Q: I have a book entitled "Al-Mutajar Al-Rabih Fi Thawab Al-`Amal Al-Salih." I read the following Hadith in it: Al-Hakim narrated on the authority of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: offer twelve Rak`ahs (units of Prayer) in pairs whether during the day or at night. While sitting for saying the final Tashahhud (testification recited in the sitting position in the second/last unit of Prayer), celebrate the praises of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and invoke Allah's peace and blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him). While in Sujud (prostrating position), recite Surah Al-Fatihah seven times and then say: "There is no god but Allah with no partner; to Him belongs all sovereignty and to Him be praise, and He is Able to do all things", ten times. (Part No. 6; Page No. 440) Then supplicate to Allah saying: O Allah, I ask you by the glory of Your Throne, and by virtue of the mercy of Your Book, and by Your greatest name and Your glory and Your perfect words, then ask Him for whatever you need. Then, raise your head and say the Taslim (salutation of peace ending the Prayer). Do not teach this to the foolish among you otherwise they might recite it then their invocation may be answered. I told one of the students of religious knowledge about this Hadith and he told me that it is not permissible to recite the Qur'an in Ruku` (bowing) nor in Sujud (prostration). But I think that this should not be done in the obligatory Salah not in the supererogatory one. Accordingly, I hope that Your Eminence could elaborate on this matter for me, and whether the Hadiths of this book are authentic or weak. It is worthy to mention here that it is written on the cover of the book that it is verified by `Abdul-Malik ibn Duhaysh. May Allah protect you.

A: This Hadith is related by Al-Hakim. Al-Hafizh Al-Mundhiry mentioned it in Al-Targhib Wa Al-Tarhib and said: `Amir ibn Khidash Al-Naysabury is the only narrator who reported it. He added: our Shaykh Al-Hafizh Abu Al-Hasan said that `Amir ibn Khidash used to narrate Munkar Hadiths (rejected Hadith reported by a weak narrator whose narration conflicts with an authentic Hadith). He is the only narrator who reported it from `Umar ibn Harun Al-Balkhy whose narration of Hadiths are to be rejected and only Ibn Mahdy praised him. Accordingly, it becomes known that the Hadith is weak in terms of its Sanad (chain of narrators). There are other authentic Hadiths indicating that it is forbidden for a person to recite the Qur'an during Sujud. Now it is clear that this Hadith is also weak in terms of its Matn (text of a Hadith). Consequently, it is not permissible to act upon it due to it being weak and contradicting other (Part No. 6; Page No. 441) authentic Hadiths.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.