Original review by Syihabudin Ahmad
This page was translated automatically from the approved Malay review. Consult the original if wording differs.
Short answer
This report of al-Hasan al-Basri is weak because it is mursal. It is found in Sunan al-Darimi no. 3502. The virtue of reciting the Qur’an at night has other evidence, but the details of this report do not become authentic merely because its general meaning is good.
Arabic wording
مَنْ قَرَأَ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مِائَةَ آيَةٍ، لَمْ يُحَاجَّهُ الْقُرْآنُ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ، وَمَنْ قَرَأَ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مِائَتَيْ آيَةٍ، كُتِبَ لَهُ قُنُوتُ لَيْلَةٍ، وَمَنْ قَرَأَ فِي لَيْلَةٍ خَمْسَ مِائَةِ آيَةٍ إِلَى الْأَلْفِ، أَصْبَحَ وَلَهُ قِنْطَارٌ فِي الْآخِرَةِ. قَالُوا: وَمَا الْقِنْطَارُ؟ قَالَ: اثْنَا عَشَرَ أَلْفًا.
Translation
“Whoever recites one hundred verses in a single night, the Qur’an will not argue against him on that night. Whoever recites two hundred verses in a single night, obedience for an entire night will be recorded for him. Whoever recites five hundred to one thousand verses in a single night will enter the morning having obtained one qintar in the Hereafter.” They asked: “What is a qintar?” He replied: “Twelve thousand.”
Narrator
No Companion is mentioned; al-Hasan al-Basri is a Tabi‘i
Sources and scholars
al-Darimi; al-Harith bin Abi Usamah; Ibn al-Durays; Abd al-Haqq al-Ishbili; Ibn al-Qattan al-Fasi
Scholarly commentary
1. al-Darimi in Sunan al-Darimi, Kitab Fada’il al-Qur’an, no. 3502, narrated it through Abu al-Nu‘man, Wuhayb, Yunus, and al-Hasan, who attributes it directly to the Prophet SAW.
2. al-Harith in Musnad al-Harith, no. 732, as well as Ibn al-Durays in Fada’il al-Qur’an, no. 171, narrated a similar wording in mursal form from al-Hasan.
3. Abd al-Haqq al-Ishbili in al-Ahkam al-Wusta, 4/57, stated that this report is mursal.
4. Ibn al-Qattan in Bayan al-Wahm wa al-Iham, 3/78, drew attention to the weakness of the mursal reports of al-Hasan.
Explanation
1. Why is this hadith weak?
Al-Hasan al-Basri is a Tabi‘i and did not meet the Prophet SAW. When he narrates directly from him without mentioning an intermediary, the chain is disconnected and is termed mursal.
2. What wording is used in this review?
The wording above follows al-Darimi no. 3502. In this wording, qintar is explained with the number “twelve thousand” without mentioning dirhams or dinars. Specifying the type of currency requires additional evidence.
3. Is there another accepted report?
Yes. Sunan Abi Dawud no. 1398 from Abdullah bin Amr mentions that a person who performs the night prayer with ten verses is not recorded among the heedless, with one hundred verses among the obedient, and with one thousand verses among those who obtain a great reward. It is a different wording and context, not a confirmation of all the details of the report of al-Hasan.
4. What may be acted upon?
Continue reciting the Qur’an and performing the night prayer. Nevertheless, the specific reward in this mursal report may not be stated as a definite promise from the Prophet SAW.
Conclusion
Status: Weak because it is mursal from al-Hasan al-Basri. The general virtues of the Qur’an and the night prayer still have accepted evidence.
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