Saying "Sadaq Allahu al-Azeem" Has NO BASIS

Many people have the habit of ending a recitation from the Qur'an with the words "Sadaqa Allaahu al-‘Azeem (Allah has spoken the truth)," but this has no basis in Islam because the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not do it, nor was it the custom of the Sahaabah رضي الله عنهم, and it was unknown among the Taabi’een (the generation after the Sahaabah).

 

This custom arose in later times because some reciters would say these words, on the basis of the ayah: "Say: Allah has spoken the truth" [Surah al-Imraan 3:95], and people liked this. But this istihsaan (being liked) should be rejected, because if this was really something good, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, the Sahaabah and the Salaf (the best generations of the Ummah) would not have neglected to do it.

The aayah, "Say: Allah has spoken the truth” (Surah al-Imraan 3:95) does not mean that these words should be said at the end of any reading or recitation. If that were the case, Allah سبحانه و تعالى would have said, "When you finish reading, say "Allah has spoken the truth,’" just as He said: "So when you want to recite the Qur’an, seek refuge with Allah from Shaytaan (Satan), the outcast (the cursed one)" [Surah al-Nahl 16:98]/.

 

The ayah which the innovators use to support their practice of saying "Sadaqa Allah" after reciting Qur’an was actually revealed in the context of commanding the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to make it clear to people that the revelations contained in the Tawrah (Torah), the Injil (Gospel) and all the other heavenly revealed Scriptures are true.

By the same token, revelations contained in the Glorious Qur'an are true. Believing that Allah has spoken the truth is obligatory, and whoever disbelieves or doubts the truth of what Allah has said is a kaafir who is outside of the pale of Islam. We seek refuge with Allah from that.

However, there is nothing wrong if someone happens to say this expression unintentionally. If a person says "Allah has spoken the truth" on certain occasions, such as when something He has foretold comes to pass, affirming the truth of what He has said, then this is permissible, because something similar has been reported in the Sunnah.

In short, there exists NO evidence in the Shari'ah that makes it desirable to conclude recitation of the Qur'an by saying: "Sadaqa Allaahu al-‘Azeem". It belongs to the category of Bid`ah, particularly when someone believes it to be an act of Sunnah. This expression has to be left unsaid so that one would be following the example of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and his Sahabah رضي الله عنهم.

Since Allah سبحانه و تعالى always speaks the truth, this expression of "Sadaqa Allaahu al-‘Azeem" has to be thought of as an absolute expression which should not be limited to a given time, place, or situation. Therefore, habitual recitation of this expression whenever one finishes reading the Qur'an has NO evidence in its support as has been mentioned above.

Reference :

- Izaalat al-Sitaar ‘an al-Jawaab al-Mukhtaar by Sheikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, Page No. 79-80

- Fatwas of Sheikh Ibn Baz : Volume 9 : Part No. 9 : Page No. 343

- The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' : Volume 3 : Fatwa No. 21039