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عن عقبة بن عامر رضي الله عنه : أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «ألَمْ تَرَ آيَاتٍ أُنْزِلَتْ هذِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ لَمْ يُرَ مِثْلُهُنَّ قَطُّ؟ (قل أعوذ برب الفلق) و(قل أعوذ برب الناس)».

‘Uqbah ibn ‘Āmir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Have you not seen," i.e. "Don't you know?" Though he is addressing ‘Uqbah in particular, the purpose is to address everyone in general. This is a rhetorical question to express wonder, and he referred to the reason for such wonder in his statement: "the like of which has never been seen before," i.e. they are unprecedented in their category which is "Isti‘ādhah", or seeking refuge in Allah. He said "never" to emphasize that they are unprecedented. His statement: "They are: {Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the daybreak} [Sūrat al-Falaq], and {Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind} [Sūrat An-Nās]," i.e. there are no verses of a Qur'anic Sūrah which all serve to give refuge to their reciter from the evil of all evils like the verses of these two Sūrahs. Anyone who seeks refuge with these verses while having sincere faith, Allah, the Almighty will grant him refuge. In brief, the Muslim should seek refuge from evil by reciting these two Sūrahs.

1-بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف سليم الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي.-الدمام 1415 2-رياض الصالحين من كلام سيد المرسلين؛ للإمام أبي زكريا النووي، تحقيق د. ماهر الفحل، دار ابن كثير-دمشق، الطبعة الأولى، 1428هـ. 3-شرح رياض الصالحين؛ للشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين، مدار الوطن، الرياض، 1426هـ. 4-صحيح مسلم؛ للإمام مسلم بن الحجاج، حققه ورقمه محمد فؤاد عبدالباقي، دار عالم الكتب-الرياض، الطبعة الأولى، 1417هـ. 5-مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح؛ تأليف ملا علي القاري، تحقيق صدقي العطار، دار الفكر-بيروت، الطبعة الأولى، 1412هـ. 6-نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف د. مصطفى الخِن وغيره، مؤسسة الرسالة-بيروت، الطبعة الرابعة عشر، 1407هـ.

عن أبي أمامة الباهلي رضي الله عنه قال: سمعتُ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «اقرؤوا القرآنَ فإنَّه يأتي يوم القيامة شَفِيعًا لأصحابه، اقرؤوا الزَّهرَاوَين البقرةَ وسورةَ آل عِمران، فإنهما تأتِيان يوم القيامة كأنهما غَمَامَتان، أو كأنهما غَيَايَتانِ، أو كأنهما فِرْقانِ من طَيْر صَوافٍّ، تُحاجَّان عن أصحابهما، اقرؤوا سورة البقرة، فإن أخذها بَرَكة، وتركها حَسْرة، ولا تستطيعها البَطَلَة».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged the regular recitation of the Qur’an, for it will intercede on the Day of Judgment for those who recite it and act upon it. He then emphasized the recitation of Surat al-Baqarah and Āl ‘Imrān, referring to them as "Az-Zahrāwayn"—the two radiant ones—due to their light and guidance. The reward of reciting them, reflecting on their meanings, and acting upon their teachings will come on the Day of Judgment in the form of two clouds, or something similar, or two flocks of birds with outstretched wings joined together, offering shade to their companion and defending him. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) further emphasized the importance of consistently reciting Surat al-Baqarah, reflecting on its meanings, and acting upon its teachings. He stated that doing so brings immense blessing and benefit in both this world and the Hereafter, while abandoning it brings regret and sorrow on the Day of Judgment. Among the virtues of this surah is that magicians are unable to harm those who recite it.

• The command to recite the Qur’an frequently, and that it will intercede for its companions on the Day of Judgment—those who recite it, adhere to its guidance, uphold what it commands, and refrain from what it forbids.
• The merit of Surat al-Baqarah and Āl ‘Imrān and their great reward.
• The merit of Surat al-Baqarah and that it protects its companion from magic.

صحيح مسلم (1/ 553) (804). مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح، لعلي القاري (4/ 1460). التنوير شرح الجامع الصغير، لمحمد الصنعاني (2/ 606). شرح الأربعين النووية، لابن عثيمين (ص232). معارج القبول بشرح سلم الوصول إلى علم الأصول، لحافظ الحكمي (2/ 846). التَّحبير لإيضَاح مَعَاني التَّيسير، لمحمد الصنعاني (2/ 9). تطريز رياض الصالحين، لفيصل المبارك (ص579).

عَنْ ‌أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يَا أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ، أَتَدْرِي أَيُّ آيَةٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ مَعَكَ أَعْظَمُ؟» قَالَ: قُلْتُ: اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ. قَالَ: «يَا أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ، أَتَدْرِي أَيُّ آيَةٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ مَعَكَ أَعْظَمُ؟» قَالَ: قُلْتُ: {اللهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ} [البقرة: 255]. قَالَ: فَضَرَبَ فِي صَدْرِي، وَقَالَ: «وَاللهِ لِيَهْنِكَ الْعِلْمُ، أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked Ubayy ibn Ka‘b about the greatest verse in Allah's Book. He initially hesitated about the answer and then said: {Allah: none has the right to be worshiped except Him, the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining...} The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) agreed with him and struck him on the chest, indicating that it is filled with knowledge and wisdom. He also supplicated that this knowledge be pleasant and easy for him.

• The Hadīth highlights great excellence for Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him).
• The verse of al-Kursī is the greatest verse in the Book of Allah Almighty. So, we should memorize it, ponder its meanings, and act accordingly.

صحيح مسلم (1/ 556) (810)، إكمال المعلم (3/178)، الكاشف عن حقائق السنن (5/1644)، المفهم (2/436)، البحر المحيط الثجاج في شرح صحيح الإمام مسلم بن الحجاج (16/ 394).

عَنْ ‌عَائِشَةَ رضي الله عنها: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ إِذَا أَوَى إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ جَمَعَ كَفَّيْهِ، ثُمَّ نَفَثَ فِيهِمَا فَقَرَأَ فِيهِمَا: {قُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ}، وَ{قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ}، وَ{قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ}، ثُمَّ يَمْسَحُ بِهِمَا مَا اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ، يَبْدَأُ بِهِمَا عَلَى رَأْسِهِ وَوَجْهِهِ وَمَا أَقْبَلَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ، يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ.

It was part of the Prophet's custom that when he went to bed, he would join his palms together and raise them as a supplicant does, and he would blow into them in a mild manner, along with little saliva. Meanwhile, he would recite the three surahs of al-Ikhlās, al-Falaq, and an-Nās. Then, he would wipe with his palms over as much of his body as he could, starting with his head, face, and the front part of his body, repeating this three times.

• We are recommended to recite Surat al-Ikhlās and the two refuge-seeking surahs of al-Falaq and an-Nās before going to bed and to blow with them into our palms and then wipe over as many parts of our bodies as we can.

صحيح البخاري (6/ 190) (5017)، (7/ 133) (5748)، الكاشف عن حقائق السُّنن (5/1651)، عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري (20/ 35)، التوضيح لشرح الجامع الصحيح ( 24/ 91)، النهاية في غريب الحديث والأثر (ص 929)، شرح سنن أبي داود لابن رسلان (19/268).

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عنه سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ: «قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: قَسَمْتُ الصَّلَاةَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ عَبْدِي نِصْفَيْنِ، وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ، فَإِذَا قَالَ الْعَبْدُ: {الْحَمْدُ لِلهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ}، قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: حَمِدَنِي عَبْدِي، وَإِذَا قَالَ: {الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ}، قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: أَثْنَى عَلَيَّ عَبْدِي، وَإِذَا قَالَ: {مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ}، قَالَ: مَجَّدَنِي عَبْدِي، -وَقَالَ مَرَّةً: فَوَّضَ إِلَيَّ عَبْدِي-، فَإِذَا قَالَ: {إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ}، قَالَ: هَذَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ عَبْدِي وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ، فَإِذَا قَالَ: {اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ، صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلا الضَّالِّينَ}، قَالَ: هَذَا لِعَبْدِي وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that Allah Almighty, in a Qudsi Hadīth, said: I have divided Surat al-Fātihah in prayer between Myself and My servant in two halves; a half for Myself and a half for him. In the first half: praise, exaltation, and glorification of Allah, for which I give him the best reward. And in the second half: entreaty and supplication, to which I respond and give him what he has asked for. When the praying person says, {All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds}, Allah says: My servant has praised Me. And when he says, {The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful}, Allah says: My servant has extolled Me, praised Me, and acknowledged My general favor upon My servants. And when he says, {Master of the Day of Judgment}, Allah says: My servant has glorified Me - and that is a great honor. And when he says, {You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help}', Allah says: This is between Me and My servant. The first part of this verse, namely {You alone we worship), is an acknowledgment of the divinity of Allah and responding to Him with worship, and with it the half which is for Allah comes to an end. The second part of the verse, namely {and You alone we ask for help}, contains the quest for help from Allah and His promise of help. And when he says, {Guide us to the straight path*, the path of those whom You have blessed; not of those who incurred Your Wrath, or of those who went astray}, Allah says: This is entreaty and supplication from My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for, and I have answered his supplication.

• It shows how Surat al-Fātihah is so important that Allah Almighty called it 'prayer'.
• Allah Almighty is kind to His servant, as He commends him for praising, extolling, and glorifying Him and promises that He will give him what he asks for.
• This noble Surah contains praise of Allah, mention of the Day of Judgment, supplication to Allah, sincere devotion of worship to Him, asking for guidance to the straight path, and warning of the wrong paths.
• If a praying person recalls this Hadīth - when he recites Al-Fātihah - his humility and focus will increase in prayer.

صحيح مسلم (1/ 296) (395)، إكمال المعلم (2/275)، المفهم لما أشكل من تلخيص كتاب مسلم (2/ 27)، شرح النووي على مسلم (4/103)، البحر المحيط الثجاج في شرح صحيح الإمام مسلم بن الحجاج (9/ 232) (9/ 253).

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الخُدْرِيِّ رَضيَ اللهُ عنهُ: أَنَّ رَجُلًا سَمِعَ رَجُلًا يَقْرَأُ: {قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ} يُرَدِّدُهَا، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ جَاءَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ، وَكَأَنَّ الرَّجُلَ يَتَقَالُّهَا، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنَّهَا لَتَعْدِلُ ثُلُثَ القُرْآنِ».

Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned that a man heard another reciting the Surah: {Say, “He is Allah, the One”} repeatedly throughout the night, without adding anything else. The next morning, he came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and mentioned that to him, as if the questioner thought it was not enough. Thereupon, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) swore by way of confirmation: By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, it is equal to one-third of the Qur’an.

• The merit of Surat al-Ikhlās and that it is equal to one-third of the Qur’an.
• It is permissible to recite a small number of verses during the night prayer and repeat them, without belittling this.
• Al-Māziri said: It was said: It means: The Qur’an consists of three categories: stories, rulings, and the attributes of Allah Almighty. {Say, “He is Allah, the One.”} is exclusively about Allah's attributes, making it one-third—a part of three parts. It was also said: It means: The reward of reciting it is multiplied to equal the reward of reciting one-third of the Qur’an without any additional multiplication.

صحيح البخاري (6/ 189) (5013). إرشاد الساري لشرح صحيح البخاري (7/ 463).

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ {لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَإِنْ تُبْدُوا مَا فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ يُحَاسِبْكُمْ بِهِ اللهُ فَيَغْفِرُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ} [البقرة: 284]، قَالَ: فَاشْتَدَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَأَتَوْا رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ بَرَكُوا عَلَى الرُّكَبِ، فَقَالُوا: أَيْ رَسُولَ اللهِ، كُلِّفْنَا مِنَ الأَعْمَالِ مَا نُطِيقُ، الصَّلَاةَ وَالصِّيَامَ وَالجِهَادَ وَالصَّدَقَةَ، وَقَدِ اُنْزِلَتْ عَلَيْكَ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ وَلَا نُطِيقُهَا، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَتُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تَقُولُوا كَمَا قَالَ أَهْلُ الكِتَابَيْنِ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا؟ بَلْ قُولُوا: سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ المَصِيرُ»، قَالُوا: سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ المَصِيرُ، فَلَمَّا اقْتَرَأَهَا القَوْمُ، ذَلَّتْ بِهَا أَلْسِنَتُهُمْ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ فِي إِثْرِهَا: {آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَالمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْ رُسُلِهِ وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ المَصِيرُ} [البقرة: 285]، فَلَمَّا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ نَسَخَهَا اللهُ تَعَالَى، فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: {لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا} [البقرة: 286] " قَالَ: «نَعَمْ» {رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا} [البقرة: 286] قَالَ: «نَعَمْ» {رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ} [البقرة: 286] قَالَ: «نَعَمْ» {وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنْتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الكَافِرِينَ} [البقرة: 286] قَالَ: «نَعَمْ».

When Allah Almighty revealed to His Prophet (ﷺ) His saying: {To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth} in creation, ownership, control, and management. {Whether you reveal} show and declare {what is within yourselves} and in your hearts {or conceal it} and hide it in your hearts, {Allah will call you to account for it} on the Day of Judgment. {He forgives whom He wills} out of His grace and mercy {and punishes whom He wills} out of His justice, {for Allah is Most Capable of all things} and nothing is beyond His power. When the Companions heard this verse, it was hard on them, for it implied being held accountable even for the thoughts that pass through the heart. So they came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and knelt down on their knees, saying: O Messenger of Allah, we have been commanded with bodily acts of worship that we are able to perform—such as prayer, fasting, Jihad, and charity—but this verse has been revealed to you and we cannot bear it. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to them: Do you wish to say as the Jews and Christians said: {We hear and disobey}? Rather say: {We hear and obey. Grant us Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination.} The Companions obeyed the command of Allah and His Messenger and said: We hear and obey. Grant us Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination. When the Muslims spoke those words with their tongues and their hearts submitted to them, Allah revealed—as a commendation for the Prophet (ﷺ) and his Ummah—His saying: {The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, as do the believers} and their tongues and hearts submitted to Allah's command. {All of them believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers, [saying], “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.”} Rather, we believe in all of them. {And they say, “We hear} your words {and obey} Your command, and we seek {Your forgiveness, our Lord} and Your pardon, {and to You is the [final] destination”} and the return on the Day when the reckoning will take place. When they did that and said what they were commanded to say—openly declaring their willingness to hear and obey Allah's commands—Allah eased the burden upon this Ummah and abrogated that verse with His saying: {Allah does not burden any soul greater than it can bear} beyond its ability, strength, and effort. {For it is} the reward of {what it has earned} and performed of goodness, {and against it is} the punishment of {what it has incurred} of evil and sins. Thus, Allah does not hold anyone accountable for another's sin, nor for the whispers and passing thoughts within one's own self. {Our Lord, do not hold us accountable} and punish us {if we forget} and do not remember {or fall into error} and unintentionally deviate from what is right. So Allah responded to their supplication and said: Yes, I have done so. {Our Lord, do not place on us such a burden} hardship and load {as You have placed on those before us} from among the Children of Israel and others. So Allah responded to their supplication and said: Yes, I have done so. {Our Lord, do not burden us with that which we cannot bear} of duties, trials, or hardships beyond our strength. Allah said: Yes, I have done so. {Pardon us} and erase our sins, {forgive us} conceal them and overlook them, {and have mercy on us} through Your vast mercy. {You are our Protector} and Master, {so give us victory} by granting us steadfastness and triumph in battle and argument {over the disbelieving people} in fighting and striving against them. So Allah responded to their supplication and said: Yes, I have done so.

• A clarification of Allah's mercy toward this Ummah because of its Prophet (ﷺ)—the one about whom Allah said, in honoring his status: {We have not sent you [O Prophet] except as a mercy to the worlds.} [Surat al-Anbiyā’: 107]
• Affirming the abrogation in the Noble Qur’an, and that within it are verses that are still recited, yet their rulings have been abrogated and are no longer acted upon.
• The virtue of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and their submission and obedience to the command of Allah, and their immediate compliance with the orders of His Messenger (ﷺ).
• The Prophet (ﷺ) was deeply concerned and fearful that his Ummah might follow the path of previous nations by rejecting the commands of Allah Almighty.
• It is obligatory to submit to the command of Allah Almighty and to beware of objecting to His command, for such objection resembles the behavior of the People of the Book.
• Highlighting the superiority of this nation over the previous nations, as they said to their prophets: We hear and disobey. But this nation said: We hear and obey.
• The virtue of this Ummah lies in Allah's mercy toward it—by removing hardship from it, answering its supplication not to be held accountable for forgetfulness or mistakes, lifting the burdens that were upon previous nations, and not charging it with what it cannot bear.
• Allah Almighty does not burden us with what we cannot bear, nor does He charge us with more than we can do. The passing thoughts and whispers that occur in our hearts do not harm us as long as we do not dwell upon them, feel content with them, or act upon them.
• Allah Almighty informed us of this supplication made by the Prophet (ﷺ) and the believers, and He placed it in His Book so that those who come after the Prophet (ﷺ) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would also recite it. Therefore, it is a supplication that should be memorized and frequently recited.

صحيح مسلم (1/ 115) (125). المفهم لما أشكل من تلخيص كتاب مسلم (1/ 336). البحر المحيط الثجاج في شرح صحيح الإمام مسلم بن الحجاج (3/ 547).

عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: أَنَّ رَجُلًا مِنَ اليَهُودِ قَالَ لَهُ: يَا أَمِيرَ المُؤْمِنِينَ، آيَةٌ فِي كِتَابِكُمْ تَقْرَؤُونَهَا، لَوْ عَلَيْنَا مَعْشَرَ اليَهُودِ نَزَلَتْ لاَتَّخَذْنَا ذَلِكَ اليَوْمَ عِيدًا، قَالَ: أَيُّ آيَةٍ؟ قَالَ: {اليَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلاَمَ دِينًا} [المائدة: 3] قَالَ عُمَرُ: قَدْ عَرَفْنَا ذَلِكَ اليَوْمَ، وَالمَكَانَ الَّذِي نَزَلَتْ فِيهِ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ بِعَرَفَةَ يَوْمَ جُمُعَةٍ.

A man from among the Jews came to the Commander of the Believers, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him), and said: There is a verse in your Book—the Qur’an—which you recite. If it had been revealed to us, the Jews, in our Book, the Torah, we would have taken that day as a festival, celebrating it in gratitude for the blessing of such a great verse. ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked: Which verse is that? He said: {Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion.} ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: We know well the day and the place in which this noble verse was revealed. It was sent down on a day of celebration—on Friday—while the Prophet (ﷺ) was standing at ‘Arafah. Both are great days for the Muslims.

• This shows ‘Umar's great care and attention to both the place and the time where the verse was revealed.
• This verse highlights the immense favor that Allah Almighty has bestowed upon this Ummah, as He perfected their religion and completed His blessings upon them so that they are in no need of any addition in religion. Therefore, anything introduced into the religion after its completion—without evidence from it—is considered an innovation and a misguidance, as it was authentically reported from the Prophet (ﷺ) that he said: "Whoever introduces into this matter of ours that which is not part of it, it will be rejected."
• This Hadīth indicates that festivals are not to be established based on personal opinion or innovation, as was done by the People of the Book before us. Rather, they are determined by divine law and prophetic guidance. This verse, which declares the perfection of the religion and the completion of Allah's favor, was revealed on a day that Allah Himself ordained as a festival for this Ummah in two respects: First, it was revealed on Friday, which is the weekly festival for Muslims; and second, it coincided with the Day of ‘Arafah, which is the festival of the pilgrims, their greatest gathering, and their most significant occasion.
• As-Sa‘di said in his commentary on this verse: {Today I have perfected your religion for you} by completing the victory of Islam and perfecting both its outward and inward laws, its fundamentals and its branches. For this reason, the Qur’an and the Sunnah are entirely sufficient in addressing all matters of religion, both its principles and its subsidiary issues. Therefore, anyone who claims that people must rely on other sciences besides the Qur’an and Sunnah to understand their beliefs and rulings—such as speculative theology and the like—is ignorant and false in his claim. Such a person implies that the religion is incomplete without what he has introduced, and this is among the gravest forms of injustice and ignorance toward Allah and His Messenger. {Completed My favor upon you} both the outward and inward; {and have chosen Islam as your religion} i.e., I have chosen and selected it for you as your way of life, just as I have chosen you for it. So uphold it in gratitude to your Lord, and praise the One Who has blessed you with the noblest, most complete, and most perfect of religions.

صحيح البخاري (1/ 18) (45). إرشاد الساري لشرح صحيح البخاري (1/ 132). البحر المحيط الثجاج في شرح صحيح الإمام مسلم بن الحجاج (45/ 372).