Surat Al Ikhlas

Praise be to Allah and peace be upon His Servants whom He has chosen. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone Who has no partner with Him. I also bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.

Allah sent down the Qur'an in order that people ponder thereon and act upon. Allah (Exalted be He) says: “(This is) a Book (the Qur’ân) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember." [Surat Sad: 29]. He made therein healing, light, and guidance. Allah (Exalted be He) says: “And We send down of the Qur’ân that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islâmic Monotheism and act on it), and it increases the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers) nothing but loss.” [Surat Al Isra: 82]. Allah (Exalted be He) says: “Say: “It is for those who believe, a guide and a healing.” [Surat Fussilat: 44].

Of the Surahs that we hear frequently and we have to reflect and ponder thereon is Surat Al Ikhlas. Allah (Exalted be He) says: “Say (O Muhammad peace be upon him): “He is Allâh, (the) One. * Allâh-us-Samad [Allah— The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks)]. * He begets not, nor was He begotten. * And there is none co-equal or comparable to Him.” [Surat Al Ikhlas: 1 - 4].

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that a man from the Ansar (the Supporters) was leading them in Salah in the Masjid of Quba’. Every time he recited a Surah, he accompanied it with Surat Al Ikhlas. He used to do that in every Rak`ah, so his friends spoke to him about that saying: You recite this Surah (Al Ikhas) then you see it not sufficient then you recite another Surah. So, either you recite it alone or do not recite it from the very beginning. He said: I will keep on reciting it and will not leave it. If you accept that I lead you in Salah, I will do so, but if you disliked that, I will not lead you.

They considered him one of the best people who could lead them in Salah and disliked that any other person would lead them in Salah. Therefore, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) came to them, they told him about that, so he said: "O so and so, what prevents you to do what your friends ask and what makes you adhere to that Surah in each Rak`ah?} He said: "I love it.” In another narration: "Because it contains the description of the Most Merciful (Exalted be He)  Thereupon, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Your love to that Surah admitted you to Paradise".

Abu Sa`id Al Khudry (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to his Companions: {Is it difficult for any of you to recite one third of the Qur’an in one night?” This suggestion was difficult for them so they said: “Who among us has the power to do so, O Allah’s Messenger?” Allah Messenger (peace be upon him) replied: “Allah (the) One, the Self-Sufficient Master Whom all creatures need.’ (Surat Al Ikhlas 112: from the beginning to the End) is equal to one third of the Qur’an".

The Prophet (peace be upon him) used this Surah and others for healing, and all Surahs of the Qur’an are used for healing. `Aisha (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Whenever the Prophet (peace be upon him) 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.

As for Allah’s Saying: “Say: Allah is the One”
Ibn Kathir said: "He is Allah, the One, Who has no peer, minister, associate, and does not have some one of the like. This attribute cannot be ascribed to anyone but to Allah (Glory be to Him) because He is the Complete in all His Attributes and Actions.”

“Allâh-us-Samad [Allah— The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks)].” `Ikrimah narrated on the authority of Ibn `Abbas that the meaning is "It is He to whom all the creatures resort in their needs and supplications. The Arabs used to call their honorable men As-Samad." Abu Wa’il said: "It is the master whose dominance has reached the peak."

As for Allah’s Saying: ”He begets not, nor was He begotten. * And there is none co-equal or comparable to Him.“, it means: He has no father, no son, and no wife.

Mujahid said: "And there is none co-equal or comparable to Him.” i.e., wife.

The meaning of Sahibah is the wife as Allah says: “He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. How can He have children when He has no wife? He created all things and He is the All-Knower of everything.” [Surat Al An`am: 101].

He is the One Who owns everything and created everything. So, how come that a created creatures has the same power or the same status as He has or even near it; Glory be to Him.

Allah (Exalted be He) says: “And they say: “The Most Gracious (Allâh) has begotten a son (or offspring or children) [as the Jews say: ‘Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allâh, and the Christians say that He has begotten a son [‘Isâ (Jesus) peace be upon him], and the pagan Arabs say that He has begotten daughters (angels and others)]. * Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing. * Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins. * That they ascribe a son (or offspring or children) to the Most Gracious (Allâh). But it is not suitable for (the Majesty of) the Most Gracious (Allâh) that He should beget a son (or offspring or children). * There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes to the Most Gracious (Allâh) as a slave. * Verily, He knows each one of them, and has counted them a full counting.” [Surat Maryam: 88-94].

Abu Musa Al Ash`ary (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "None is more patient than Allah against the harmful and annoying words He hears (from the people): They ascribe children to Him, yet He bestows upon them health and provision".

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Allah said: “The son of Adam tells a lie against Me, though he hasn’t the right to do so. He abuses me though he hasn’t the right to do so. As for his telling a lie against Me, it is his saying that I will not recreate him as I created him for the first time. In fact, the first creation was not easier for Me than new creation. As for his abusing Me, it is his saying that Allah has begotten children, while I am the One, the Self-Sufficient Master Whom all creatures need, I beget not, nor was I begotten, and there is none like unto Me.”

Of the benefits of this noble Surah:
First: To prove the oneness of Allah (Glory be Him). Refuting the claims of the Jews, and the Christians, who attributed a child to Allah (the Almighty). Allah (Exalted be He) says: “And the Jews say: “‘Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allâh”, and the Christians say: “Messiah is the son of Allâh”. That is their saying with their mouths, resembling the saying of those who disbelieved aforetime. Allâh’s Curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth!” [Surat At-Tawbah: 30].

Second: This great Surah included the greatest name of Allah, by which if He is asked, He will answer and if He is supplicated, He will respond.

`Abdullah ibn Buraydah narrated on the authority of his father (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) heard a man saying: O Allah, I ask Thee, I bear witness that there is no god but Thou, the One, He to Whom men repair, Who has not begotten, and has not been begotten, and to Whom no one is equal, and he said: "You have supplicated Allah using His Greatest Name, when asked with this name He gives, and when supplicated by this name he answers".

Third: It is desirable to recite it before going to sleep as the Prophet (peace be upon him) did and it is also desirable to recite it in the morning and in the evening three times.

`Abdallah ibn Khubayb (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We went out one rainy and intensely dark night to look for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to lead us in prayer, and when we found him, he asked: Have you prayed?, but I did not say anything. So he said: Say, but I did not say anything. He again said: Say, but I did not say anything. He then said: Say. So I said: What am I to say? He said: Say: "Say, He is Allah, One," and Al Mu'awwadhatayn three times in the morning and evening; they will serve you for every purpose.

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. May Allah send His peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his Companions.