EXCELLENCE OF SŪRAH AL-IKHLĀS
ARABIC TEXT, TRANSLITERATION, and ENGLISH TRANSLATION of SÛRAH al-IKHLÂS (KUL HUWALLAHU AHAD)
Arabic Text: قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ
Transliteration: Kul huwallāhu ahad, Allāhu-s-Samad, lam yalid wa lam yūlad, wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad
English Translation:
1-Say, “He is Allah, the One.
2-Allah, the Eternal Refuge.
3-He neither begets nor is born.
4-And there is none equal to Him.”
The Revelation of Sūrah al-Ikhlās
Sūrah al-Ikhlās was revealed in Makkah al-Mukarramah before the Hijrah. Hadrat Ikrimah (radiyallāhu anhu), one of the esteemed Companions, narrates that a group of polytheists approached the Prophet (sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam) and asked, “Inform us about your Lord and His attributes.” In response, Sūrah al-Ikhlās was revealed. This concise and profound sūrah elucidates the essential attributes of Allāh Ta‘ālā, describing His essence and singularity in the clearest manner. A hadīth sharif states, “The seven heavens and the seven earths are founded upon ‘Qul hu wallāhu ahad’,” meaning they were created as a testament to Allāh’s oneness and to declare His unique attributes.
Other Names of Sūrah al-Ikhlās
Sūrah al-Ikhlās comprises four verses and encapsulates the essence of Islamic monotheism, the tawheed, by conveying Allāh’s oneness and attributes in the purest form. Because of its profound declaration of tawheed, it is often referred to as “Sūrah al-Tawheed” and has over twenty names, including “Sūrah al-Najāt,” “Sūrah al-Ma‘rifah,” and “Sūrah Qul hu wallāhu ahad.”
Significance and Virtues of Sūrah al-Ikhlās
The Qur’ān al-Karīm was revealed gradually to address the specific needs and guidance of the ummah, with the exception of Sūrah al-Bara’ah (at-Tawbah) and Sūrah al-Ikhlās, which were revealed all at once as a unique grace for this ummah.
According to the narration of Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (radiyallāhu anhu), a Companion once heard another sahābī repeatedly reciting Sūrah al-Ikhlās throughout the night. In the morning, he informed the Prophet (sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam), who replied, “I swear by the One in whose hand my life is, this sūrah is equal to one-third of the Qur’ān.” Another time, the Prophet (sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam) heard a man reciting Sūrah al-Ikhlās in his salāh and remarked, “This man is a true knower (arif) of his Lord.”
Sūrah al-Ikhlās is esteemed as being equivalent to one-third of the entire Qur’ān. The Prophet (sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam) asked his Companions, “Who among you finds it difficult to recite one-third of the Qur’ān each night?” When they asked how this was possible, he replied, “Reciting ‘Qul hu wallāhu ahad’ is equivalent to one-third of the Qur’ān.” Thus, from the hadīth above, it is understood that reciting Sūrah al-Ikhlās once brings the reward of reciting one-third of the Holy Qur’ān. Therefore, reciting it three times equates to completing the recitation of the entire Qur’ān.
The Best Times to Recite Sūrah al-Ikhlās
It is virtuous to recite Sūrah al-Ikhlās at any time and place where Qur’ānic recitation is appropriate. The immense virtues and importance of this sūrah stem from its description of Allāh’s attributes. The Prophet (sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam) recommended specific occasions for its recitation:
-He said, “Whoever recites ‘Qul hu wallāhu ahad’ one thousand times will have redeemed himself from the Fire,” (Fayd al-Qadir).
-“If you recite Sūrah al-Fātiha and Sūrah al-Ikhlās before sleeping, you will be safeguarded from all harm except death until morning.” (Lawāqi’ al-Anwār)
-During certain blessed times, such as the Islamic month designated to honor Allāh’s majesty, it is advised to recite Sūrah al-Ikhlās eleven times daily along with istighfār (seeking forgiveness) and sending salawat upon the Prophet (sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam).
-After a sacrifice, it is also recommended to perform two rak’ahs of gratitude, reciting Sūrah al-Kawthar in the first rak’ah and Sūrah al-Ikhlās in the second.
Rewards for Reciting Sūrah al-Ikhlās Frequently: Being Beloved by Allāh
A hadīth in Sahīh al-Bukhārī tells of an occasion when the Prophet (sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam) appointed a Companion as the leader of a military expedition. This Companion would always conclude the second rak’ah of each prayer with Sūrah al-Ikhlās. Upon their return, the soldiers reported this habit to the Prophet (sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam), who asked them to inquire why he did so. The Companion replied, “I recite this sūrah because it contains the attributes of the Most Merciful, and I love reciting it.” When this was conveyed to the Prophet (sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam), he said, “Tell him that Allāh loves him as well.”
Thus, through his continued recitation of Sūrah al-Ikhlās, the Companion earned the love of Allāh Ta‘ālā, a testament to the power of this sūrah that proclaims the singularity and perfection of Allāh’s essence and attributes.