❖ Objection to Surah Al-Fātiḥah
Response:
◈ The Significance of Surah Al-Fātiḥah:
Surah Al-Fātiḥah is the opening chapter of the Qur’an and is recited multiple times daily in every obligatory prayer. It is a universally agreed-upon part of the Qur’an.
◈ Testimony of ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه):
Allah says in the Qur’an:
﴿وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَاكَ سَبْعًا مِّنَ الْمَثَانِي وَالْقُرْآنَ الْعَظِيمَ﴾
“And We have certainly given you seven oft-repeated [verses] and the great Qur’an.”
(Surah Al-Ḥijr: 87)
Ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه) explained that “seven oft-repeated” refers to Surah Al-Fātiḥah.
(Al-Durr al-Manthūr, Vol. 5, p. 94, Dār al-Fikr, Beirut)
◈ Why Ibn Masʿūd Did Not Write Al-Fātiḥah in His Muṣḥaf:
Imām Abū Bakr al-Anbārī (رحمه الله) states:
Ibn Masʿūd said: “If I were to write Surah Al-Fātiḥah, I would have to write it before every surah.”
(Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī, Vol. 1, p. 4)
This implies that Ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه) relied on the Muslims’ memorization of Al-Fātiḥah due to its constant recitation in prayers.
❖ Objection to Al-Muʿawwidhatayn (Surah Al-Falaq & Al-Nās)
Response:
◈ Qur’anic Preservation Through
The primary mode of Qur’anic preservation has always been oral transmission, specifically via mutawātir qirāʾāt (mass-transmitted recitations).
All mutawātir qirāʾāt include Surah Al-Fātiḥah and Al-Muʿawwidhatayn, including the following four:
➊ Qirāʾah of ʿĀṣim
➋ Qirāʾah of Ḥamzah
➌ Qirāʾah of Kisāʾī
➍ Qirāʾah of Khalaf
(See: Al-Nashr fī al-Qirāʾāt al-ʿAshr, Ibn al-Jazarī, Vol. 1, pp. 155, 165, 172, 185)
Each of these qirāʾāt is directly connected to Ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه), proving he recited these surahs as part of the Qur’an.
◈ Ibn Masʿūd’s Statement on Al-Muʿawwidhatayn:
In Kanz al-ʿUmmāl, it is reported:
Ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه) said:
“Recite the two [surahs] frequently, for Allah will elevate you in the Hereafter because of them.”
(Kanz al-ʿUmmāl, Ḥadīth 2743)
❖ Analysis of the Objection-Based Narrations
◈ Report of ʿĀṣim and Zur:
A narration from Musnad Aḥmad (Ḥadīth 21186) suggests that Ibn Masʿūd did not include Al-Muʿawwidhatayn in his muṣḥaf. However:
- Not writing a surah in a personal copy does not mean it was not accepted as Qur’an.
- Other Companions did not object—which they certainly would have done if Ibn Masʿūd denied these surahs as part of the Qur’an.
(Al-Itqān, Vol. 1, p. 271)
◈ Report of ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Yazīd:
He narrates that Ibn Masʿūd excluded Al-Fātiḥah and Al-Muʿawwidhatayn from his copy because he did not consider them part of the Qur’an.
(Musnad Aḥmad, 21188)
However:
- This narration is shādh (anomalous) and muʿallal (defective), and it contradicts mutawātir recitations.
- According to Ibn al-Ṣalāḥ:
“A shādh ḥadīth is one in which a reliable narrator contradicts other, more reliable narrators.”
(An Introduction to the Science of Ḥadīth, p. 57)
Hence, this narration cannot override the uninterrupted transmission of the Qur’an.
◈ Ibn Masʿūd’s Acknowledgement of Revelation:
In Al-Durr al-Manthūr (Vol. 6), al-Ṭabarānī reports:
Ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه) said:
“The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Verses have been revealed to me the like of which has never been revealed before,’ referring to Al-Muʿawwidhatayn.”
This is clear proof of Ibn Masʿūd’s acceptance of these surahs as revelation.
❖ Opinions of Leading Scholars
✔ Imām al-Nawawī (رحمه الله) – 676 AH:
“The Ummah is unanimously agreed that Al-Fātiḥah and Al-Muʿawwidhatayn are part of the Qur’an, and denying this is kufr. What is attributed to Ibn Masʿūd is a lie.”
(Al-Itqān, Vol. 1, p. 270)
✔ Imām Ibn Ḥazm (رحمه الله):
“Attributing denial of Al-Muʿawwidhatayn to Ibn Masʿūd is false. ʿĀṣim’s recitation—which is transmitted from Ibn Masʿūd—includes them.”
(Al-Muḥallā, Vol. 1, p. 13)
✔ Shaykh Zāhid al-Kawtharī (رحمه الله):
“Attributing the rejection of Al-Muʿawwidhatayn to Ibn Masʿūd is baseless and contradicts the consensus of the Ummah.”
(Maqālāt al-Kawtharī, p. 16)
❖ Summary
➊ Ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه) acknowledged both Surah Al-Fātiḥah and Al-Muʿawwidhatayn as parts of the Qur’an.
➋ All four mutawātir qirāʾāt linked to him include these surahs.
➌ His own statements praise the virtue of Al-Muʿawwidhatayn.
➍ Reports implying otherwise are anomalous, weak, and contradicted by mass-transmitted recitations.
➎ Scholarly consensus throughout the Ummah has affirmed these surahs as integral parts of the Qur’an.
