The Virtue of Surat "Ya-Sin"

The questioner:
May Allah reward you with good. Please explain to us the virtue of Surat Ya-Sin.

The Shaykh:
There are hadiths regarding its virtues, which al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir mentioned at the beginning of his tafsir of this surah. The questioner should refer to them. It is a great surah. Now, among what has been reported about it is that it is recited for the dying person. It is recited for the dying person at the time of death. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good.

The questioner:
Shaykh Salih, some people do not distinguish between the dying person and the deceased, as they recite it even for the dead person in his grave, or if he is in his house, but after his death. Do you have a word for us, may Allah preserve you?

The Shaykh:
Reciting it for the dead person after his death, over his funeral or at his grave, this recitation is an innovation (bid'ah) that has been introduced, because there is no evidence for it from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). So it is an innovation, and the dead person does not benefit from it. As for reciting it for the dying person, there is benefit for him in it. It reminds him to utter the testimony of faith and to repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). So he benefits from hearing the Qur'an in his presence, unlike the dead person, who does not benefit from the recitation of the Qur'an, because he is dead. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good. Shaykh Salih, some people do not understand the meaning of the word "al-muhtadhir" (the dying person). Would you please clarify it?

The Shaykh:
The dying person is the one for whom the angels of death have come to take his soul.

The presenter:
And upon you be peace.

The Shaykh:
The angels of death have come to take his soul, and he is the one who is enduring the extraction of the soul. This is the dying person.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.