الإخلاص
Al Ikhlas
Also known as: At-Tawhid (The Oneness), Al-Asas (The Foundation), Al-Ma'rifah (The Knowledge of Allah)
Verses
4
Revelation
Makki
Period
Early Meccan
Surah No.
112 / 114
Al-Ikhlas is the surah of pure monotheism, revealed in direct response to those who asked the Prophet to describe his Lord. It delivers four comprehensive theological statements: Allah is One, Allah is the Eternal Refuge (As-Samad), He neither begot nor was begotten, and nothing is comparable to Him. These four verses systematically deny all forms of shirk, attributing partners, children, parents, or equals to Allah. The Prophet said this surah is equivalent to one-third of the Quran because it encompasses the doctrine of tawhid completely.
أسباب النزول
The Quraysh asked the Prophet to describe the lineage or nature of his Lord ("what is He made of?", as they categorised their gods). Al-Ikhlas was revealed as a comprehensive response that transcends the category of their question entirely. The surah is also connected to responses given to the Jews of Madinah and the Christians, who attributed offspring and human characteristics to the divine.
“Say: He is Allah, One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begot nor was born, nor is there any equivalent to Him.”
The four verses are a complete theological treatise on tawhid in miniature. Ahad (One, uniquely singular) answers polytheism; As-Samad answers all forms of anthropomorphism; the negation of birth answers Christianity and mythology; the negation of equality answers all forms of shirk.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "By the One in Whose hand is my soul, it is equivalent to one-third of the Quran." (Bukhari) Reciting it ten times builds a house in Paradise, according to hadith. It is among the most frequently recited surahs in Islamic prayer and dhikr.