26th December, 2017
By Murtadha Gusau
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Respected brothers and sisters! The Surah Al-Ikhlas (chapter 112 of the Quran) was revealed in Makkah. This Surah concisely describes the concept of Allah (God) in Islam. Whoever understands this Surah properly and believes firmly in its teachings, will get rid of “Shirk” (polytheism) completely.
The religion of Islam presented in the Quran is based on the following three doctrines:
1. Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah).
2. Risalat (belief in the Prophets and Messengers of Allah and the teachings that they brought for humanity through Divine revelations).
3. Akhirat (belief in the next life after death and in the rewards or punishments in that life based on the deeds performed in this life).
Surah Al-Ikhlas summarises the doctrine of Tawhid (Oneness of Allah), so it is considered as one-third of the Quran. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“By He (Allah) in Whose Hand is my soul, verily it (Surah Al-Ikhlas) is equivalent to a third of the Quran.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari, Abu Dawud, An-Nasa’i]
Summarised Interpretation of Surah Al-Ikhlas
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
1. “Say (O Muhammad): “He is Allah, (the) One.”
“Allah is the One, the Singular, Who has no peer, no assistant, no rival, no equal and none comparable to Him. The word “Al-Ahad” (the One) cannot be used for anyone in affirmation except Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, because He is perfect in all of His attributes and actions.” [See Tafsir Ibn Kathir]
2. “Allahus-Samad (Allah – the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need).”
“As-Samad” is the Master Whose control is complete. Elaborating the name of Allah, “As-Samad”, Abdullah Ibn Abbas, the cousin of the Prophet and the great commentator of the Quran said: “This means the One Who all of the creation depends upon for their needs and their requests. He is the Master Who is perfect in His sovereignty, the Most Noble Who is perfect in His nobility, the Most Magnificent Who is perfect in His magnificence, the Most Forbearing Who is perfect in His forbearance, the All-Knowing Who is perfect in His knowledge, and the Most Wise Who is perfect in His wisdom. He is the One Who is perfect in all aspects of nobility and authority. He is Allah, glory be unto Him. These attributes are not befitting anyone other than Him. He has no coequal and nothing is like Him. Glory be to Allah, the One, the Irresistible.” [See Tafsir Ibn Kathir]
3. “He begets not, nor was He begotten.”
“Allah is exalted above having any parent, spouse or child. Allah does not give birth, nor was He born, because there is nothing that is born except that it will die, and there is nothing that dies except that it leaves behind inheritance, and indeed Allah does not die and He does not leave behind any inheritance.” [See Tafsir Ibn Kathir]
Allah says elsewhere in the Quran:
“He (Allah) 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.” [Al Quran, 6:101]
Brothers and sisters! There are some ignorant people who believe that Allah has begotten a son. For example, the Jews believe that Uzair (Ezra) was the son of Allah and the Christians believe that Isa (Jesus Christ) was the son of Allah. Allah Himself refutes such claims by His saying:
“And they say: “The Most Gracious (Allah) has begotten a son (or children).” Glory to Him! They [whom they call children of Allah i.e. the angels, Isa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), Uzair (Ezra) etc.], are but honoured slaves. They speak not until He has spoken, and they act on His Command.” [Al Quran, 21:26-27]
Ascribing partners to Allah is the most serious sin that a person can commit, because Allah says:
“And they say: “The Most Gracious (Allah) has begotten a son (or offspring or children) [as the Jews say: Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah, and the Christians say that He has begotten a son (Isa – Jesus Christ) and the pagan Arabs said 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 (Allah). But it is not suitable for (the Majesty of) the Most Gracious (Allah) 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 (Allah) as a slave. Verily, He knows each one of them, and has counted them a full counting. And everyone of them will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection (without any helper, or protector or defender).” [Al Quran, 19:88-95]
In spite of ascribing partners to Him, Allah provides for everyone in the life of this world out of His Mercy. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“There is no one more patient with something harmful that he hears than Allah. They attribute a son to Him, while it is He Who gives them sustenance and cures them.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari]
The Prophet also said:
“Allah the Mighty and Majestic says, “The Son of Adam (i.e. man) denies Me and he has no right to do so, and he abuses Me and he has no right to do so. In reference to his denial of Me, it is his saying: ‘He (Allah) will never re-create me like He created me before.’ But the re-creation of him is easier than his original creation. As for his cursing Me, it is his saying: ‘Allah has taken a son.’ But I am the One, the Self-Sufficient Master. I do not give birth, nor was I born, and there is none comparable to Me.”” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari]
4. “And there is none coequal or comparable to Him.”
There is nothing at all like Allah. Allah says elsewhere in the Quran:
“There is nothing like Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.” [Al Quran, 42:11]
If a person stands firm on Tawhid (Oneness of Allah), he will achieve salvation in the life hereafter. Mu’adh bin Jabal, a Companion of the Prophet said:
“(Once) the Prophet said, “O Mu’adh! Do you know what Allah’s Right upon His slaves is?” I said, ‘Allah and His Messenger know better.’ The Prophet said, “(Allah’s Right upon His slaves is) to worship Him (Allah) Alone and to join none in worship with Him (Allah). Do you know what their right upon Him is?” I replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger know better.’ The Prophet said, “Not to punish them (if they worship Him Alone and join none in worship with Him).”” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari]
Brothers and sisters! Understand that, true and sincere Muslims do not deviate from those things which have been brought by the Messengers, for that is the Straight Path, the path of those whom Allah has bestowed His favour upon from among the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs and the Righteous. It is in this collection of what has been described about Almighty Allah by Himself in Surah Al-Ikhlas (The Chapter of Purity) that makes it equal to one third of the Quran.
Lessons To Learn In the Surah Al-Ikhlas:
1. Whatever the Messenger of Allah, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, brought with him, that alone is real. It is obligatory to obey it and forbidden to deviate from it as this alone is the Straight Path which has no curves.
2. The Straight Path is only one and whoever deviates from it he strays onto the wrong path, innovation and injustice. Almighty Allah commands (in the Quran):
“And this is My Straight Path, so follow it and do not follow the other paths lest they divert you from His way.”
3. The Straight Path is that path of the Ummah (community of Muslim believers) which lies in between the two extremes. Hence, the supplication in every raka’ah (i.e. unit) of the prayer: “Guide us to the Straight Path”, that He should help, assist, guide, support and lead us in those things which will help us to obey Him and keep us steadfast on His Path. This is the Path of those who were favoured by Allah: the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs and the Righteous, and these are the best for keeping company.
4. The Concept of Tawhid has been explained in Surah Al-Ikhlas by separating and purging it from Shirk (associating others with Almighty Allah, polytheism and idolatry).
5. Imam Ahmad’s narration of Ubayy Ibn Ka’ab that the mushrikun (i.e. pagan idolaters) asked: “Oh Muhammad! Tell us the genealogy of Your Lord!”, whereupon Allah revealed this Surah Al Ikhlas.
6. From authentic Ahadith, it is proven that this Surah is equal to one third of the of the Quran. The substance of the statement of Ibn Abbas (a Companion of the Prophet) is as follows: that the Quran consists of three fundamental objectives:
a. Those commands and prohibitions which contain the laws and practical ways. These form the subject matter of the science of Fiqh (jurisprudence) and Ethics.
b. The tales and narratives which include the stories of the Prophets and Messengers of Allah and their communities. The punishments and disasters which befell those who resisted and denied the Messengers of Allah. Also, the promises, rewards, warnings and dooms.
c. The knowledge of Tawhid (the Unity of Allah) and the description of those matters which relate to the Names of Almighty Allah and His Attributes, which to have faith in is obligatory upon the servant of Allah (i.e. each Muslim). This has precedence over the first three.
7. Surah Al-Ikhlas contains the third objective and a general description of it. Thus, it is correct to say that this Surah is equal to one third of the Quran.
8. The answer to the question that how does this Surah contain comprehensively the knowledge of Tawhid and its principles which form the essence of the belief in Almighty Allah. Allah’s command “He is Allah, the One” negates partnership with Him in every sense, whether it concerns His Self, Attributes or His Deeds. It also demonstrates the distinctiveness of Allah in His perfection, magnificence and majesty. The word Ahad is not used in affirmation for anyone besides Allah, since Ahad is more emphatic than Wahid.
9. The Tafsir (commentary, exegis) of Ibn Abbas for the verse “Allah! As-Samad (i.e. the Eternally Besought of all).”: The Chief who is best in His Nobility. The Great one who is best in His greatness. The Tolerant One who is best in His toleration. The Omnipotent who is the best in His omnipotence, the All Knowing who is best in His knowledge. The Self which is perfect in all types of nobility and greatness – that Self is only Allah – the Most Revered and the Most Powerful. He alone has these qualities for they do not apply to anyone save Him. No one is equal to Him and no one is like Him.
10. The Tafsir is also as follows: The Self who has no fear, around whom all creatures turn and Whom they seek after for all their needs and actions.
11. Affirmation in the Oneness negates all forms of polytheism and similitude. Affirmation of all the meanings of As-Samad includes all the noble Names and the most exalted Attributes. This is the Tawhid of Affirmation.
12. The Tawhid of Purity is in the statement: “He does not beget not nor is He begotten. And there is none comparable to Him.” This statement can also be understood from the general statement: “Say! He is Allah! The One.” Nothing came out of Him nor did He come out of anything. He has no equal, no likeness and no similarity.
13. Domination of the concept of Tawhid in this Surah. The affirmation of Oneness for the Lord in total and absolute contradiction to all forms of Polytheism. His character of being “Eternally Besought of all”, which proves all His Attributes, that He cannot suffer from any defect, negation of father and son which is an implication of Him being in no need and that all is in need of Him. All is characterised in the statement of His being besought and His Oneness. Negation of an equal which includes negation of similarity, resemblances and likeness. This Surah includes all of these matters and is therefore rightly deserving of being called equal to a third of the Quran.
Wallahu ‘Alam
And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our Noble Messenger, Muhammad, and upon his family, his Companions and his true followers.
Your Brother,
Imam Murtadha Muhammad Gusau, from Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: [email protected] or +2348038289761.