1 The Virtues of the Surahs that begin with Ha Mim

Qatadah said that Ka`b Al-Ahbar said,"This Ummah has been given three things whichwere not given to any nation before, only toProphets.• When Allah sent a Prophet, He said to him,`You are a witness over your nation.' Butyou have been made witnesses overmankind;• it was said to the Prophets individually,`Allah has not laid upon you any hardshipin religion,' but He said to this entireUmmah: وَمَا جَعَلَ‏ عَلَيْكمْ‏ فِى الد ِّینِ‏ مِنْ‏ حَرَجٍ‏ (and(Allah) has not laid upon you in religionany hardship), (22:78) and• it was said to the Prophets individually;`Call upon Me, I will answer you,' but itادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ‏ لَكُم Ummah, was said to this(Call upon Me, I will answer you).''This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim.Imam Ahmad recorded that Al-Nu`man bin Bashir, mayAllah be pleased with him, said,"The Messenger of Allah said:Indeed the supplication is the worship.''Then he recited,74إِن َّ الد ُّعَاءَ‏ هُوَ‏ الْعِبَادَةوَقَالَ‏ رَب ُّكُمُ‏ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ‏ لَكُمْ‏ إِن َّ ا َّلذِینَ‏ یَسْتَكْبِرُو ‏َنعَنْ‏ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ‏ جَهَن َّمَ‏ دَاخِرِینَ‏And your Lord said: "Call upon Me, I willanswer you. Verily, those who scorn Myworship they will surely enter Hell inhumiliation!''.This was also recorded by the Sunan compilers;At-Tirmdhi, An-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, and Ibn AbiHatim and Ibn Jarir.