Al-Ikhlas

Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ (Arabic: سورة الإخلاص‎) (The Fidelity), aka Sūrat al-Tawḥīd (Arabic: سورة التوحيد‎) (Monotheism) is the 112th Sura of the Qur'an. It is a short declaration of tawhid, God's absolute unity, consisting of 4 ayat. Al-Ikhlas means "the purity" or "the refining".

It is disputed whether this is a Meccan or Madinan sura. The former seems more probable, particularly since it seems to be have been alluded to by Bilal, who, when he was being tortured by his cruel master, is said to have repeated "Ahad, Ahad!" (unique, referring as here to Allah). It is reported from Ubayy ibn Ka'b that it was revealed after the polytheists asked "O Muhammad! Tell us the lineage of your Lord."

Introduction and Summary to Surah 112- Al Ikhlas

This surah sums up in four verses of the divinity and oneness of God. (Allah)

Surah Ikhlas is known as a Protective Surah.

Arabic Verses and Transliteration

بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِ

1. قُلۡ هُوَ اللّٰہُ اَحَدٌ
   
   
2. اَللّٰہُ الصَّمَدُ
   
   
3. لَمۡ یَلِدۡۙ وَ لَمۡ یُوۡلَدۡ
   
   
4. وَ لَمۡ یَکُنۡ لَّہٗ کُفُوًا اَحَدٌ
   

Transliteration:
Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem
1 Qul huwa Allah hu ahad
2 Allah hu 's-samad
3 Lam yalid wa lam yulad
4 Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad

English Translation of verses

English Translation by Muhammad Shameem, Mohammad Wali Raazi and Muhammad Taqi Usmani:^[1]

Say, “The truth is: Allah is One. [1] Allah is Besought of all, needing none. [2] He neither begot anyone, nor he was begotten. [3] And equal to Him has never been any one.”[4]

English Translation by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall:^[2][3]

Say: He is Allah, the One! [1] Allah, the eternally Besought of all! [2] He begetteth not nor is he begotten. [3] And there is none comparable unto Him. [4]

English Translation by Yusuf Ali:.^[4][5]

Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; [1] Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; [2] He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; [3] And there is none comparable unto Him. [4]

Detailed Explanation of Bismillah

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيم

Bismillāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm

Say, In (or with) the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Beginning is with Allah's personal name Ar'Reh'maan Who is The Fountain of Infinite Mercy. [Note: It should be remembered that it is not the written text/part/Ayah of سُورة [Chapter 112] and hence it is never numbered. For convenience of those readers who are already believers, this is traditionally printed since it is commanded in the Qur'an to read/recite with the Name of Sustainer Lord, The Creator]

Sura 112, al-Ikhlas (The Purity)^{[Quran 112:1]}, like all surat except for the ninth, begins with "In the name of God" (Bismillah), which is not part of any sura except al-Fatihah but is written before every sura except for Surah 9 and is not counted among the verses of a sura. It is printed before all surat except the ninth in all printed copies of the Qur'an (mushaf) since it is commanded in the Qur'an to say Bismillah whenever one reads or recites the Qur'an.

Hadith Referring to al-Ikhlas

Also see: Al-Falaq, Al-Nas, Al-Mu'awwidhatayn

According to a hadith, this sura is an especially important and honored part of the Quran:

• Imam Malik bin Anas has said that `Ubayd bin Hunayn heard Abu Hurayrah speaking:

"I was walking with the Prophet and we heard a man reciting "Say: He, God, is One" The God's Apostle said: "It is inevitable" I asked "what?": He responded: "Paradise."

• Abu Said has narrated that he heard the Prophet saying:

"Isn't every one of you able to recite one third of the Quran during a night?" They thought it was very difficult, so they asked: "Who is able to do that, O Apostle of God?" He responded: "He is God, the One and Only is one third of the Qur'an."

• Al-Bukhari reported from Amrah bint Abdur-Rahman, who used to stay in the apartment of Aishah radhi'Allahu 'anha, the wife of the Prophet, that Aishah said, "The Prophet sent a man as the commander of a war expedition and he used to lead his companions in prayer with recitation (of the Quran). And he would complete his recitation with the recitation, 'say He is Allah, One'. So when they returned, they mentioned that to the Prophet and he said, "Ask him why does he do that". So they asked him and he said, "Because it is the description of Ar-Rahman and I love to recite it". So the Prophet said, "Inform him that Allah the Most High Loves him."

This is how Al-Bukhari recorded this hadith in his book of tawhid. Muslim and an-Nisai also recorded it.

• An authentic Hadith says ‘Say [recite] (Qul Huw allaahu Ahad) [Suraatul Ikhlaas] and al-M aw ’idhatayn ( Suratul Falaq and Suratun Naas ) three times in the morning and the evening; they will suffice you

from everything.’ [Narrated by at-Tirm idhee. And Im aam Al-Albaanee authenticated it : 2829 ^[6]

• Narrated ‘Aisha: “Whenever Allah’s Apostle became sick, he would recite Mu’awwidhatayn (Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nas) and then blow his breath over his body. When he became seriously ill, I used to recite (these two suras) and rub his hands over his body hoping for its blessings. (Sahih al-Bukhari Vol.6 Bk.6 No.535)

• Narrated ‘Aisha: “Whenever thy Prophet go went to bed every night, he used to cup his hands together and blow over it after reciting Surah al-Ikhlas, Surah al-Falaq and Surah 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 Vol.6 Bk.6 No.536)

Listen to Al-Ikhlas

Mohammed Ayoub

Abdulrahman Alsudais

See also

• Al-Falaq
• Al-Nas
• Al-Mu'awwidhatayn

References

External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article: The Holy Qur'an - Al-Ikhlas

• Works by Abdullah Yusuf Ali at Project Gutenberg
• The Holy Qur'an, translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali
• Three translations at Project Gutenberg
• Works by Marmaduke Pickthall at Project Gutenberg