Short answer
Surah Yasin is a great surah and reading it is rewarded like all of the Quran, ten good deeds for every letter. But the famous hadith that calls it "the heart of the Quran", and others promising specific rewards, are weak. Hanafi scholars still recommend reading it beside a dying person, based on a narration and the practice of the early Muslims.
Reading Surah Yasin is mustahabb like any surah. Reading it beside a person who is dying is recommended in the Hanafi books. Its specific rewards should not be stated as certain sayings of the Prophet ﷺ, since their chains are weak.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Surah Yasin (36) speaks of the truth of the message, the people of the town who rejected their messengers, the signs of Allah in creation, and the resurrection. It is loved by Muslims across the world and read often on Thursday nights, at funerals and in times of difficulty.
What is authentic. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever reads a letter of the Book of Allah earns a good deed, and each good deed is multiplied ten times. Yasin has that reward, like every surah. Its own message, about mercy, death and the next life, is reason enough to read it with understanding.
What is weak.
- "Everything has a heart, and the heart of the Quran is Yasin" is in al-Tirmidhi, who noted its weakness. Some scholars graded it very weak or fabricated.
- "Read Yasin over your dying" is in Abu Dawud, with a weak chain. The Hanafi and other scholars still act on it, since it concerns a virtue and is supported by the practice of the early generations.
- Reports that reading it in the morning fulfils all your needs, or that reading it equals ten khatms, do not have sound chains.
How to read it. You can read it at any time. Many people read it daily after Fajr; that is a good habit, as long as you do not believe a particular time or number is fixed by the sunnah. For the dying and the dead, see reciting Quran for the dead. For how to judge other claims, see are surah benefits online authentic.
Read Surah Yasin with translation.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Yaseen 36:1-2
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ يسٓ ﴿١﴾ وَٱلْقُرْءَانِ ٱلْحَكِيمِ ﴿٢﴾
Ya, Seen. By the wise Qur'an.
The opening of Surah Yasin.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2910
Graded sahih... من قرأ حرفا من كتاب الله فله به حسنة ...
"Whoever reads a letter of the Book of Allah earns a good deed."
The general reward for reciting any surah, including Yasin.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Nur al-Idah with Maraqi al-Falah, Kitab al-Jana'iz, what is done for the dying. Mentions reading Surah Yasin near the dying person.
- al-Adhkar (al-Nawawi), Introduction, on acting on weak hadith in virtues. Explains that weak hadith may be acted on in virtues, without stating them as certain.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.