So after mentioning the two aayaat, he says, ‘Sadaqallaahul-’Adheem (Allaah the Magnificent has spoken the truth,)’ yet there is no evidence for this statement upon completion of reciting the Qur‘aan, whether it is only one aayah or more.

So after mentioning the two aayaat, he says, ‘Sadaqallaahul-’Adheem (Allaah the Magnificent has spoken the truth,)’ yet there is no evidence for this statement upon completion of reciting the Qur‘aan, whether it is only one aayah or more.  So there occurs in the Saheeh of al-Bukhaaree (no. 4582) and Muslim (no. 800) from the hadeeth of ’Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood (radiyallaahu ’anhu) who said, “The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to me, ‘Read for me.’  I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, I am to recite for you whilst you are the one upon whom it has been revealed!’ 

He said, ‘Yes.’ So I recited Sooratun-Nisaa‘ until I came to this aayah,

“So how will it be when We bring from every nation a witness, and We bring you as a witness over these people?” [Sooratun-Nisaa‘ 4:41]

He said, ‘That is enough for now.’ So I turned to him and found tears flowing from his eyes.”  So neither Ibn Mas’ood, nor the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘sadaqallaahul-’adheem.’  He only said, ‘This is enough.’

And al-Bukhaaree relates in his Saheeh (no. 6) and Muslim (no. 1308) from Ibn ’Abbaas (radiyallaahu ’anhu) who said, ‘The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was the most eloquent of the people in recitation.  And the most eloquence in his speech came in Ramadaan when Jibreel (’alayhis-salaam) came to him.  And he used to come to him at every night of Ramadaan.  So he used to teach him the Qur‘aan.”  And he did not say that Jibreel or Muhammad (’alayhimas-salaatu was-salaam) ever said ‘sadaqallaahul-’adheem’ after completing anything from the Qur‘aan. [2]

And al-Bukhaaree relates in his Saheeh (no. 3809) and Muslim (no. 899) from the hadeeth of Anas Ibn Maalik (radiyallaahu ’anhu), that the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to ’Ubayy, “Allaah has commanded me to recite to you,

“Those who disbelieved from the People of the Book.” [Sooratul-Bayyinah 98:1]

He said, “And He mentioned me by name?”  He said, “Yes.” So he cried.  And the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) did not say, ‘sadaqallaahul-’adheem,’ after reciting this aayah.

And al-Bukhaaree relates in his Saheeh (no. 4474), from the hadeeth of Raafi’ Ibn Mu’allaa (radiyallaahu ’anhu) that the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Shall I not teach you the greatest soorah in the Qur‘aan before I leave the mosque?”  So when the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) went to leave the mosque, he remembered his statement.  So he said,

“The praise is for Allaah, Lord of the Worlds,” [Sooratul-Faatihah 1:1]

They are the seven oft-recited verses.  And the Magnificent Qur‘aan is that which I have been given.”  And he did not say ‘sadaqallaahul-’adheem.’

And it has been authentically related in the Sunan of Abee Daawood (no. 1400) and at-Tirmidhee (no. 2893), from the hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah (radiyallaahu ’anhu), that the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “A soorah from the Qur‘aan consists of thirty aayaat and it serves as an intercessor for its reciter, until he is forgiven.

“Blessed is He, in Whose Hand is the kingdom.” [Sooratul-Mulk 67:1].”

And he did not say, ‘sadaqallaahul-’adheem.’

And there occurs in al-Bukhaaree (no. 4952) and Muslim (no. 494) from the hadeeth of al-Baraa‘ Ibn ’Aazib (radiyallaahu ’anhu) who said, “I heard the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) recite in al-’Ishaa‘,

“By the fig and the olive.” [Sooratut-Teen 95:1]

So I did not hear anyone with a voice better than his.”  And he did not say, ‘sadaqallaahul-’adheem.’

And Muslim relates in his Saheeh (no. 873), from the hadeeth of Ibnah Haarithah Bintun-Nu’maan (radiyallaahu ’anhaa) who said, ‘I did not memorize,

“Qaaf.  The majestic Qur‘aan.” [Soorah Qaaf 50:1] except by the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) reciting it every Friday.”  And it was not said that he stated, ‘sadaqallaahul-’adheem,’ nor did she used to say after reciting the aayaat of Soorah Qaaf, ‘sadaqallaahul-’adheem.’

So if we go through a number of suwar and aayaat which were read by the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), his Companions and those who followed them in goodness from the three virtuous generations, we will find that none of them used to do this.  So in what we have mentioned is sufficiency for clarifying that the statement, ‘sadaqallaahul-’adheem,’ after reciting the Qur‘aan is a newly invented innovation which has no preceding example in the early generations.

Footnotes:

[1] Taken from Subhush-Shaariq (p. 22-24) of Shaykh Yahyaa Ibn ’Alee Hajooree.

[2] Shaykh Ahmad an-Najmee – hafidhahullaah – adds, “The statement ‘sadaqallaahul-’adheem’ is an innovation along with the fact that it is obligatory to believe in the meaning of these words in our hearts.  Allaah the Exalted said,

“And who is more truthful than Allaah in speech?” [Sooratun-Nisaa‘ 4:122]

“And who is more truthful than Allaah in statement?” [Sooratun-Nisaa‘ 4:87]

So whomsoever rejects Allaah, then he is a disbeliever or a hypocrite.”

Translated by Maaz Qureshi