their guidance, radiance, and great reward.

(2)
Ghamamatan:
"Ghamamah" means cloud, and "ghayayah" (plural: ghayayatani) means canopy.

(3)
Firqan:
A group, a party.

(4)
Sawaff:
"Saaffah": with wings spread out.

(5)
Batalah:
By this is meant "saharah" (plural of sahir), i.e., magicians.

Benefits and Issues:
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, encouraging the recitation of the Noble Qur’an, has stated that the Qur’an will intercede with Allah on behalf of its companions. By "companions of the Qur’an" are meant those who, believing in the Qur’an, maintain a connection and devotion to it, considering this a means of attaining Allah’s pleasure and mercy; who recite it, reflect and ponder upon it, strive to act upon its commands and guidance, or who, in order to spread its teachings and guidance, make efforts in teaching, preaching, and writing. All such people will be deserving of the Qur’an’s intercession.

In this hadith, after generally encouraging the recitation and reading of the Noble Qur’an, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam has specifically encouraged the recitation of Surah al-Baqarah and Surah Aal-e-Imran, and has said that on the Day of Resurrection and Gathering, when every person will be in dire need of shade, these two surahs will overshadow those who maintained a connection and devotion to them, like a cloud or a shaded thing, or like the wings of birds spread out. They will defend and answer on their behalf. And finally, it is further stated: There is great blessing in learning and reciting Surah al-Baqarah, and great loss in being deprived of it. People of falsehood, the lazy and indolent, do not have the strength to adhere to and recite it. The narrator of this hadith, Mu’awiyah, says that it has been conveyed to him that by "batalah" (magicians) are meant "sahar" (magicians).

In this context, it means that in any house where the recitation of Surah al-Baqarah is a regular practice, no magician’s magic will affect that house.

Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu has mentioned the special quality and effect of Surah al-Baqarah: that in any house where Surah al-Baqarah is recited, Satan flees from that house.