Sura al-Ikhlas: Difference between revisions

'''Sūra al-Ikhlāṣ''' (Arabic: {{ia|سورة الإخلاص}}) or '''al-Tawḥīd''' (Arabic: {{ia|التوحيد}}) is 112th [[sura]] of the [[Qur'an]]. It is a [[Makki]] sura located in [[juz']] 30. This sura is called al-Tawhid or al-Ikhlas because it speaks about the [[unity of God]] and releases human being from [[polytheism]].  

==Naming==

==Place and Order of Revelation==

[[Al-Tabrisi]] considered Sura al-Ikhlas, [[Makki]] and wrote that it is also said that it was [[Madani]].<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān'', vol. 10, p. 479.</ref> Al-Suyuti, among Sunni scholars, believed that Sura al-Ikhlas was revealed twice: once in [[Mecca]] and once in [[Medina]];<ref>Suyūṭī, ''al-Itqān fī ʿulūm al-Qurʾān'', vol. 1, p. 140.</ref> but, [['Allama Tabataba'i]] wrote that according to the events mentioned about the [[occasion of the revelation]] of Sura al-Ikhlas, it seems that it was Makki.<ref>Ṭabāṭabāyī, ''al-Mīzān fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān'', vol. 20, p. 387.</ref> In the order of [[revelation]], Sura al-Ikhlas was 22nd sura revealed to the Prophet (s). In the current order of compilation in the Qur'an, this sura is 112th sura located in [[juz']] 30.<ref>Maʿrifat, ''Āmūzish-i ʿulūm-i Qurʾān'', vol. 2, p. 166.</ref>

==Number of Verses and other Feature==

Sura al-Ikhlas has 5 verses, 15 words, and 47 letters. This sura is among [[Mufassalat suras]] (having several short verses). Sura al-Ikhlas and the three suras of Sura al-Kafirun ([[Qur'an 109]]), Sura al-Nas ([[Qur'an 114]]), and Sura al-Falaq ([[Qur'an 113]]) which begin with "qul" (say) are called [[Four Qol]].<ref>Khurramshāhī, ''Dānishnāma-yi Qurʾān'', vol. 2, p. 1270-1271.</ref> Sura al-Ikhlas is considered among [[Jam'i al-Nuzul]] suras, all the verses of which were revealed together and at once.<ref>Suyūṭī, ''al-Itqān fī ʿulūm al-Qurʾān'', vol. 1, p. 145.</ref>

About the [[occasion of revelation]] of Sura al-Ikhlas, it is [[narration|narrated]] from [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] that a group of [[Jews]] asked the Prophet (s) to describe God for them. The Prophet (s) didn't answer for three days until Sura al-Ikhlas was revealed and he (a) answered them.<ref>Makārim Shīrāzī, ''Tafsīr-i nimūna'', vol. 27, p. 428.</ref> It is also said that it was a request of some of the polytheists of [[Mecca]],<ref>Abū l-Futūḥ al-Rāzī, ''Rawḍ al-janān'', vol. 20, p. 465.</ref> the [[People of the Book]] of [[Medina]]<ref>Suyūṭī, ''al-Itqān fī ʿulūm al-Qurʾān'', vol. 1, p. 140.</ref> or other people.<ref>Suyūṭī, ''al-Durr al-manthūr'', vol. 6, p. 410-411.</ref>

It is narrated from the Prophet (s) and [[Imam al-Baqir (a)]] that Sura al-Ikhlas is equal to one third of the Qur'an.<ref>Suyūṭī, ''al-Durr al-manthūr'', vol. 8, p. 678-680; Rāwandī, ''al-Daʿawāt'', p. 217.</ref> It is also narrated from [[Imam al-Rida (a)]] that whoever recites Sura al-Ikhlas and believes in it, [truly] knows the unity of God.<ref>Ṣadūq, ''ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā'', vol. 2, p. 122.</ref> It is narrated from the Prophet (s) that he (s) advised, "recite this sura a lot, because it is the light of the Qur'an."<ref>Rāwandī, ''al-Daʿawāt'', p. 84.</ref> It is narrated from Imam Ali (a) that whoever recites Sura al-Ikhlas and [[Sura al-Qadr]] during the day or at night a hundred times, God will give him a light in the [[grave]] which stays before and after him and accompanies him to the [[Paradise]].<ref>Rāwandī, ''al-Daʿawāt'', p. 219.</ref> Also, [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] says, whoever passes a day and does not recite Sura al-Ikhlas in [[daily prayers]], he will be told that 'you are not a [true] prayer!'.<ref>Kulaynī, ''al-Kāfī'', vol. 2, p. 455.</ref>

In hadith sources, some benefits are mentioned for it such as alleviating sore eyes,<ref>Baḥrānī, ''al-Burhān'', vol. 5, p. 798.</ref> guarding a person in his travel (if recited 11 times)<ref>Rāwandī, ''al-Daʿawāt'', p. 295.</ref> and guarding by 50 [[angel]]s during sleep,<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Makārim al-akhlāq'', p. 298.</ref> removing poverty,<ref>Ṣadūq, ''al-Khiṣāl'', p. 626.</ref> forgiveness of sins (if recited 200 times at night or in two-rak'a prayers on [[Friday]])<ref>Ṭūsī, ''Miṣbāḥ al-mutahajjid'', p. 261.</ref> and fulfillment of supplication (if it is recited after [[Sura al-Fatiha]] (Qur'an 2) in the first rak'a of the prayer).<ref>Ṣadūq, ''Man lā yaḥḍuruh al-faqīh'', vol. 1, p. 315.</ref>

The [[recitation]] of Sura al-Ikhlas is highly [[recommended]] in [[obligatory prayers]]. It is said that it is [[makruh]](reprehensible) to recite the same sura after Sura al-Fatiha in both [[rak'a]]s of the [[prayer]], unless it is Sura al-Tawhid.<ref>Ḥakīm, ''Mustamsak al-ʿurwa'', vol. 6, p. 285.</ref> Contrary to other suras of the Qur'an which the [[prayer]] can give up before reaching its half and can recite another sura, Sura al-Ikhlas and [[Sura al-Kafirun]] are exempted from this ruling and if the prayer begins recitation of either of these suras, should finish it.<ref>Kulaynī, ''al-Kāfī'', vol. 3, p. 317.</ref>

Recitation of Sura al-Ikhlas is recommended in many [[recommended prayers]] such as the first two rak'as of [[night prayer]],<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām'', vol. 9, p. 414.</ref> one rak'a of [[al-watr prayer]],<ref>Ṭūsī, ''al-Khilāf'', vol. 1, p. 538.</ref> [[nafila]] of [[fajr prayer]], first rak'a of the nafila of [[Noon prayer|noon]] and [[maghrib prayer]]s, [[ihram]] and [[tawaf]] prayers,<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām'', vol. 9, p. 412.</ref> and when [[staying in 'Arafat]].<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām'', vol. 19, p. 52.</ref> It is recommended to recite Sura al-Tawhid 11 times when passing by the cemetery and gift its reward to the dead.<ref>Ḥuwiyzī, ''Tafsīr-i Nūr al-thaqalayn'', vol. 5, p. 702.</ref>