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Fatwa CenterExplanation of the name Al-Baaqiyaat As-Saalihaat
Question
1) Referring to Q 2499603: there is probably a Hadith authenticated by Sheikh Al-Banee that if someones read the QUran by "understanding" the "meaning" as well, the for every Ayah he gets reward of 100 Rakah Salah. Is there really such a Hadith? 2) Why are Zikrs like Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, etc called ever-lasting good deeds?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Perhaps you mean the Hadeeth narrated by Ibn Maajah on the authority of Abu Tharr 
who said: “The Messenger of Allaah said to me: “O Abu Tharr, if you go and learn one verse of the Book of Allaah, it is better for you than praying 100 Rak'ahs, and if you go and learn a chapter of knowledge, whether or not it is acted upon, it is better than praying 1,000 Rak’ahs.” [Al-Munthiri classified its chain of narrators as Hasan (good) in At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb]
As regards Shaykh Al-Albaani, he did not classify it as Saheeh (sound); rather, he classified it as Dha’eef (weak) in several books.
It is clear from the Hadeeth that it is not only about the virtue of reciting the Quran, but also of seeking Islamic knowledge. As-Suyooti said in his commentary on the Sunan of Ibn Maajah: “The Hadeeth indicates that learning knowledge is better than performing too many acts of worship; because learning a single verse (of the Book of Allaah) is better than praying 100 Rak'ahs. It is for this reason that the Prophet said: “The scholars are the heirs of the Prophets.”
This is in regard to your first question.
As regards your second question about naming the Athkaar which you referred to in the question by Al-Baaqiyaat As-Saalihaat (enduring good deeds), then some Ahaadeeth were reported about this. For instance, Ahmad 
reported in his Musnad a Hadeeth narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri who said: “The Prophet said: “Say as much as you can Al-Baaqiyaat As-Saalihaat (enduring good deeds); it was said: what are they O Messenger of Allaah? He said: it is Al-Millah (i.e. essence of religion). He was asked: what are they O Messenger of Allaah? He said: it is Al-Millah. He was asked again: what are they O Messenger of Allaah? He again replied: it is Al-Millah. He again was asked, what are they O Messenger of Allaah? He said: They are Takbeer (saying Allaahu Akbar – 'Allaah is the Greatest'), Tahleel (saying Laa Ilaaha Illa Allaah, there is none worthy of worship except Allaah), Tasbeeh (saying Subhaan Allaah – Glory be to Allaah), and Tahmeed (saying Alhamdu Lillaah, i.e. praise be to Allaah), and La hawla wa la quwwata illa billaah -There is neither might nor power but with Allaah.” Shu`ayb Al-Arnaa’oot said: This is a Hasan Hadeeth by means of corroborating narrations.
Another Hadeeth, also reported by Ahmad reads: “Subhaan Allaah, Alhamdu Lillaah, la ilaaha illa Allaah wa Allaahu Akbar are the Al-Baaqiyaat As-Saalihaat (enduring good deeds).” (Shu`ayb Al-Arnaa’oot classified it as Saheeh)
As regards what was said about the meaning of Al-Baaqiyaat As-Saalihaat, Al-Baaji said in Al-Muntaqa: “It is probable that they were described as such because they are 'enduring' (Baaqiyaat) for the person [who said them], and 'good deeds' (Saalihaat) due to the reward that one gets on the Day of Judgment and when [one is] in need [of them]; because all the things by which the polytheists adorn themselves with, like money and children, are transient adornment of this worldly life which will not last for them and which will not be of benefit for them [in the Hereafter]. Sa’eed ibn Al-Musayyib also informed us that Al-Baaqiyaat As-Saalihaat are these five words.”
Allaah Knows best.
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