Is the report stating that the third verse of Surat Al-Hadid, "He is the First and the Last, and the Outward and the Inward, and He is Knower of all things," is better than a thousand verses, authentic or weak, and can it be explained, and is it permissible to adopt it as a regular litany, and is reciting it with the intention of seeking beneficial knowledge considered an innovation?

The Hadith (definition) to which the questioner referred is the Hadith of the Musabbihat (the surahs that begin with glorification), which Al-Albani graded as hasan (definition) (good). These are the surahs that begin with glorification, such as Al-Isra, Al-Hadid, Al-Hashr, Al-Saff, Al-Jumu'ah, Al-Taghabun, and Al-A'la. Scholars differed regarding the verse intended in the Hadith. Some said it is: {Had We sent down this Qur'an} [Al-Hashr:21], while others said it is: {He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden, and He is the Knower of all things} [Al-Hadid:3], which Ibn Kathir preferred.

Interpretation of the verse from Al-Hadid: - The First: Whose existence has no beginning. - The Last: Whose existence has no end. - The Manifest (Al-Dhahir): Its meaning is evident through the clear proofs and evidences that point to His greatness. - The Hidden (Al-Batin): By His gentleness and the profoundness of His wisdom, or that there is nothing above Him nor beneath Him. - And He is the Knower of all things: Meaning His knowledge encompasses everything.

In Sahih (definition) Muslim, there is an authentic supplication reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that explains this verse: "O Allah, Lord of the heavens, and Lord of the earth, and Lord of the Magnificent Throne, our Lord and the Lord of everything... You are the First, so nothing precedes You; and You are the Last, so nothing follows You; and You are the Manifest, so nothing is above You; and You are the Hidden, so nothing is beneath You."

Loving this verse or any other verse of Allah is a sign of faith and love for Allah the Almighty. Repeating it is not an innovation (bid'ah). It has been reported in the Sunnah (definition) to repeat some surahs and verses, such as Surah (definition) Al-Ikhlas (definition). The Hadith is hasan (good) and fit to be acted upon, and repeating verses for a specific meaning is not an innovation.