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THE VIRTUES OF THE CHAPTERS (SURAH)

THAT COMMENCE WITH "SABBAH"

Jabir bin Abdullah narrated from Imam Baqir (A.S.) that:

            Whoever recites the ‘Musabbaha’ chapters before sleeping, he will certainly meet Imam Mahdi (A.S.) before his death, and even after death, he will remain in the vicinity of Prophet (P.B.U.H.).^[1]

Turaihi regards the ‘Musabbaha’ chapters as the chapters which begin with the glorification of Allah.

Mulla Mohammad Salih Mazindarani (R.A.) says: ‘Musabbahaat’ are those chapters which begin with the words like ‘Sabbih’ or ‘Yusabbiho’ or ‘Sabbaha’ or ‘Subhana’.

On this basis, these chapter are seven in number: Chapters ‘Israa’,

‘Hadeed’, ‘Hashr’, ‘Saff’, ‘Jumuah’, ‘Taghabun’ and ‘Aala’.

            But Late Kaf’ami (R.A.) in the footnotes of his book ‘Misbah’, after mentioning the aforementioned narration, says: ‘Musabbahaat’ is the name of five chapters from Quran. Then he named all the chapters we mentioned except the chapters ‘Israa’ and ‘Aala’. Sheikh Sadooq (R.A.), while discussing the virtues of the chapter ‘Taghabun’ as the last ‘Musabbaha’ chapter, mentions this narration and it can be concluded from his words that he also considered ‘Musbbahaat’ to be five. Majlisi (R.A.) in his book ‘Hilyatul Muttaqeen’ and Faiz-e-Kashani (R.A.) in ‘Wafi’ state that these chapters are five in number.

            One of the scholars says: It is appropriate for a person to know that in order to fulfil the condition mentioned in the aforementioned narration, reciting these chapters even once will be sufficient, and it will help the reciter attain his motive, i.e. to meet imam Mahdi (A.S.) or to live in the vicinity of Prophet (P.B.U.H.).

            Though, as our intention here is to encourage people towards the recitation of the chapters and for habituating their recitation, it is evident that meeting his holiness or reaching the vicinity of Prophet will be fulfilled only by repetition and habituation of reciting these chapters.

            Certainly, it is clear that abandoning their recitation a few times will not harm the necessary repetition required for meeting his holiness and reaching the vicinity of Prophet (P.B.U.H.). 

            On the other hand, apparently the meaning of meeting his holiness (A.S.) is to meet him with recognition and awareness.

            The reason behind it can be that these chapters are regarding Imam Mahdi (A.S.), his virtues and his conditions, even if we remain unaware of it or the virtues of reciting these chapter shall be this. This point is applicable for all the other chapters which have a specific reward for its recitation.^[2]

            Author says: With regard to ‘Ayatul Kursi’, ‘Ayah e Noor’, the verse «رَبِّ أَدْخِلْني» and other verses, such endings have been mentioned which could me mentioned in relevance to this topic, but we will refrain from mentioning it here.

            We should necessarily understand that the best way of visiting his holiness, Imam Mahdi (A.S.), is by gaining his attention and complete satisfaction.

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