Reciting Surah Al Ikhlas To Ward Off Poverty: Can I Act Upon This Hadith?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam
Question: As-salaamu ‘aleykum,
I’ve recently read a hadith online in which it is reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) is supposed to have said that whoever recites Surah Al-Ikhlaas of the Qu’ran when entering their home, it will ward of poverty not just from the reciter’s home, but from the homes of his neighbors or nearby houses as well.
I have been unable to find this hadith. Is this something that can be acted on?
Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.
This wording is found in Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya’s Jala’ al-Afham.
A man complained of poverty and constrained circumstances to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), so he said (Allah bless him and give him peace), “When you enter the house, say the salams whether or not anybody is present, send blessings upon me, and then recite ‘Say, ‘He is God the One…” once.”” The man did so, and Allah rained sustenance down upon him until he spent upon his neighbours and relatives.
Sakhawi in his al-Qawl al-Badi`, and Ibn Hajar al-Haytami after him in his al-Durr al-Mandud, both cite this tradition (hadith) with the same wording and with the mention of it having a weak chain of transmission.
A shorter variant, which follows, is found in Tabarani’s al-Mu`jam al-Kabir, and al-Haythami points to its weakness in his Majma` al-Zawa’id.
It is reported that the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever recites ‘Say, ‘He is God the One…” when he enters his house, poverty is warded from the people of the house and the neighbours.”
As has been mentioned elsewhere in the archives, “There is general consensus that weak hadiths may be acted upon for virtuous acts, such as voluntary fasting and prayer, as long as the hadith is not excessively weak, returns to a general basis in the Shariah, and one is not convinced that the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) specifically prescribed it.” [see: It is Recommended to Perform Extra Worship on the Night of the 15th of Sha’ban?]
And Allah alone gives success.
wassalam,
Tabraze Azam
Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.