Islam Guidance

Introduction

In the Name of Allah,the Beneficent,the Merciful
Sura Ikhlas
(Monotheism)
No. 112(4 Verses)
Contents of the Sura:
This Sura, as its name indicates, is about the Unity of Allah, and His Oneness. In its four verses, the Sura describes monotheism completely.
Occasion of Revelation of the Sura:
On the occasion of revelation of this Sura, a tradition from Imam Sadiq (p.b.u.h.) says: "A Jew asked the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) to describe the identity or to relate the geneology of Allah. He remained silent and gave no answer for three days, then, the Messenger Angel brought (him) this Sura and he (p.b.u.h.) gave them their answer." (1)
Some other narrations denote that the Jew who asked this question was 'Abdullah ibn Suriya, one of the known chiefs of the Jews. Another narration says that 'Abdullah ibn Salam asked this question from the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.), in Mecca, and believed (in Islam), but, he kept his faith concealed.
Another narration says that the pagans of Mecca asked such a question. (2)
In some narrations it is also said that the Christians of Najran asked the question.
There is no contradiction in these narrations because the question may have been asked by all of them, separately, which is, itself, an evidence to the extraordinary importance of this Sura, which answers the questions of different persons from various groups.

The Virtue of studying this Sura:
On the virtue of reciting this Sura, numerous narrations from the holy Prophet and Ahlul-Bait (p.b.u.th.) are cited in Islamic sources which refer to the extraordinary greatness of the Sura. The author of Atyab-ul-Bayan Commentary, collected 25 of them. (3)
The holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) is narrated to have said in a tradition: "Is there anyone of you unable to recite one third of the Qur'an in one night"?
One of his listeners asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Who is able to do that"?
The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said: "Recite 'Say: He, Allah, is One! (Sura Ikhlas)". (4)
A tradition says that the recitation of this Sura, when arriving at a home, causes the increase of sustenance and removing poverty from the people therein. (5)
There are ninety different traditions and narrations mentioned, with their approved references, on the virtue and commentary of this Sura in Tafsir-i-Nur-uth-Thaqalayn. (6)
On the idea that reading this Sura is equal to one third of the whole Qur'an, some have said that it is for the reason that the Holy Qur'an contains ordinances, creeds, and history, and this Sura states the creed part in an intensive form.
Some others have said that the Qur'an is made up of three main themes; origin, end, and what is in the middle between these two, and this Sura is about the first theme.
This meaning, that about one third of the Qur'an is the description of monotheism, is also acceptable; the extract of which has come in this Sura.
In conclusion, of this statement, we cite a tradition on the splendor of the Sura.
Imam Ali-ibn al-Hosain az-Zain-ul-'Abideen (p.b.u.h.) was asked about Sura Ikhlas (Monotheism), and he said: "Verily Allah, the Almighty and Glorious, knew that at the end of time there will come some people who will be precise and careful (in affairs), then, He sent down the Sura (Ikhlas), and the beginning verses of Sura Hadid up to 'And He has fill knowledge of the secrets of (all) hearts'. Everyone who seeks beyond this will perish". (7)
 
(1) Majma'-al-Bayan, vol. 10, p. 564.
(2) Al-Mizan, vol. 20, p. 546.
(3) Atyab-ul-Bayan, vol. 14, p. 259.
(4) Majma'-al-Bayan, vol. 10. p. 561 (and other commentary sources).
(5) Ibid.
(6) Nur-uth-Thaqalayn vol. 5 p. 699-715.
(7) Usul-i-Kafi, vol. 1, Chapter Nesbat, tradition 3.

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