Question # 169: As salaam WA likum. First of all thanks a lot for such a great initiative. My question is With regards to Ayat a Kareema that is reading 125000 times, how true it is referring to Quran & Hadees. Jazak allahu Khayrum

Bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer: The claim that the ayah “La ilaaha illa anta subhaanaka innee kuntu min al-zaalimeen (None has the right to be worshipped except You [O Allah]. Glorified (and Exalted) are You. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers)” is from Soorat al-Anbiya’ (21:87), should be recited 125000 times has no basis whatsoever in the Qur’an or the Sunnah of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم), so it is not right to adhere to these numbers. You should act upon the sound ahadith that describe the virtues of this soorah and this ayah as Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said “…There is no Muslim who recites this in any situation, but Allah will respond to him” and “…if some of the misery and distress of this world befalls a man and he recites it, he will be relieved of his stress…”

Long Answer: Before delving into the question, let briefly go through the story of Yoonus (عليه السلام) with the Whale: “Exegetes of the Qur’an state that Yoonus (عليه السلام) was sent to the city of Nineveh. He invited them to worship Allah alone. Yet, he was rejected by his people who persisted in their polytheism and ignorance. He deserted them and invoked Allah’s wrath that would befall them after three days.

Ibn Mas’ood and others claim: Yoonus (عليه السلام) departed in rage from Nineveh planning to sail away. When his people realized that Allah’s revenge was about to befall them, they repented to Him and regretted their rejecting call of Yoonus (عليه السلام). They headed for the desert with their children and cattle. They put each female cattle away from her youngsters. They invoked Allah, cried and humbled themselves to Him. All men, women, and even children sought Allah Is help and appealed to His mercy. It was a dreadful ordeal. Allah, out of His mercy and grace, did not punish them…

When Yoonus (عليه السلام) departed in anger because of his people, he headed for the sea and sailed on a ship. The ship was heavily laden and encountered tough and bad weather. Travelers aboard the ship agreed to cast lots and throw one of them in the water in order to lighten the weight. The lot fell on Yoonus (عليه السلام) but they refused to cast him off. They repeated the lot over and over again, and again it fell on him for that was Allah’s will…

When the lot fell on him, he was finally cast off. Yoonus (عليه السلام) was then swallowed by a big whale. Allah ordered the whale not to eat his flesh or break his bones. The whale toured all the seas of the world. When Yoonus (عليه السلام) settled inside the whale, he thought that he was dead. However, when he tried to move some of his limbs, he realized that he was still alive… Ibn ‘Abbas and other Companions state that it was the darkness inside the whale, that of the sea and the night. Then, he said: “La ilaaha illa anta subhaanaka innee kuntu min al-zaalimeen (None has the right to be worshipped except You [O Allah]. Glorified (and Exalted) are You. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers)” is from Soorat al-Anbiya’ (21:87)… Yoonus (عليه السلام)’s glorification and remembrance of Allah, his repentance and returning back to Him saved him from staying inside the whale until The Day of Judgement where he would have been resurrected from.” (‘Stories of the Prophets’ by Ibn Kathir)

The above ayah should be recited 125000 times is a practice that has no basis whatsoever in the Qur’an or the Sunnah of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم), so it is not right to adhere to these numbers. You should act upon the sound ahadith that describe the virtues of this soorah and this ayah. (Shaykh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid) These reports include the following:

  • Sa’d said: “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: ‘The call of Dhu’l-Noon [Yoonus/Jonah], which he recited when he was in the belly of the fish, ‘La ilaaha illa anta subhaanaka innee kuntu min al-zaalimeen’. There is no Muslim who recites this in any situation, but Allah will respond to him.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi; classed as sahih in Sahih al-Jaami’)
  • The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Shall I not tell you of something which, if some of the misery and distress of this world befalls a man and he recites it, he will be relieved of his stress. It is the du’aa’ of Dhu’l-Noon: ‘La ilaaha illa anta subhaanaka innee kuntu min al-zaalimeen.’” (Reported by al-Haakim; Sahih al-Jaami’)

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam