Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Raheem
In the Name of Allâh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Qul Huwa-llahu ‘Ahad
Say (O Muhammad (SAW)): "He is Allâh, (the) One.
Allahus-Samad Allâh-us-Samad
[Allâh the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks)]
Lam Yalid Wa Lam Yulad
"He begets not, nor was He begotten;
Walam Yakul-La-hu Kufuwan ‘Ahad
"And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him."
The 112th chapter of the Qur’an is called al-Ikhlās, which
literally means “sincerity” or “purity”. It is given this name since it
affirms the purity of faith, uncorrupted by polytheism, and sincerity of
worship to Allah alone without partner. It affirms in the most emphatic
terms that Allah is One (al-Ahad), the only true God. It affirms that
He is wholly Self-Subsisting (al-Samad), and negates any claim that He
was born of another or that He has a child. It then concludes by
affirming His absolute uniqueness.
Allah’s names al-Ahad and al-Samad appear in the Qur’an only in this chapter.
Much can be said about the importance of this short chapter of the
Qur’an. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to recite this chapter
in the second unit of the Morning Prayer. He would also recite it in
the Witr prayer at night and in the prayer that he would offer after
completing the circumambulation of the Ka`bah.
Al-Ikhlās was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
during the early days of Islam when the Muslims were still living in
Mecca. The pagans of Mecca one day approached him and challenged: “Give
us the genealogy of your Lord.”
It was then that Allah revealed the four brief verses of Sūrah al-Ikhlās to His Prophet:
[at-Tirmidhi 2826/A, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi Ch.183 #1013]
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of
Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said about the surah, “Say: He is
Allah, Absolute Oneness” (112), ‘By Him in Whose hand my soul is, it is
equal to one third of the Qur’an!’
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #533, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi Ch.183 #1010]
“Qul Hu Allahu Ahad” is equal to a third of the Qur’an and “Qul ya ayyuhal Kafirun” is equal to a fourth of the Qur’an.”
[at-Tabarani, classed as Sahih]
Mu’adh bin Anas (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of
Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Whoever recites (Qul Hu Allahu
Ahad) ten times, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.”
Anas (radhi Allah anhu) said: “When you recite Surah Al-Fatihah and
Surah Al-Ikhlas upon lying on your bed, you will be safeguarded and
should become fearless of every thing except death.”
[Narrated by Baraa, Tafseer Mazhari 1:31]
A’isha (radiAllahu anha) reported that whenever the Prophet
(salAllahu alayhi wasalam) went to bed every night, he used to cup his
hands together and blow over it after reciting Surat Al-Ikhlas, Surat
Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas, and then rub his hands over whatever parts of
his body he was able to rub, starting with his head, face and front of
his body. He used to do that three times.
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #536]
source & credits:
