Surah Yaseen (36) — Ayah 1
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
With its verses, you have no concern except this,
That with its Surah Ya-Sin, your death may come easily.
“That is, you have no other purpose with its verses except that with its Surah Ya-Sin, your death may occur with ease.”
However, there is no narration specifically about the virtue of this surah that is Sahih; some narrations are fabricated, and some are weak. Here, a few narrations mentioned in Tafsir Ibn Kathir and their weakness are explained:
(1) It is narrated from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَلْبًا وَ قَلْبُ الْقُرْآنِ يٰسٓ مَنْ قَرَأَ يٰسٓ كَتَبَ اللّٰهُ لَهُ بِقِرَاءَتِهَا قِرَاءَةَ الْقُرْآنِ عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ ] [ ترمذي، فضائل القرآن، باب ما جاء في فضل یٰس : ۲۸۸۷ ] “Everything has a heart, and the heart of the Qur’an is Surah Ya-Sin. Whoever recites Surah Ya-Sin, Allah Almighty writes for him, with its recitation, the reward of reciting the Qur’an ten times.” Imam Tirmidhi narrated this hadith and said: “This hadith is Hasan Gharib. We do not know it except from the narration of Humaid bin Abdur Rahman, and (one of its narrators) Harun Abu Muhammad is a Majhool (unknown) shaykh.” Ibn Abi Hatim narrated from his father, who said: [ حَدِيْثٌ بَاطِلٌ لَا أَصْلَ لَهُ ] [ العلل : 56/2 ] “This is a false hadith; it has no basis.” The hadith scholar Al-Albani declared it fabricated. (See Da‘if Sunan Tirmidhi)
(2) Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ مَنْ قَرَأَ يٰسٓ فِيْ لَيْلَةٍ أَصْبَحَ مَغْفُوْرًا لَّهُ ] [ مسند أبي یعلٰی : ۶۲۲۴ ] “Whoever recites Surah Ya-Sin at night, he will wake up in the morning forgiven.” Ibn Kathir called its chain good, but the researcher of Musnad Abu Ya‘la declared it weak due to one of its narrators, Hisham bin Ziyad, being weak, and Hafiz Ibn Hajar said about this narrator in Taqrib: {’’ مَتْرُوْكٌ ‘‘} that the hadith scholars have abandoned him.
(3) It is narrated from Jundub bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ مَنْ قَرَأَ يٰسٓ فِيْ لَيْلَةٍ ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ اللّٰهِ غُفِرَ لَهُ ] [ ابن حبان : ۲۵۷۴ ] “Whoever recites Surah Ya-Sin at night seeking Allah’s pleasure, he will be forgiven.” The researcher of Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Dr. Hikmat bin Basheer, said its chain is weak because Hasan did not hear from Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him).
(4) It is narrated from Ma‘qil bin Yasar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ يٰسٓ قَلْبُ الْقُرْآنِ لَا يَقْرَأُهَا رَجُلٌ يُرِيْدُ اللّٰهَ وَالدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ إِلَّا غُفِرَ لَهُ وَاقْرَؤُوْهَا عَلٰی مَوْتَاكُمْ ] [ مسند أحمد :26/5، ح : ۲۰۳۰۰ ] “Surah Ya-Sin is the heart of the Qur’an. Whoever recites it seeking Allah and the Hereafter, he will be forgiven, and you should recite it over your dying.” The researcher of Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Dr. Hikmat bin Basheer, said its chain {’’عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِيْهِ‘‘} is weak due to two narrators being unknown.
(5) Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ لَوَدِدْتُّ أَنَّهَا فِيْ قَلْبِ كُلِّ إِنْسَانٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِيْ يَعْنِيْ يٰسٓ ] [ مسند بزار : ۲۳۰۵ ] “I wish that this, i.e., Surah Ya-Sin, be present in the heart of every person of my ummah.” Researcher Hikmat bin Basheer said: “Its chain is weak because one of its narrators, Ibrahim bin Hakam bin Aban, is weak.” Apart from the narrations mentioned in Tafsir Ibn Kathir, there is a famous narration that Ata bin Abi Rabah said: I have received the information that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ مَنْ قَرَأَ يٰسٓ فِيْ صَدْرِ النَّهَارِ قُضِيَتْ حَوَائِجُهُ ] [ سنن الدارمي : 549/2، ح : ۳۴۱۸ ] “Whoever recites Surah Ya-Sin at the beginning of the day, his needs are fulfilled.” The researcher of Darimi, Husain Salim Asad, said: “Its chain is weak and mursal.” That is, Ata bin Abi Rabah is a Tabi‘i; he neither heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) nor mentioned the source of his information. Moreover, in it, Ibrahim bin Hakam, the narrator, is weak. The condition of the narrations other than these is even worse.
(Ayah 1) { يٰسٓ:} These are disjointed letters (huruf muqatta‘at); for their explanation, see the first verse of Surah Al-Baqarah.
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
[1]
Virtues of Surah Yaseen:
In Surah Yaseen, the message of the Noble Quran is presented with very strong arguments and in an extremely effective manner. The faith of a believing servant is refreshed, and the scene of the Hereafter comes before him. It is better that along with its recitation, the translation should also be kept in mind, and those who do not know the translation should read the Urdu translation alongside so that they may benefit from the blessings of this Surah. As for the commonly known narration of Jami' Tirmidhi, that Surah Yaseen is the heart of the Quran and whoever recites Surah Yaseen will receive the reward of reciting the Quran ten times, and according to the narration of Bayhaqi, recite Surah Yaseen over your dying ones, and whoever recites Surah Yaseen on Friday, his sins will be forgiven—these narrations are weak. Remember, among all the hadiths found regarding the virtues of Surah Yaseen, not a single hadith is authentic; all of them are either weak or fabricated.
[2] Although this word is also a combination of two disjointed letters, however, since the first letter "Ya" is a vocative particle, it appears that this is forming a sentence by combining only the vocative and the one being addressed. That is why most commentators have translated it as "O person," "O man," or "O human," and by this is meant the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
