Sūratul-Ikhlās (Chapter 112, Verses 1-2) – Basic 1 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Sūratul-Ikhlās (The Purity or The Sincerity) is Chapter 112 of the Qur’an. It is a short Makki Sūrah of 4 verses about Tawhid, the Oneness of Allah. The first verse teaches that Allah is One and Unique (Ahad). The second teaches that Allah is As-Samad, the Eternal Refuge whom all creation needs.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• State the chapter number and meaning of Sūratul-Ikhlās.
• Recite verses 1-2 of Sūratul-Ikhlās.
• Give the meaning of “Ahad” and “As-Samad”.
• Explain what the two verses teach about Allah.
• Say when Sūratul-Ikhlās can be recited.

What is Sūratul-Ikhlās?

Sūratul-Ikhlās means “The Purity” or “The Sincerity”.

Important facts

• It is Chapter 112.
• It has 4 verses (a short Sūrah).
• It is a Makki Sūrah (revealed in Makkah).
• It is about Tawhid (Oneness of Allah).
• It is worth 1/3 of the Qur’an.

Why is it called “Al-Ikhlās”?

• إِخْلَاص (Ikhlās) means sincerity, purity.
• It teaches pure belief in Allah.
• There is no mixing with shirk (associating partners with Allah).
• It is pure Tawhid.

Why is this Sūrah so important?

The Prophet (SAW) said:

“Is any of you unable to recite one-third of the Qur’an in one night?” They said: “How can we recite one-third of the Qur’an?” He said: “‘Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad’ (Sūratul-Ikhlās) is equivalent to one-third of the Qur’an.” (Hadith, Bukhari)

This means:

• Reciting it once = the reward of 1/3 of the Qur’an.
• Reciting it 3 times = the reward of the whole Qur’an.
• SubhanAllah!

What is the story behind this Sūrah?

The mushrikeen (polytheists) of Makkah asked Prophet Muhammad (SAW):

• “Tell us about your Lord.”
• “What is He made of?”
• “Who are His relatives?”

Allah revealed this Sūrah to answer them perfectly.

What does verse 1 of Sūratul-Ikhlās teach?

Arabic: قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

Transliteration: Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad

Word-by-word

• قُلْ (Qul) = Say
• هُوَ (Huwa) = He
• ٱللَّهُ (Allah) = Allah
• أَحَدٌ (Ahad) = One, Unique

Meaning: Say: He is Allah, the One.

What does “Ahad” mean?

Ahad (أَحَدٌ) means more than just “one”. It means:

1. Absolutely One: no second, no partner.
2. Unique: unlike anything else.
3. Alone: no one is like Him.
4. Indivisible: cannot be divided.

How is “Ahad” different from “Wahid”?

• Wahid (وَاحِد) = One (like the number 1).
• Ahad (أَحَد) = One and Unique (a special word for Allah).

What does this verse teach?

1. Allah is One.
   • Not two, not three.
   • Only ONE God.
   • No partners.
2. Allah is Unique.
   • Nothing is like Him.
   • He is special.
   • He is different from creation.
3. Only Allah deserves worship.
   • We worship Him alone.
   • Not idols.
   • Not people.
   • Not anything else.
4. This is Tawhid.
   • It is the foundation of Islam.
   • It is the most important belief.
   • It is what makes a person a Muslim.

What does verse 2 of Sūratul-Ikhlās teach?

Arabic: ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ

Transliteration: Allahus-Samad

Word-by-word

• ٱللَّهُ (Allah) = Allah
• ٱلصَّمَدُ (As-Samad) = The Eternal, The Absolute

Meaning: Allah is As-Samad (The Eternal Refuge).

What does “As-Samad” mean?

As-Samad (الصَّمَد) is a beautiful name with many meanings:

1. The One everyone needs.
   • All creation needs Allah.
   • But Allah needs no one.
   • We depend on Him for everything.
2. The Eternal.
   • He has no beginning.
   • He has no end.
   • He always was and always will be.
3. The Self-Sufficient.
   • He does not need food.
   • He does not need sleep.
   • He does not need anything.
   • He is completely independent.
4. The Master.
   • Everyone turns to Him.
   • All problems go to Him.
   • He is the Ultimate Authority.
5. The Solid, Not Hollow.
   • He is perfect.
   • He is complete.
   • He lacks nothing.

What did scholars say about As-Samad?

Ibn Abbas (RA) said: “As-Samad 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.”

Ibn Al-Musayyib said: “As-Samad is the One to Whom people turn in their needs.”

What do the two verses teach together?

Verse 1: Allah is ONE (أَحَد).

Verse 2: Allah is SELF-SUFFICIENT (صَمَد).

This means:

• He does not need us, we need Him.
• He has no partners, no equals.
• He is perfect in every way.
• We should worship only Him.

Reading verses 1-2 together

قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ

Translation: Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge.

When should we recite Sūratul-Ikhlās?

1. In Salah
   • After Sūratul-Fātihah.
   • In any Rak’ah.
   • It is very rewarding.
2. Morning and evening
   • With Sūratul-Falaq and Sūratun-Nās.
   • 3 times each.
   • For protection.
3. Before sleeping
   • It is part of the bedtime routine.
   • Recite it with the two protection Sūrahs.
   • It protects during sleep.
4. After Fajr and Maghrib prayers
   • Say it 3 times after Fajr and Maghrib.
   • This gives the reward of the whole Qur’an.
5. Anytime you want reward
   • Just recite it.
   • Remember: 1/3 of the Qur’an each time.

What did the Prophet (SAW) say about this Sūrah?

Story 1: A man kept reciting only Sūratul-Ikhlās in his prayer. His companions said: “Why don’t you recite something else?” He said: “I love this Sūrah.” When the Prophet (SAW) heard this, he said: “Tell him that Allah loves him.” (Hadith, Bukhari)

Story 2: The Prophet (SAW) asked his companions: “Is anyone among you unable to recite one third of the Qur’an tonight?” They thought it was difficult. He said: “Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad equals one third of the Qur’an.” (Hadith, Bukhari)

How can we memorise verses 1-2?

Step 1: Learn verse 1

• قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
• It is very short.
• Repeat it 10 times.
• Understand it: “Say: He is Allah, the One.”

Step 2: Learn verse 2

• ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ
• It is even shorter.
• Repeat it 10 times.
• Understand it: “Allah, the Eternal Refuge.”

Step 3: Say both together

• قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ
• Repeat it 20 times.
• It is very easy.

Tip: Both verses are very short. You can memorise them in one day.

Evaluation

Choose the correct answer.

1. Sūratul-Ikhlās is worth _____ of the Qur’an.
   • a) 1/4
   • b) 1/3
   • c) 1/2
2. “Ahad” means _____.
   • a) Many
   • b) One and Unique
   • c) Two
3. “As-Samad” means _____.
   • a) The One everyone needs
   • b) The weak
   • c) The small
4. Sūratul-Ikhlās is Chapter _____.
   • a) 111
   • b) 112
   • c) 113
5. This Sūrah teaches about _____.
   • a) Prayer
   • b) Tawhid (Oneness of Allah)
   • c) Fasting

Assignment

1. Memorise verses 1-2 of Sūratul-Ikhlās perfectly.
2. Recite them 10 times before sleeping.
3. Teach these verses to someone.
4. Write the Arabic and meaning.