Q: I heard a Hadith reported from the Messenger (peace be upon him), which states what means that anyone who memorizes the entire Ever-Glorious Qur'an shall intercede with Allah for seven members of their family. Is this a Sahih (authentic) or Da`if (weak) Hadith?I heard this Hadith from an Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer) in a Masjid (mosque). This urged me (Part No. 3; Page No. 102

A: This is a Hadith Marfu` (a Hadith narrated from the Prophet with a connected or disconnected chain of narration) reported on the authority of `Aly ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) and reads as follows: Anyone who recites and memorizes the Qur’an and regards whatever it declares lawful as lawful and whatever it declares forbidden as forbidden (i.e. Act according to it), Allah will admit them into Jannah (Paradise) and will accept their intercession for ten members of their family who all deserve to enter the Fire. (Related by Ahmad in his Musnad, and by Al-Tirmidhy, and Ibn Majah) The source of its Sanad (chain of narrators) according to them is Abu `Umar Hafs ibn Sulayman, the reciter of the Qur'an and the scholar of `Asim. However, he is Matruk (a narrator whose Hadith transmission was discarded due to unreliability) although he is a leading scholar in the science of Qira'at (recitation styles). Thus, this Hadith is not authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him).There are many texts of the Sunnah that are authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) with regard to the merits of the Ever-Glorious Qur'an and of reciting it, the great rewards which Allah (Exalted be He) has promised for those who recite it, and the etiquette of its recitation. Many scholars wrote several books about this subject. May Allah make us of the memorizers of the Qur'an who abide by its teachings and laws, Amen. (Part No. 3; Page No. 103) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.