Virtues of Surah Āl-ʿImrān in the Light of Authentic Aḥādīth❖ Adapted from the book “Sūrah aur Āyāt ke Faḍāʾil” by Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Amnpūrī
Introduction
Surah Āl-ʿImrān is a Madani Sūrah, and its first 83 verses were revealed during the arrival of the Christian delegation of Najrān in 9 AH.
✿ ➊ The Intercession of Surah Āl-ʿImrān and Surah al-Baqarah
Narrator: Sayyidunā Abū Umāmah رضي الله عنه
Arabic Text:
اِقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ، فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ شَفِيعًا لِأَصْحَابِهِ، اِقْرَءُوا الزَّهْرَاوَيْنِ: الْبَقَرَةَ وَسُورَةَ آلِ عِمْرَانَ، فَإِنَّهُمَا تَأْتِيَانِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كَأَنَّهُمَا غَمَامَتَانِ أَوْ كَأَنَّهُمَا غَيَايَتَانِ، أَوْ كَأَنَّهُمَا فِرْقَانِ مِنْ طَيْرٍ صَوَافَّ، تُحَاجَّانِ عَنْ أَصْحَابِهِمَا، اِقْرَءُوا سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ، فَإِنَّ أَخْذَهَا بَرَكَةٌ، وَتَرْكَهَا حَسْرَةٌ، وَلَا تَسْتَطِيعُهَا الْبَطَلَةُ
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 804]
Translation:
“Recite the Qur’an, for it will intercede on behalf of its companions on the Day of Resurrection. Recite the two shining ones: Surah al-Baqarah and Surah Āl-ʿImrān, for they will come on the Day of Judgement like two clouds or two canopies or two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading for those who used to recite them. Recite Surah al-Baqarah, for taking it is a blessing and abandoning it is a cause of regret, and the false magicians cannot withstand it.”
✿ ➋ Shade of the Qur’an and Elevation in Paradise
Narrator: Sayyidunā Buraydah رضي الله عنه
Arabic Text:
تَعَلَّمُوا سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ، فَإِنَّ أَخْذَهَا بَرَكَةٌ، وَتَرْكَهَا حَسْرَةٌ، وَلَا تَسْتَطِيعُهَا الْبَطَلَةُ ... تَعَلَّمُوا سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ، وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ، فَإِنَّهُمَا الزَّهْرَاوَانِ، يُظِلَّانِ صَاحِبَهُمَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كَأَنَّهُمَا غَمَامَتَانِ ... يُعْطَى الْمُلْكَ بِيَمِينِهِ، وَالْخُلْدَ بِشِمَالِهِ، وَيُوضَعُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ تَاجُ الْوَقَارِ، وَيُكْسَى وَالِدَاهُ حُلَّتَيْنِ، لَا يَقُومُ لَهُمَا أَهْلُ الدُّنْيَا، ... يُقَالُ لَهُ: اقْرَأْ وَاصْعَدْ فِي دَرَجِ الْجَنَّةِ وَغُرَفِهَا، فَهُوَ فِي صُعُودٍ مَا دَامَ يَقْرَأُ، هَذَا كَانَ أَوْ تَرْتِيلًا
[Musnad Aḥmad 5/348, Sunan al-Dārimī: 3394, Ibn Mājah: 3781, al-Mustadrak: 660/1]
Translation:
“I was sitting with the Prophet ﷺ and heard him say: Learn Surah al-Baqarah; taking it is a blessing, abandoning it is regret, and the magicians cannot overpower it. Then he paused and said: Learn Surah al-Baqarah and Surah Āl-ʿImrān, for they are two radiant chapters that will provide shade to their reciters on the Day of Judgment, like two clouds or two flocks of birds in ranks.
The Qur’an will meet its companion when he rises from the grave on the Day of Judgment in the form of a pale-faced man. It will say, ‘Do you recognize me?’ He will reply, ‘No.’ It will say, ‘I am your companion – the Qur’an – who kept you thirsty during the day and awake at night.’ Then the reciter will be given kingship in his right hand, eternal life in his left, and a crown of dignity will be placed on his head. His parents will be dressed in garments so precious that the people of the world would not be able to match them. They will ask, ‘Why have we been clothed in this?’ It will be said, ‘Because your child learned the Qur’an.’ Then the reciter will be told, ‘Recite and ascend in the ranks of Paradise,’ and he will continue ascending as long as he continues reciting—whether he recites fluently or slowly.”
Authenticity:
Imām Ḥākim declared it authentic by the standards of Imām Muslim, and this was affirmed by Ḥāfiẓ Dhahabī.
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr said:
“This isnād is ḥasan upon the condition of Muslim.”
[Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 1/143]
Ḥāfiẓ Būṣīrī and Ibn Ḥajar also declared its chain ḥasan.
✿ ➌ The Prophet ﷺ Weeping Over a Verse from Surah Āl-ʿImrān
Narrator: Imām ʿAṭāʾ bin Abī Rabāḥ رحمه الله
Arabic Text:
... لَقَدْ نَزَلَتْ عَلَيَّ اللَّيْلَةَ آيَةٌ، وَيْلٌ لِمَنْ قَرَأَهَا وَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرْ فِيهَا:
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ
[Āl-ʿImrān: 190]
[Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān: 620, Akhlāq al-Nabī by Abū al-Shaykh: 568 – Ḥasan Isnād]
Translation:
Imām ʿAṭāʾ narrates:
I entered along with ʿUbayd bin ʿUmayr upon Sayyidah ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها. She said to ʿUbayd: “You’ve finally found time to visit us.” He replied with a proverb: “Visit seldom, and you increase in affection.” She said, “Let’s skip your poetry. Tell me the most wondrous thing you witnessed from the Prophet ﷺ.” After a pause, she said:
“One night, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘O ʿĀʾishah! Permit me to worship my Lord tonight.’ I replied: ‘By Allah, I love being close to you, but I also love what pleases you.’ He stood, performed ablution, and began praying. He wept until his lap was wet. Then he continued weeping until his blessed beard was drenched. Then he wept until the ground beneath him became wet. When Bilāl رضي الله عنه came to call him for prayer, he saw him weeping and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Why do you weep when Allah has forgiven your past and future sins?’ He replied: ‘Should I not be a grateful servant? Tonight, a verse was revealed to me – Woe to the one who recites it but does not ponder over it!”
The verse:
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and day are signs for those of understanding.”
[Āl-ʿImrān: 190]
Conclusion: Key Virtues of Surah Āl-ʿImrān
① It intercedes for its reciters on the Day of Judgement.
② It provides shade and elevation in Jannah.
③ The Prophet ﷺ wept upon its verses and emphasized reflection and contemplation upon them.
④ Learning and reciting it is a source of blessings, while abandoning it is a source of regret.
⑤ Its reward benefits not only the reciter but also their parents.
