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870827/07/2011

Is there any saheeh report in the Sunnah that speaks of reciting a particular soorah of the Qur’aan before travelling?

Question: 171497

I read a hadeeth from Jubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) which says that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “When you want to set out on a journey, you have recite Soorat al-Kaafiroon, an-Nasr, al-Ikhlaas, al-Falaq and an-Naas, but in one go, and start with the basmalah and end with the basmalah.” We need an answer to this in the light of the Qur’aan and Sunnah.

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

The text
of the hadeeth referred to in the question is as follows: 

It was
narrated that Jubayr ibn Mut‘im said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him) said to me: “O Jubayr, when you set out on a
journey, would you like to be the best of your companions in appearance and
quantity of provisions?” I said: Yes, may my father and mother be sacrificed
for you. He said: “Recite these five soorahs: ‘Qul ya ayyuhal kaafiroon’
[al-Kaafiroon 109], ‘Idha ja’a nasr Allahi wal fath’ [al-Nasr 110], Qul Huwa
Allahu ahad [al-Ikhlaas 112], Qul a‘oodhi bi rabbi’l-falaq [al-Falaq 113]
and Qul a‘oodhu bi raabi’n-naas [an-Naas 114]. Start your recitation
by saying Bismillah ir-Rahmaan ir-Raheem and end your recitation by saying
Bismillah ir-Rahmaan ir-Raheem.” Jubayr said: I was rich and had a great
deal of wealth, and I used to set out with whomever Allah willed I should
set out with on a journey, and I would be the worst of them in appearance
and the least in terms of provisions. From the time the Messenger of Allah
(blessing and peace of Allah be upon him) taught me it, I have never stopped
reciting them, and I am one of the best of them in appearance and have the
most provisions, until I come back from my journey. 

This was
narrated by Abu Ya‘la in his Musnad, 13/339, hadeeth no 7419. 

This is a
da‘eef (weak) hadeeth; its isnaad includes unknown narrators. 

Al-Haythami said concerning it in Majma‘ az-Zawaa’id (10/134): (Its
isnaad) includes people who I do not know. 

Shaykh
al-Albaani said concerning it in as-Silsilah ad-Da‘eefah (6963): (it
is) munkar. 

Based on
that, it is not valid to quote this hadeeth as evidence to suggest that it
is mustahabb to recite any soorahs of the Qur’aan before travelling. By the
same token, it is not valid to quote it as evidence for saying the basmalah
at the beginning of each soorah. 

See also
the answer to question no. 149125 

And Allah
knows best.

Source

Islam Q&A

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