The Sincerity / The Oneness of Allah - الإخلاص
Surah Al-Ikhlas is chapter number 112 of the Quran, and it is only 4 short verses long — you can learn the whole thing today!
The word "Ikhlas" means being pure and sincere. This surah is pure and sincere because every single word is about who Allah really is.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas is equal to reciting a third of the Quran! So if you say it three times, it is as if you read the whole Quran. SubhanAllah!
Long ago, some people came to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and asked a big question: "Tell us about your Lord. What is He made of? Who is His family?"
So Allah revealed this surah as the perfect answer. In just four lines it tells us:
There was a companion who led the prayer, and in every rakah he would recite Surah Al-Ikhlas before any other surah. The other companions found this a bit unusual and mentioned it to the Prophet ﷺ.
So the Prophet ﷺ asked him why. The man said simply: "Because it describes the Most Merciful, and I love to recite it."
The Prophet ﷺ smiled and told him: "Tell him that Allah loves him too."
Every night before sleeping, the Prophet ﷺ would cup his hands, recite Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas, blow into his hands, and wipe them over his body — three times.
These three little surahs together are called Al-Mu'awwidhat, "the ones that give protection". Try it tonight!
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem
"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful"
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad
"Say: He is Allah, the One."
Allah tells the Prophet ﷺ to say it out loud: Allah is One! There is only one God who made everything. He has no partner and no equal.
اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ
Allahus-Samad
"Allah, the Eternal Refuge."
As-Samad means the One that everybody turns to and depends on. You need food, water, and your family — but Allah needs nothing from anyone. Everyone needs Him!
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
Lam yalid wa lam yoolad
"He does not give birth, nor was He born."
Every person has a mum and a dad. But Allah has no children and no parents. He was always here, before everything, and He will always be here.
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
Wa lam yakul-lahu kufuwan ahad
"And there is none comparable to Him."
Nothing in the whole universe is like Allah — not the sun, not the biggest mountain, not anything you can picture in your mind. Allah is one of a kind!
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
Watch and repeat — this one is short enough to learn in a single day!
Answer these questions about Surah Al-Ikhlas
How many verses are in Surah Al-Ikhlas?
It is surah number 112 in the Quran
Reciting it equals a third of the Quran
It is one of the three protection surahs read before sleep
It answers the question: "Who is Allah?"
Loving this surah is a reason for Allah to love you
Its name means pure sincerity
Learn one verse a day and you will know the whole surah by the end of the week!
Recite it in your prayers. Using a surah is the fastest way to never forget it.
Three times before bed, every night — protection and practice at the same time.
Ask Allah to help you memorize and understand His words.
Ask your child: Can you tell me one thing this surah says about Allah?
Finish with: Four short verses that answer the biggest question: who is Allah?