Surah Waqiah Hadith: Every Narration and Its Grading
Surah Waqiah hadith fall into two groups: authentic narrations and weak ones. The authentic hadith include the Prophet’s ﷺ statement that Surah Hud, Al-Waqiah and similar surahs made his hair grey (Tirmidhi 3297), his explanation of the Paradise tree with “extended shade” (Bukhari 4881), and the report that verses 75–82 were revealed about people who credited rain to the stars (Muslim 73). Verse 74 is linked to the ruku’ dhikr “Subhana Rabbiyal ‘Azim,” and verse 79 to touching the Quran only in a state of purity. The famous narration that reading Surah Waqiah every night prevents poverty comes from Ibn Mas’ud and is graded weak by most scholars. The “surah of richness” narration is very weak, and no authentic report says the Prophet ﷺ recited it nightly.
All Narrations About Surah Waqiah at a Glance
| # | Narration (in short) | Where it is recorded | Grading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | “Hud, Al-Waqiah, Al-Mursalat, An-Naba and At-Takwir have made me grey.” | Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3297 | Hasan (Tirmidhi); Sahih (al-Albani) |
| 2 | A tree in Paradise whose shade a rider crosses in 100 years, explaining “extended shade” (56:30) | Sahih al-Bukhari 4881 | Sahih |
| 3 | Verses 75–82 revealed about people who said “we got rain because of such-and-such star” | Sahih Muslim 73 | Sahih |
| 4 | “Make it in your ruku'”, about “glorify the name of your Lord, the Most Great” (56:74) | Sunan Abi Dawud 869, Ibn Majah 887 | Graded differently; the ruku’ dhikr itself is proven in Sahih Muslim 772 |
| 5 | “None should touch the Quran except one who is pure”, linked to 56:79 | Muwatta Malik (letter of ‘Amr ibn Hazm) | Accepted and acted on by most scholars |
| 6 | “Whoever recites Surah Al-Waqiah every night will never be struck by poverty.” | Musnad al-Harith, Abu Ya’la, al-Bayhaqi’s Shu’ab al-Iman and others | Disputed; most graded it weak |
| 7 | “Teach your women Surah Al-Waqiah, for it is the surah of richness.” | Later collections (attributed to Anas) | Very weak |
1. “Hud and Its Sisters Have Made Me Grey”
Abu Bakr (RA) said to the Prophet ﷺ: “O Messenger of Allah, you have become grey.” The Prophet ﷺ replied that Surah Hud, Al-Waqiah, Al-Mursalat, An-Naba and At-Takwir had made him grey. (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3297)
What it teaches: this is the most important authentic hadith about Surah Waqiah. Its descriptions of the Day of Judgment were so heavy that they affected the Prophet ﷺ physically. The narration points readers to the surah’s real weight: the Hereafter, not worldly gain.
2. The Tree With Endless Shade
The Prophet ﷺ said that in Paradise there is a tree whose shade a rider could travel under for a hundred years without crossing it. He then said: recite, if you wish, “and extended shade” (56:30). (Sahih al-Bukhari 4881)
What it teaches: the Prophet ﷺ himself explained a verse of Surah Waqiah hadith importance. The reward of the people of the right (verses 27–40) is real and beyond imagination.
3. Rain and the Stars: Why Verses 75–82 Were Revealed
Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that people received rain in the time of the Prophet ﷺ. Some thanked Allah, while others said the rain came because of a certain star. Allah then revealed verses 75–82, ending with: “And you make your provision that you deny.” (Sahih Muslim 73)
What it teaches: this is the authentic hadith that links Surah Waqiah to provision. Its lesson is about gratitude: rizq comes from Allah, and crediting it to anything else is a form of denial.
4. “Make It in Your Ruku'”
When “So glorify the name of your Lord, the Most Great” (56:74) was revealed, the Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said: “Make it in your ruku’.” (Sunan Abi Dawud 869; Ibn Majah 887, from ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir)
Grading: scholars differ on this chain; some accepted it and others, including al-Albani, graded it weak. The practice itself is certain: the Prophet ﷺ said “Subhana Rabbiyal ‘Azim” in ruku’, as recorded in Sahih Muslim 772. So every Muslim who prays already repeats the meaning of this verse many times a day.
5. “None Should Touch the Quran Except One Who Is Pure”
The letter that the Prophet ﷺ sent with ‘Amr ibn Hazm to Yemen included the instruction that no one should touch the Quran except one who is pure. (Muwatta Malik) Scholars connect it to the verse “None touch it except the purified” (56:79).
Grading: the letter’s chain has weaknesses, but most scholars accepted it because it was widely known and acted upon. It is the main basis for the view that wudu is needed to touch a physical Mushaf. For details, see our guide on reading Surah Waqiah without wudu.
6. The Narration About Poverty
The most widely shared narration about Surah Waqiah is attributed to Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA): “Whoever recites Surah Al-Waqiah every night will never be struck by poverty.”
Grading: most hadith critics graded it weak. Imam Ahmad called it munkar (rejected), and two narrators in its chain are unknown. A minority, mainly later Hanafi scholars, accepted one chain found in Abu Ya’la’s collection. Ibn Mas’ud himself is reported to have told his daughters to read it every night. Complete content of Surah Waqiah Hadith in this page.
The chain, the sources and every scholar’s view are explained in full in our post on the Surah Waqiah hadith & poverty hadith.
7. “The Surah of Richness”
A narration attributed to Anas (RA) says: “Teach your women Surah Al-Waqiah, for it is the surah of richness.” It appears only in late collections, through unknown narrators, and scholars grade it very weak. It should not be quoted as a saying of the Prophet ﷺ.
How to Use These Narrations Correctly
- Quote the authentic ones with confidence. Narrations 1, 2, and 3 are sound. They show what the Prophet ﷺ himself highlighted about this surah: its weight, its description of Paradise, and gratitude for rain and provision.
- Mention the grading when quoting the poverty narration. Say it is reported from Ibn Mas’ud and that most scholars consider it weak. Do not present it as a guaranteed promise.
- Do not quote narration 7 as hadith. Its grading is too weak.
- Read the surah for its own sake. Its reward as part of the Quran is certain, whatever the grading of any single narration.
If your concern is poverty itself, our article Does Surah Waqiah prevent poverty? covers the means Islam clearly teaches. If you want to include the surah in a routine for provision, see Surah Waqiah for rizq.
Frequently Asked Question
Final Summary
Surah Waqiah is mentioned in authentic hadith: it made the Prophet ﷺ grey, he explained its description of Paradise, and verses 75–82 were revealed about gratitude for rain. The famous promise of protection from poverty is reported from Ibn Mas’ud, but most scholars grade it weak. Read the surah for its message, quote each narration with its grading, and rely on Allah for provision. Surah Waqiah Hadith details here.