Is the Hadith that states: "He who recites ten verses from the Quran in a night before sleeping will not be recorded among the heedless" authentic, and is the recitation of Ayat al-Kursi and Surahs Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas by heart sufficient to complete the ten verses, or must their recitation be from the Mus'haf?

The text of the noble Hadith: "Whoever recites ten verses in a night will not be recorded among the heedless."

Scholars have differed on whether the intention is to recite these verses during the night prayer or to recite them at any time during the night, whether in prayer or outside of it.

It is more likely that the intention is to recite ten verses during the night prayer, and this is supported by the Hadith: "Whoever stands (in prayer) with ten verses will not be recorded among the heedless," and the word "stands" (قام) refers to Qiyam al-Layl (night prayer), as Ibn Hibban narrated this Hadith in the chapters on Qiyam al-Layl.

However, others are of the view that the virtue includes recitation at any time of the night, and this is what some scholars have adopted, and the wording of the first Hadith, "Whoever recites ten verses in a night," carries this broader meaning.

As for the virtues of reciting specific verses before sleep, they include: Ayah al-Kursi, the last two verses of Surat al-Baqarah, Surat al-Isra and Surat az-Zumar, Surat al-Kafirun, and Surat al-Ikhlas and the Two Refuges (al-Mu'awwidhatayn).

It is recommended to recite whatever is easy from these verses and supplications before sleep. It is not a condition to recite from the Mushaf; memorization is sufficient.