9. Quran And Hadith : Surah Ikhlas and related Ahadith:

     

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاتة

بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِٱلرَّحِيمِ

Surah Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112) is a fundamental concept of Islam - emphasizing the absolute oneness (Tawhid) and uniqueness of Allah.

The lineage of Allah:

Ubayy ibn Ka’b reported: The idolaters of Makkah asked the Messenger of Allah (SAW),  “Tell us the lineage of your Lord.” Then, Allah revealed a four verses  surah Ikhlas, “Say: He is Allah, the One, Allah the Eternal Refuge.” (112:1-2). It declares Allah as the One, Eternal Refuge who neither begets nor is born, and has no equivalent. It is a direct answer, outlining the attributes of Allah. [Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 3364]

It is equivalent to one-third of Quran:

Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: Get together. for I am going to recite one-third of the Qur'an before you. And those who could get together gathered there. Then the Prophet (SAW) came out and recited:" Say: He, Allah, is One." He then entered (his house). Some of us said to the others: Perhaps there has been some news from the heaven on account of which he has gone Inside (the house). The Apostle of Allah (SAW) again came out and said: I told you that I was going to recite one-third of the Qur'an; keep in mind, this (Surah Ikhlas) is equivalent to one-third of the Qur'an. [Sahih Muslim 812 a] also (al-Musnad, 10965, Riyad as Salihin,1011 and 1012).

Protection from Harm:

Abdullah ibn Khubayb reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW), said, “Speak.” I said, “What should I say?” The Prophet (SAW) said, “Say, ‘He is Allah, the One,’ (112:1) and the two chapters of refuge, al-Falaq and al-Nas, every evening and morning three times. They will be enough for you against everything.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 3575].

Ayesha (RA) reported that when the Prophet (SAW) went to bed, he would cup his hands together, blow into them and recite into them Qul huwa Allahu ahad [Surat al-Ikhlas], Qul a'udhu bi Rabbil-falaq [Surat al-Falaq] and Qul a'udhu bi Rabbil-nas [Surat al-Nas] (these are the last 3 surahs of the Quran). Then he would wipe as much of his body as he could with his hands, starting with his head and face, and the front of his body. He would do this three times. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 5017)

Reciting this surah often, makes Paradise obligatory:

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): "I went out with the Messenger of Allah and heard a man reciting Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad [Allahus-Samad] so the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: 'It is obligatory.' I said: 'What is obligatory?' He said: 'Paradise.'" Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2897

Abu Huraira (RA) reported: The Prophet (SAW) said, “Whoever recites ten times, ‘Say: He is Allah, the One,’ a palace will be built for him in Paradise.  [al-Mu’jam al-Awsaṭ lil-Ṭabarānī 281  Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani]

Narrated Anas bin Malik (RA): that the Prophet (SAW) said: "Whoever recited Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad two hundred times every day, fifty years’ worth of his sins will be removed - unless he owed a debt." And another narration with this chain, from the Prophet (SAW) that he said: "Whoever wants to sleep upon his bed and sleeps on his right side, then he recites Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad one hundred times, then on the Day of Judgement the Lord, Blessed and Most High shall say: 'O My slave! Enter Paradise on your right.'" [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2898)

Narrated Anas bin Malik (RA): re was a man from the Ansar who led them (in Salat) at Masjid Quba. Every time he was to recite a Surah for them during Salat, he would begin by reciting Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad until he finished, then he would recite another Surah with it. He did that in each Rak'ah. His companions talked to him and said: 'You recite this Surah. You should either recite it or leave it and recite another Surah.'" He said: "I shall not leave it, if you would like me to lead you with it then I shall do so, and if you do not like it then I shall leave you." And they considered him the best among them, and they did not like the idea of someone else leading them. So when the Prophet (ﷺ) came to them they informed him about what had happened and he (ﷺ) said: "O so-and-so! What prevents you from doing what your companions told you to do, why do recite this Surah in every Rak'ah" He said: "O Messenger of Allah! Indeed I love it." So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Your love for it shall have you admitted into Paradise." Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2901; Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 774]

Allah loves the ones who recites this surah:

Ayesha (RA) also reported that the Prophet (SAW) sent a man in charge of a small military campaign, and when he recited Quran whilst leading his companions in prayer, he would always end with Qul huwa Allahu ahad. When they came back, (his companions) mentioned that to the Prophet (SAW), who told them to ask him why he did that. So they asked him, and he said, Because it is a description of the Most Merciful, and I love to recite it. The Prophet (SAW) said:' Tell him that Allah loves him.' (Reported by al-Bukhari, 6827)

It carries Allah's greatest name:

Abdullah bin Buraidah Al Aslami narrated from his father, who said: “The Prophet (SAW) heard a man supplicating and he was saying: ‘O Allah, indeed, I ask you by my testifying that You are Allah, there is none worthy of worship except You, the One, As-Samad, the one who does not beget, nor was begotten, and there is none who is like Him.” He said: “So he said: ‘By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, he has asked Allah by His Greatest Name, the one which if He is called upon by it, He responds, and when He is asked by it, He gives.’ [Jami` at-Tirmidhi, 3475]

Daily Sunnah:

It was narrated that ‘Aishah (RA) said: “The Prophet (SAW) used to perform two Rak’ah before Fajr, and he used to say: ‘The best two Surah to recite in the two Rak’ah of Fajr are: “Say: Allah is One” [Al-Ikhlas (112)] and “Say: O you disbelievers.” [Al-Kafirun (109)] [Sunan Ibn Majah 1150].

It was narrated that Ubayy bin Ka’b said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to perform Witr and recite: ‘Glorify the Name of your Lord the Highest.’, [Al-A’la (87)] ‘Say: O you disbelievers!” [Al-Kafirun (109)] and ‘Say: Allah is One.”. [Al-Ikhlas (112)] [Sunan Ibn Majah, 1171]

الحمدلله