Hadith on an Alternative Recitation for Those Who Cannot Read the Qur’an
It is narrated from Ibn Abi Awfa (رضي الله عنهما) that:
A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said:
“O Messenger of Allah! Teach me something that will suffice me in place of the Qur’an.”
The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
"Say: Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar." (Glory be to Allah, all praise is due to Allah, there is no deity except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest.
This narration is recorded by Ibn Jarud in Al-Muntaqa.
Authentication & References:
This Hadith is classified as authentic and is recorded in:
- Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal (4/353)
- Abu Dawood (832)
- Nasa’i (2/143)
- Ibn Hibban (473)
- Al-Daraqutni (1/313-314)
- Mustadrak Al-Hakim (1/241)
- Tirmidhi (301)
Imam Tirmidhi graded it Hasan (good).
Al-Hakim declared it Sahih (authentic) on the conditions of Imam Bukhari.
Another version includes an additional phrase:
"Wa La Hawla Wa La Quwwata Illa Billah" (There is no power and no strength except with Allah.)
Key Takeaways:
➊ If an illiterate person cannot read the Qur’an, they can recite the following phrases in prayer:
- Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah)
- Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to Allah)
- La ilaha illa Allah (There is no deity except Allah)
- Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest)
- (Optional: Wa La Hawla Wa La Quwwata Illa Billah)
➋ A person who is unable to recite the Qur’an should make an effort to learn.
- It is recommended for them to seek guidance from a teacher and not feel shy about learning.
Source:
This content is taken from Sheikh Taqi al-Din Abu al-Fath’s book "Diya Al-Islam Fi Sharh Al-Imam Bi Ahadith Al-Ahkam," translated by Maulana Mahmood Ahmad Ghaznfar Sahib.
