qul hu allah hu ahad (Surah Ikhlas)

It was narrated by Abu Hurairah: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad is equal to a third of the Qur’an.” ^[1,2,3]

This actual name of the Surah which begins with qul hu allah hu ahad is known as Surah Ikhlas.

For different regions there may be slightly different variations in spelling but they are all referring to same Surah which is Surah Ikhlas:

• qul hu allah hu ahad surah
• qul huwallahu ahad
• qul wala hu ahad
• qul walahu ahad allahu samad
• qul hu allahu ahad surah
• kulhuvallahu ahad allahu samad
• kullu allahu ahad surah
• qul ho wallah hu ahad

Surah Ikhlas is very, it only consists of four ayats, but don’t let this fool you in it’s significance and the rewards which lies therein. Reciting this Surah was done by the Prophet for variety of different occasions and it was mentioned to be a very potent Surah.

But before we explore the rewards according to the hadith we begin with a brief introduction of Surah iklhas.

Background of Surah Ikhlas:

The meaning of Ikhlas is ‘sincerity’ it is the 112th chapter of the Quran. The Surah is also referred to as ‘absoluteness’, ‘the oneness of God’ and ‘the declaration of Allah’s perfection.

In the 4 ayats (verses) of the Surah it gives a description of an important Islamic concept called Tawhid. This is a short declaration referring to Allah’s oneness or uniqueness. It is classified as a Meccan Surah (meaning before the migration of the Prophet to Medina).

qul huwallahu ahad full Surah:

Here is the full surah,

qul hu allahu ahad translation

The English translation of the surah:

In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious and Merciful.
1. Say, “He is Allah, [who is] One,
2. Allah, the Eternal Refuge.
3. He neither begets nor is born,
4. Nor is there to Him any equivalent.”

Rewards and Benefits:

If you have read the above you will know that it took no longer than a minute to recite. Now, from the hadith it was mentioned that the recitation of this surah is like reading a third of the Qur’an. ^[1,2,3]

In Sahih Muslim, a similar sentiment was mentioned, it was said those who are incapable of reading the Qur’an at night remember to read Surah Ikhlas as it will bring a reward equivalent to a third. ^[3]

I know you may be thinking, “I no longer have to read the Qur’an. I will just read this Surah three times.” All brothers and sisters have this thought running across their minds. This is not the teaching of the hadith. It is simply saying the rewards for this Surah is large, larger then we can even imagine. Whether it is really a third or not Allah knows best. But this is no excuse for substituting reading a third of the Qur’an for Surah Ikhlas. This is the wrong interpretation.

In another hadith, it was recorded that Rasulullah before going to bed would recite into his hands Surah Ikhlas, Surah An-Nas, and Surah Al-Falaq. He would then wipe his hands over all the parts of his body beginning with his head, face, and front. ^[4]

This was also mentioned in a different hadith, The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Some Ayat have been revealed to me the likes of which have not been seen: Qul A’udhu Birabbin-Nas until the end of the Surah and Qul A’udhu Birabbil-Falaq until the end of the Surah.” Jami At-Tirmidhi

Concluding:

Sometimes we forget the name of the surah, so if you came across this article just looking for the official name of the Surah that begins with qul huwa allahu ahad it is known as Surah Ikhlas and is the 112th chapter of the Qur’an.

I hope we went above and beyond by teaching you the virtues of reciting Surah Ikhlas and why it is important. Beyond that you may have only known the Arabic way of reciting but Inshallah you now are aware of the English meaning as well.

References

[1] Narrated Abu Hurairah: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad is equal to a third of the Qur’an.” Jami At Tirmidhi Graded as Hasan (Darussalam)

[2] Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri: A man heard another man reciting: Surat-ul-Ikhlas (The Unity) ‘Say: He is Allah, the One (112) and he was repeating it. The next morning he came to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and mentioned the whole story to him as if he regarded the recitation of that Sura as insufficient On that, Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “By Him in Whose Hand my soul is! That (Sura No. 112) equals one-third of the Qur’an.” Sahih Al Bukhari

[3] On the virtue of reciting Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad: Abu Darda’ reported Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: Is any one of you incapable of reciting a third of the Qur’an in a night? They (the Companions) asked: How could one recite a third of the Qur’an (in a night)? Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: “‘Say: He is Allah, One’ (Qur’an. cxii) is equivalent to a third of the Qur’an.” Sahih Muslim

[4] “Every night before Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam slept on his bed, he put together his hands (as in the du’aa) and blew on it and recited (the surahs of) AI-Ikhlaas (Qul huwauahu ahad), AI-Falaq (Qul a’udhu birabbil falaq), and An-Naas (Qui a’udhu birabbin nas) and wiped those parts of the body that he could (wherever the hand could reach). He began with the head, then the face and then the front part of his body. This was done thrice”. Shama’il Muhammadiyah Book 38, Hadith 244