Explanation of soorah Al-Ikhlaas (purity of faith)

Explanation of soorah Al-Ikhlaas (purity of faith)

Soorah Al-Ikhlaas literally means: The Chapter of Purity, Sincerity,
and Unity of Allaah. It is equal to one third of the Quran. In this
chapter, Almighty Allaah Says (what means):
"Say: 'He is Allaah, [who is] One.
Allaah, the Eternal Refuge.
He neither begets nor is born.
Nor is there to Him any equivalent." [Quran: 112:1-4]

1. Whatever the Messenger of Allaah brought with him, that alone is
real. It is obligatory to obey it and forbidden to deviate from it as
it is the Straight Path which has no curves.

2. The Straight Path is only one and whoever deviates from it strays
onto the wrong path, innovation and injustice. Almighty Allaah
commands in the Quran (what means):
"And [moreover] this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and
do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His
way..." [Quran 6:153]

3. The Straight Path is that of the Ummah (Muslim Nation) which lies
in between two extremes. Hence, we supplicate in every Rak'ah (unit of
prayer) with what means: "Guide us to the Straight Path" [Quran 1:6]
that Allaah may guide, support and help us to obey Him and keep us
steadfast on His Path. This is the Path of those who were favoured by
Allaah: the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous, and
these are the finest possible company.

4. The Concept of Tawheed (Unity of Allaah Almighty) has been
explained in Soorah Al-Ikhlaas by separating and purging it from Shirk
(associating others with Almighty Allaah in worship).

5. Imaam Ahmad narrated that Ubayy Ibn Ka'b stated that the
polytheists once asked the Prophet saying: "O Muhammad! Tell us about
the genealogy of your Lord" whereupon Allaah revealed this chapter.

6. From authentic Prophetic sayings, it is proven that this chapter is
equal to one third of the Quran. The substance of the statement of Ibn
'Abbaas is that the Quran consists of three fundamental objectives:

a) Commands and prohibitions which contain laws and practical ways.
These form the subject matter of the science of Fiqh (jurisprudence)
and Ethics.

b) Tales and narratives which include the stories of the Prophets and
Messengers of Allaah may Allaah exalt their mention and their
communities, the punishments and disasters which befell those who
resisted and denied the Messengers of Allaah, and also the promises,
rewards, warnings and types of doom that come from Allaah.

c) Knowledge of Tawheed and the description of those matters which
relate to the Names of Almighty Allaah and His Attributes, which to
have faith in is obligatory upon the servant of Allaah (i.e. each
Muslim). This has precedence over the first two.

Soorah Al-Ikhlaas contains the third objective and a general
description of it. Thus, it is correct to say that it is equal to one
third of the Quran.

7. This chapter contains, comprehensively, the knowledge of Tawheed
and its principles, which form the essence of the belief in Almighty
Allaah. Allaah's command (which means): "Say: 'He is Allaah, [who is]
One" [Quran 112:1] negates partnership with Him in every sense,
whether it concerns His Self, His Attributes or His Actions. It also
demonstrates the distinctiveness of Allaah in His Perfection,
Magnificence and Majesty. The word Al-Ahad (the One) is not used in
affirmation for anyone besides Allaah, since Ahad is more emphatic
than Waahid.

8. Ibn 'Abbaas explained the verse (which means): "Allaah, the
Eternal Refuge" [Quran 112:2] as: "The Chief who is the finest in His
Nobility, the Great One who is the finest in His greatness, the
Tolerant One who is finest in His toleration, the Omnipotent who is
the finest in His omnipotence, the All Knowing who is the finest in
His knowledge, and the Self who is perfect in all types of nobility
and greatness - that Self is only Allaah - the most Revered and the
most Powerful, to whom all creatures turn for all their needs and
actions. He alone has these qualities for they do not apply to anyone
but Him. No one is equal to Him and no one is like Him."

9. Affirmation in His Oneness negates all forms of polytheism and
similitude. Affirmation of all the meanings of As-Samad (the Eternal
Refuge) includes all the noble Names and the most exalted Attributes.
This is the Tawheed of Affirmation.

10. The Tawheed of Purity is in the verse (which means): "He neither
begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent." [Quran:
112:3-4] This statement can also be understood from the general
statement: "Say: 'He is Allaah, [who is] One." [Quran 112:1] Nothing
came out of Him nor did He come out of anything. He has no equal, no
likeness and no similarity.

11. The concept of Tawheed dominates this chapter. The affirmation of
Oneness for the Lord is in total and absolute contradiction to all
forms of polytheism. His character of being: "Allaah, the Eternal
Refuge" [Quran 112:2] proves all His Attributes: that He cannot suffer
from any defect, that He has no father or son, which is an implication
of Him being in no need, and that all is in need of Him, as well as
negation of any equal, which includes negation of similarity,
resemblance and likeness. This chapter includes all of these matters
and is, therefore, rightly deserving of being called equal to a third
of the Quran.

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