Will a Ḥāfiẓ of the Qurʾān Intercede for Relatives on the Day of Judgment?
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah – Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām, Vol. 2, p. 284
Is it true that on the Day of Judgment a Ḥāfiẓ of the Qurʾān will intercede for his relatives?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
The narration often cited on this subject is considered weak — in fact, severely weak — by various Muḥaddithīn. Below is the detail of the narration and its chain:
This ḥadīth is recorded by:
It comes through the chain:
"Ḥafṣ ibn Sulaymān Abū ʿUmar al-Bazzār from Kathīr ibn Zādhān from ʿĀṣim ibn Ḍamrah from ʿAlī (RA)"
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
"Whoever recites the Qurʾān and memorizes it — considering its ḥalāl to be ḥalāl and its ḥarām to be ḥarām — Allāh will admit him into Paradise and will accept his intercession for ten members of his household for whom the Fire had already been decreed."
(See: Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, ḥadīth no. 2141)
Imām al-Tirmidhī stated:
"This is a gharīb ḥadīth… it has no authentic chain, and Ḥafṣ ibn Sulaymān Abū ʿUmar al-Bazzār is weak in ḥadīth."
Note: Some claim Imām Wakīʿ declared him trustworthy, but this is not authentically proven. Even if true, it pertains to Qurʾānic recitation, not ḥadīth.
➊ First Position: Weak ḥadīth is not proof even in virtues and merits (faḍāʾil).
➋ Second Position: Weak ḥadīth may be used in virtues and merits.
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī said:
"The first agreed-upon condition is that the weakness must not be severe."
(al-Qawl al-Badīʿ by al-Sakhāwī, p. 258)
The narration claiming that a Ḥāfiẓ of the Qurʾān will intercede for ten relatives on the Day of Judgment has no authentic chain and is severely weak. It cannot be relied upon as proof or narrated without mentioning its weakness.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah – Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām, Vol. 2, p. 284
Question:
Is it true that on the Day of Judgment a Ḥāfiẓ of the Qurʾān will intercede for his relatives?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
The narration often cited on this subject is considered weak — in fact, severely weak — by various Muḥaddithīn. Below is the detail of the narration and its chain:
The Narration
This ḥadīth is recorded by:
- Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal (al-Musnad 1/148, ḥadīth nos. 1268, 1278)
- Imām al-Tirmidhī (ḥadīth no. 2905)
- Ibn Mājah (ḥadīth no. 216)
It comes through the chain:
"Ḥafṣ ibn Sulaymān Abū ʿUmar al-Bazzār from Kathīr ibn Zādhān from ʿĀṣim ibn Ḍamrah from ʿAlī (RA)"
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
"Whoever recites the Qurʾān and memorizes it — considering its ḥalāl to be ḥalāl and its ḥarām to be ḥarām — Allāh will admit him into Paradise and will accept his intercession for ten members of his household for whom the Fire had already been decreed."
(See: Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, ḥadīth no. 2141)
Authenticity of the Chain
Imām al-Tirmidhī stated:
"This is a gharīb ḥadīth… it has no authentic chain, and Ḥafṣ ibn Sulaymān Abū ʿUmar al-Bazzār is weak in ḥadīth."
Criticism of Ḥafṣ ibn Sulaymān
- Imām al-Bukhārī: "Tarakūhu" — “The scholars abandoned him.” (Kitāb al-Ḍuʿafāʾ, p. 73)
- Imām al-Nasāʾī: "Matrūk al-ḥadīth" — “He is discarded in ḥadīth.” (Kitāb al-Ḍuʿafāʾ, p. 134)
Note: Some claim Imām Wakīʿ declared him trustworthy, but this is not authentically proven. Even if true, it pertains to Qurʾānic recitation, not ḥadīth.
Criticism of Kathīr ibn Zādhān
- Imām Abū Ḥātim al-Rāzī and Abū Zurʿah al-Rāzī: "Shaykh majhūl" — “An unknown narrator.” (al-Jarḥ wa’l-Taʿdīl 7/151)
Conclusion on the Chain
- The narration is severely weak.
- Shaykh al-Albānī graded it ḍaʿīf jiddan (very weak). (Ḍaʿīf al-Targhīb wa’l-Tarhīb 1/432; Ḍaʿīf al-Jāmiʿ, ḥadīth no. 5761)
Ruling on Narrating Weak Ḥadīth
- Narrating a severely weak ḥadīth without clarifying its weakness is impermissible.
- Sadly, many preachers and speakers cite this narration enthusiastically at Qurʾān completion gatherings, despite its severe weakness.
Scholarly Positions on Weak Ḥadīth
➊ First Position: Weak ḥadīth is not proof even in virtues and merits (faḍāʾil).
- Held by Ibn al-ʿArabī and others.
- This is the stronger opinion.
➋ Second Position: Weak ḥadīth may be used in virtues and merits.
- Held by Imām al-Nawawī and others.
- This is weaker, and even according to them, the weakness must not be severe.
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī said:
"The first agreed-upon condition is that the weakness must not be severe."
(al-Qawl al-Badīʿ by al-Sakhāwī, p. 258)
Summary
The narration claiming that a Ḥāfiẓ of the Qurʾān will intercede for ten relatives on the Day of Judgment has no authentic chain and is severely weak. It cannot be relied upon as proof or narrated without mentioning its weakness.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
