Hearing the Recitation of Surah Al-Mulk from a Grave

Written by: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (Hafidhahullah)

Question:​

Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) narrates that a companion unknowingly set up a tent over a grave and heard the recitation of Surah Al-Mulk from inside the grave. The deceased recited the Surah from beginning to end. When this incident was reported to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), he said:

"This Surah prevents the punishment of the grave and grants deliverance from it."
(Tirmidhi)

Is this Hadith authentic?

Answer:​

This narration is found in:

1. Jami' al-Tirmidhi under "Chapters on the Virtues of the Quran: The Virtue of Surah Al-Mulk" (Hadith No. 2890)
2. Mishkat al-Masabih (Hadith No. 2154)
3. Ithbat ‘Adhab al-Qabr by Al-Bayhaqi (Hadith No. 146)

However, Imam Al-Bayhaqi states regarding this narration:

«تفرد به يحيي بن عمرو بن مالك وهو ضعيف»

"Yahya bin Amr bin Malik is the sole narrator of this, and he is weak."

Scholarly Analysis of the Narrator:​

The narrator Yahya bin Amr bin Malik Al-Nakri Al-Basri has been criticized by several prominent scholars of Hadith:

1. Imam Yahya bin Ma'in (رحمه الله) - Declared him weak.
2. Imam Abu Zur'ah (رحمه الله) - Labeled him unreliable.
3. Imam Abu Dawood (رحمه الله) - Marked him as weak.
4. Imam Al-Nasa'i (رحمه الله) - Considered him weak.
5. Al-Dulabi (رحمه الله) - Also confirmed his weakness.
6. Hammad bin Zaid (رحمه الله) - Accused him of lying.

Imam Al-Aqeeli (رحمه الله) said:

"His narrations are not followed up by other reliable narrators."
Imam Ahmad (رحمه الله) commented:

"He is of no significance."
Imam Al-Saji (رحمه الله) said:

"He narrates rejected (munkar) Hadith."

References for the Narrator's Weakness:​

• Tahdhib al-Tahdhib (6/165)
• Al-Mughni fi al-Du'afa (2/525)
• Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil (9/732)
• Mizan al-I'tidal (4/399)
• Al-Du'afa al-Kabir (4/42)

Conclusion:​

This narration is not authentic due to the weakness of the narrator Yahya bin Amr bin Malik Al-Nakri. Hence, it cannot be relied upon as evidence for the virtue of Surah Al-Mulk in preventing the punishment of the grave.