Q 1: I have read a Hadith on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that anyone who recites Surah Al-Dukhan every night, seventy thousand angels will ask forgiveness for him until the morning. (Related by (Part No. 3; Page No. 131)  Al-Tirmidhy and Al-Asbahany) I have also read a Hadith on the merit of Surah Al-Waqi`ah. Therefore, I observe reading them every night. Is there anything wrong with this? I am anxious to know what the Sunnah says in this matter, and I am afraid lest these two Hadiths should be Da`if (weak).

A: What is authentically reported is that a person should recite Ayat-ul-Kursy (the Qur’anic Verse of Allah’s Chair, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:255) once and Surah Al-Ikhlas and Al-Mu`awwidhatayn (Surahs Al-Falaq and Al-Nas) three times before going to sleep. This should be done along with reciting Tasbih (saying: ''Subhan Allah [Glory be to Allah]'') and Tahmid (saying: "Al-hamdu lillah [All praise is due to Allah]") thirty-three times and Takbir (saying: "Allahu Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]") thirty-four times. In sha’a-Allah (if Allah wills), this will suffice.As for the Hadiths pertaining to the daily recitation of Surah Al-Dukhan and Surah Al-Waqi`ah, they are all Da`if or Mawdu` (fabricated Hadith). They were reported on the authority of `Umar ibn `Abdullah ibn Abu Ja`tham who used to fabricate Hadiths and attribute them to the trustworthy narrators.They were also reported on the authority of Hisham ibn Ziyad Abu Al-Miqdam who used to fabricate Hadiths, and therefore cannot be taken as proof. They were also reported from Fadalah ibn Jubayr on the authority of Abu Umamah. In fact, Fadalah did not receive Hadiths from Abu Umamah and he reported accounts which Abu Umamah did not narrate.Moreover, they were reported on the authority of Turayf Al-Sa`dy who is a weak narrator, and on the authority of Ahmad Al-Yamamy who was a liar, and on the authority of (Part No. 3; Page No. 132)  `Abdul-Qudus ibn Habib who was Matruk (a narrator whose Hadith transmission was discarded due to unreliability), and on the authority of Muhammad ibn `Abdul-Rahman Al-Qurashy Al-Jad`any whose reports were rejected. Therefore, these Hadiths cannot be taken as proof, and it is not permissible to act according to them.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.