Surah Ikhlas is the 112th surah of the Holy Quran and comes in the 30th Juz. It contains 4 verses and holds great importance. This surah focuses on tawheed, and believing in the oneness of Allah. Other chapters of the Quran generally have been named after a word occurring in them, but in this Surah the word Ikhlas has occurred nowhere.
112:1 Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “He is Allah – One
112:2 Allah – the Sustainer ˹needed by all˺.
112:3 He has never had offspring, nor was He born.
112:4 And there is none comparable to Him.”
| Translation | Transliteration | Arabic |
|---|---|---|
| Say, “He is Allah – One | Qul huwal laahu ahad | قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ |
| Allah – the Sustainer | Allah hus-samad | اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ |
| He has never had offspring, nor was He born | Lam yalid wa lam yoolad | لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ |
| And there is none comparable to Him | Wa lam yakul-lahoo kufuwan ahad | وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ |
When was Surah Ikhlas revealed?
Ibn Kathir said in his tafsir, that surah Ikhlas was revealed when Jews openly said that they worshipped Uzair, who is the son of Allah Almighty, the Christians said that they worship the Messiah who is also the son of Allah and the idolaters said that they worship idols. Then Allah (SWT) revealed to His Messenger ( ﷺ) the verses of this surah saying: “He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. The self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need. He neither begets nor was He was begotten (born). And there is none equal or comparable to Him.”
Therefore, whoever properly understands this surah and believes in it firmly, they will be safe from polytheism (shirk).
Abul Aliyah has related on the authority of Hadrat Ubayy bin Kab that the polytheists said to the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace):
“Tell us of your Lord’s ancestry.” Thereupon Allah sent down this Surah.
Tirmidhi has related a tradition on the same theme from Abul Aliyah, which does not contain any reference to Hadrat Ubayy bin Kab, and has declared it to be more authentic.
(Musnad Ahmad, Ibn Abi Harim, Ibn Jarir, Tirmidhi, Bukhari in At-Tarikh, Ibn al-Mundhir, Hakim, Baihaqi)
Hadrat Anas has stated that some Jews of Khaiber came before the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) and they said: “O Abul Qasim, Allah created the angels from light, Adam from rotten clay, Iblis from the flame of fire, the sky from smoke, and the earth from the foam of water. Now tell us about your Lord (of what He is made).” The Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) did not give any reply to this question. Then Gabriel came and he said: “O Muhammad, say to them: Huwa Allahu ahad.” [Tafsir of Ibn Taymiyyah]
Ibn Abbas has reported that a deputation of the Christians of Najran along with seven priests visited the Holy Prophet upon whom be peace), and they said: “O Muhammad, tell us what is your Lord like and of what substance He is made. “The Holy Prophet replied, “My Lord is not made from any substance. He is unique and exalted above everything.” Thereupon Allah sent down this Surah. [Tafsir of Ibn Taymiyyah]
Benefits of Surah Ikhlas
There are many benefits to reading surah Ikhlas regularly. It brings happiness and contentment into your life. It brings you closer to Allah and attracts the love of Allah. It will lead you to success and will save you from evil, calamities and poverty.
- Its reward is equivalent to reading one-third of the Quran
- It protects from the evil of Jinn
- It helps to protect from evil eye
- It helps to protect from illnesses
- Reciting Surah Ikhlas 10 times will give the reader a palace in paradise (jannah)
- It is a source of protection from all harm
- Reading this surah brings the love of Allah
- Whoever recites surah Ikhlas 100 times after turning on his right side before sleeping, Allah will admit him into paradise from his right side
- Surah Ikhlas is a means of forgiveness for your minor sins
- Reciting this surah will eradicate and remove poverty
Virtues of Surah Ikhlas
- Reciting Surah Ikhlas 200 times everyday, 50 years of minor sins will be forgiven. But, if he has to pay a loan to anyone, that will not be forgiven.” and Allah will grant him 1500 Rewards (At-Tirmidhi and Darami)
- If a person recites Surah Ikhlas 1,000 times, he will not die unless he sees his place in Jannah.
- It was narrated by Anas that the Holy Prophet SAW said: “Whoever reads Surah Ikhlas 100,000 times would have bought himself from Allah, and a caller from Allah will announce in heaven and on earth: ‘verily, so-and-so has been set free by Allah, so whoever owes him anything, let him claim it from Allah.’”
[Note: Not all of these virtues have been backed by authentic narrations. Some may be weak. However, these can be used as motivation to try and recite surah ikhlas more.]
Hadith on Al-Ikhlas
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Surah Ikhlas is equivalent to one-third of the Qur’an.”
Muslim
‘Abdullah bin Khubaib RA reported:The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me, “Recite Surat Al-Ikhlas and Al- Mu’awwidhatain (Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas) three times at dawn and dusk. It will suffice you in all respects.”
Tirmidhi & Abu Dawud
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:A man said: “O Messenger of Allah! I love Surat-Al-Ikhlas [Say: He is Allah, (the) One].” He (ﷺ) said, “Your love for it will admit you to Jannah.”
Tirmidhi
Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported about Surat Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, it is equivalent to one-third of the Qur’an.
“According to another version, he (ﷺ) said to his Companions, “Is anyone of you incapable of reciting one-third of the Qur’an in one night?” They considered it burdensome and said: “O Messenger of Allah, which of us can afford to do that?” He (ﷺ) said, “Surat Al-Ikhlas [Say: He is Allah (the) One] is equivalent to one-third of the Qur’an.”
Bukhari
Narrated ‘Aisha:
Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) 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.
Bukhari
‘Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ) appointed a man in charge of an army unit who led them in Salat (prayer); he always concluded his recitation with Surat Al-Ikhlas: “Say (O Muhammad (ﷺ)): ‘He is Allah, (the) One. Allah-us-Samad (Allah – the Self-Sufficient). He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none equal or comparable to Him.”‘ (112:1-4)
Upon their return to Al-Madinah, they mentioned this to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), who said, “Ask him why he does so?” He was asked and he said, “This Surah contains the Attributes of Allah, the Gracious, and I love to recite it. Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then told them, “Tell him that Allah loves him”.
Bukhari & Muslim
Anas RA has reported the saying of Rasulallah SAW that, “If anyone who is about to sleep on his bed lies on his right side, then recited Al-Ikhlas 100 times, Allah will say to him on the Day of the resurrection, ‘My slave, enter Paradise to your right side.’”
Tirmidhi
The Prophet SAW said: “Whoever recites Qul huwa Allaahu ahad ten times, Allaah will build for him a house in Paradise.”
Sahih al-Jami’ al-Saghir, 6472
Summary
To conclude, we should memorize surah ikhlas and recite it as much as we possibly can. Even if we start off slowly, we will surely see the improvement in our lives. Read it yourself and tell your family and friends to also read it so that you may get even more reward.
