Question
What is the reference for this Hadith?
“Angels will come to a man in his grave by his legs and they will say: ‘You do not have a path before us. He used to recite Surah Mulk.’ Then they would come to his stomach and it will say: ‘You do not have a path before us, he was aware of Surah Mulk.’ Then they will come by head and it will say: ‘You have no path before me.’”
Answer
Imams Hakim, ‘Abdur Razzaq and Tabarani (rahimahumullah) have recorded this narration as the statement of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
The complete narration is as follows:
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “[Angels of punishment] will come to a person by his leg side, and they will say, ‘There is no way to him through us, he would recite Surah Mulk.’ They will then go to his belly which will say, ‘There is no way to him through me, he had memorised Surah Mulk.’ They will then go to his head which will say, ‘There is no way to him through us, he would recite Surah Mulk.’ Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) then said, ‘[Surah Mulk] is the defender, it defends against the punishment of the grave. It is also in the Tawrah. This is Surah Mulk, whomsoever recited it an night has done well and abundant.’”
(Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 2 pg. 498, Musannaf ‘Abdur Razzaq: 6025 and Al Mu’jamul Kabir: 8651)
Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) has declared the narration authentic and ‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) concurs.
(Also see: Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 7 pg. 128)
Note:
The nature of this narration is not such that could be deduced merely by logic. It will therefore be understood that Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) heard this from Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). (مرفوع حكمًا).
Also see here
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar