Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas
Question: Would you kindly let us know the benefits and rewards of reciting and learning Surah Yasin.
Answer: assalamu `alaykum
Thank you for your question.
There are many benefits and rewards related to the recitation of Surah Yasin.
Benefits of Reciting the Qur’an
Firstly, the mere fact that the recitation of Surah Yasin is recitation of the Qur’an makes applicable all the texts that relate to the benefits and rewards of the Qur’an to the recitation of Surah Yasin. Among these benefits are:
a. The saying of Allah Most High, “Truly, it is through the remembrance of Allah that hearts find rest.” (13:28) It is through the recitation of the Qur’an that hearts come to rest and find intimiacy with their Creator.
b. The saying of Allah Most High, “He is the one who revealed unto his servant plain and clear verses in order to remove you from folds of darknesses into light.” (57:9) It is through the recitation of the Qur’an that one is able to gain divinely-granted success by having oneself pulled from a state of heedlesness to a state of realization and awareness.
c. The saying of Allah Most High, “Do they not reflect upon the Qur’an, or are their locks on their hearts?” (47:24) The Qur’an has the benefit of forcing one to reflect regarding all that is around him or her, gaining thereby a greater appreciation of Allah and his creation.
d. Ibn Mas`ud narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,
“Whosoever recites a single letter of the Qur’an has a reward, each reward being ten-fold the like thereof.” [Tirmidhi]
e. Abu Umama narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Recite the Qur’an for it will come on the Day of Resurrection as an intercessor for its companions.” [Muslim]
f. Abu Sa`id al-Khudri narrates that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Allah Most High says, ‘Whoever is busied by the recitation of the Qur’an from asking Me, I grant him the best of what what granted to those who asked.” [Tirmidhi]
The above are a small number of countless verses and narrations relating to the benefits and rewards of the Qur’an, of which Surah Yasin is a part.
Narrations Regarding the Benefits of Reciting Surah Yasin
As for narrations pertaining specifically to Surah Yasin, we have the following:
a. Anas ibn Malik narrates that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Everything has a heart and the heart of the Qur’an is Yasin. So, whoever recites Yasin, Allah will inscribe for him the reward of reciting the Qur’an ten times.” [Tirmidhi]
b. Abu Hurayra narrates that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Whoever recites Yasin at night, he will be forgiven.” [Musnad, Abu Ya`ala] Some versions state, “Whoever recites Yasin in the morning and night…” [Tabarani, Mu`ajam al-Saghir]
c. Ibn Yasar narrates that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Recite it on your dead.” [Abu Dawud]
d. It is also narrated from some of the scholars that reciting Yasin eases one’s hardships, as mentioned by Ibn Kathir in his Tafsir. There are also statements of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) indicating so.
Though many of the narrations regarding the merits of Surah Yasin specifically are weak, some of them have a basis and may be used for promoting virtuous actions.
The general merits of the Qur’an alone, which includes Surah Yasin, are tremendous and beyond what we can imagine and so we should recite this noble chapter of the Qur’an knowing full well that we are uttering the words of Allah, that these words are nourishment for our hearts and souls, a means of guidance, reward, attaining Allah’s pleasure, a means of reflection, happiness and ease, and other benefits that only Allah alone knows.
Wassalam
Salman
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani