One of the special acts of worship that are privileged to be performed on Fridays is reading Surah Al Kahfi. Here we mention some authentic proofs that mention the order and its priority.
1. On the authority of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, on the authority of the Prophet, peace be upon him, who said:
"Whoever recites surah al-Kahfi on Friday night, then a light is emitted for him as far as between himself and Baitul 'atiq." (Sunan Ad-Darimi, no. 3273. Also narrated by al-Nasai and Al-Hakim and authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib, no. 736)
2. In another narration still from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri ra,
"Whoever recites Surah Al-Kahfi on Friday, then light will be emitted for him between two Fridays." (HR. Al-Hakim: 2/368 and Al-Baihaqi: 3/249. Ibnul Hajar commented on this hadith in Takhrij al-Adzkar, "Hasan hadith." He stated that this hadith is the strongest hadith about Surah Al-Kahfi. Shaykh Al-Albani authenticated it in Sahih al-Jami', no. 6470)
3. From Ibn Umar, may God be pleased with him, who said: The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said,
"Whoever recites Surah Al-Kahfi on Friday, will radiate light from under his feet to the sky, will illuminate him on the Day of Resurrection, and his sins will be forgiven between two Fridays."
Al-Mundziri said: "This hadith was narrated by Abu Bakr bin Mardawaih in his interpretation with an isnad that is not okay. (From the book at-Targhib wa al-Tarhib: 1/298)"
When to Read it?
It is Sunnah to recite Surah Al-Kahfi on Friday night or on Friday. And Friday night starts from sunset on Thursday. This opportunity ends until sunset on Friday. From this it can be concluded that the opportunity to read Surah Al-Kahfi is from sunset on Thursday afternoon until sunset on Friday.
Imam Al-Shafi'i, may God have mercy on him, in Al-Umm states that reciting surah al-Kahfi can be done on Friday night and during the day based on narrations about it. (Al-Umm, Imam al-Shafi'i: 1/237).
Regarding this, al-Hafidzh Ibnul Hajar rahimahullaah revealed in his Amali: Such are the narrations that use the word "day" or "night" Friday. So it can be concluded that what is meant by "day" includes the night. Likewise on the other hand, "night" is Friday night and the day. (See: Faidh al-Qadir: 6/199).
DR Muhammad Bakar Isma'il in Al-Fiqh al Wadhih min al Kitab wa al Sunnah mentions that among the recommended practices to be done on Friday night and day is reading Surat al-Kahfi based on the hadith above. (Al-Fiqhul Wadhih minal Kitab was Sunnah, page 241).
. . . The opportunity to read Surah Al-Kahfi is from sunset on Thursday afternoon until sunset on Friday. . .
The Preference of Reading Surat Al-Kahfi on Fridays
From several narrations above, that the reward prepared for the person who recites Surat Al-Kahfi on Friday night or during the day will be given light (illuminated). And this light is given on the Day of Resurrection, which extends from the bottom of his feet to the sky. And this shows the length of the light distance given to him, as Allah Ta'ala says:
"On the day when you will see the believing men and women, while their light shines in front of them and on their right." (QS. Al-Hadid: 12)
The second answer for those who read Surah Al-Kahfi on Friday is the forgiveness of sins between two Fridays. And it could be that this is the meaning of being illuminated between two Fridays. Because the nurr (light) of obedience will eliminate the darkness of immorality, as the words of Allah Ta'ala say:
"Indeed, good deeds wipe out (sins) bad deeds." (QS. Hud: 114)
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