concerning reading Soorat al-Kahf

Bismillahi Rrahmanni Rraheem. “Whoever reads Soorat al-Kahf on the day of Jumu’ah (Friday), will have a light that will shine from him from one Friday to the next.” [Narrated by al-Haakim, 2/399; al-Bayhaqi, 3/249. Ibn Hajar said in Takhreej al-Adhkaar that this is a hasan hadeeth, and he said, this is the strongest report that has been narrated concerning reading Soorat al-Kahf. See: Fayd al-Qadeer, 6/198] The soorah may be read during the night or the day of Jumu’ah. The night of Jumu’ah starts from sunset on Thursday, and the day of Jumu’ah ends at sunset. Therefore the time for reading this soorah extends from sunset on Thursday to sunset on Friday. Al-Mannaawi رحمة اللہ علیه said: Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar رحمة اللہ علیه said in his Amaali: “In some reports it says ‘the day of Jumu’ah’ and in some reports it says ‘the night of Jumu’ah’. They may be reconciled by saying that what is meant is the day which includes the night and vice versa.” (Fayd al-Qadeer, 6/199) Al-Mannaawi also said: “It is recommended to read it during the day or night of Jumu’ah, as al-Shaafa’i (rahmatullahi alaih) stated.” (Fayd al-Qadeer, 6/198) It is recommended to recite Surat al-Kahf completely the night before Friday, and it is also recommended to do so Friday itself, before Maghrib time. Ibn Abidin said, And it is best to do so early on Friday, in order to rush to the good and to avoid forgetting. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, Bab al-Jumu`ah]