TERM 2 - TAFSIR ii - CLASS 8
'TAFSIR - SURAH AL IKHLAAS'
(Chapter - 112) Revealed in Makkah
The Reason for the Revelation of this Surah and its Virtues
Imam Ahmad recorded from Ubayy bin Ka`b that the idolators said to the Prophet , "O Muhammad! Tell us the lineage of your Lord.'' So Allah revealed
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST GRACIOUS THE MOST MERCIFUL
[قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ - اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ - لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ - وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ ]
Say: "He is Allah, One.
The Self Sufficient Master
Allah He begets not, nor was He begotten.
And there is non comparable to Him.''
Similar was recorded by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Jarir and they added in their narration that he said,
[الصَّمَدُ]
"(As-Samad) is One Who does not give birth, nor was He born, because there is nothing that is born except that it will die, and there is nothing that dies except that it leaves behind inheritance, and indeed Allah does not die and He does not leave behind any inheritance.
[وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ ]
(And there is none comparable to Him.)
This means that there is none similar to Him, none equal to Him and there is nothing at all like Him.'' Ibn Abi Hatim also recorded it and At-Tirmidhi mentioned it as a Mursal narration. Then At-Tirmidhi said, "And this is the most correct.''
Its Virtues
Al-Bukhari reported from `Amrah bint `Abdur-Rahman, who used to stay in the apartment of `A'ishah, the wife of the Prophet , that `A'ishah said,
"The Prophet sent a man as the commander of a war expedition and he used to lead his companions in prayer with recitation (of the Qur'an). And he would complete his recitation with the recitation of `Say: He is Allah, One.' So when they returned they mentioned that to the Prophet and he said, Ask him why does he do that. So they asked him and he said, `Because it is the description of Ar-Rahman and I love to recite it. So the Prophet said, Inform him that Allah the Most High loves him.''
This Surah is equivalent to a Third of the Qur'an
Al-Bukhari recorded from Abu Sa`id that a man heard another man reciting
[قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ]
(Say: "He is Allah, One.'') and he was repeating over and over. So when morning came, the man went to the Prophet and mentioned that to him, and it was as though he was belittling it. The Prophet said, By He in Whose Hand is my soul, verily it is equivalent to a third of the Qur'an.
Its Recitation necessitates Admission into Paradise
Imam Malik bin Anas recorded from `Ubayd bin Hunayn that he heard Abu Hurayrah saying, "I went out with the Prophet and he heard a man reciting `Say: He is Allah, the One.' So the Messenger of Allah said, It is obligatory. I asked, `What is obligatory' He replied, Paradise.'' [At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i]
Seeking a Cure by these Surahs
Al-Bukhari recorded from `A'ishah that whenever the Prophet would go to bed every night, he would put his palms together and blow into them. Then he would recite into them (his palms), `Say: He is Allah, One', `Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of Al-Falaq', and `Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind.' Then he would wipe whatever he was able to of his body with them (his palms). He would begin wiping his head and face with them and the front part of his body. He would do this (wiping his body) three times.
Say: "He is Allah, One.''
"Allah As-Samad.''
"He begets not, nor was He begotten.''
"And there is none comparable to Him.''
The reason for the revelation of this Surah has already been mentioned. `Ikrimah said, "When the Jews said, `We worship `Uzayr, the son of Allah,' and the Christians said, `We worship the Messiah (`Isa), the son of Allah,' and the Zoroastrians said, `We worship the sun and the moon,' and the idolators said, `We worship idols,' Allah revealed to His Messenger ,
[قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ]
(Say: "He is Allah, One.'')
meaning, He is the One, the Singular, Who has no peer, no assistant, no rival, no equal and none comparable to Him. This word (Al-Ahad) cannot be used for anyone in affirmation except Allah the Mighty and Majestic, because He is perfect in all of His attributes and actions. Concerning His saying,
[اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ]
(Allah As-Samad.)
`Ikrimah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "This means the One Who all of the creation depends upon for their needs and their requests.'' `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas, "He 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. He is the One Who is perfect in all aspects of nobility and authority. He is Allah, glory be unto Him. These attributes are not befitting anyone other than Him. He has no coequal and nothing is like Him. Glory be to Allah, the One, the Irresistible.'' Al-A`mash reported from Shaqiq, who said that Abu Wa'il said,
[الصَّمَدُ]
(As-Samad.) is the Master Whose control is complete.''
Allah is Above having Children and procreating
Then Allah says,
[لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ - وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ ]
(He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none comparable to Him.)
meaning, He does not have any child, parent or spouse. Mujahid said, [وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ ] (And there is none comparable to Him.) "This means He does not have a spouse.'' This is as Allah says,
"He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. How can He have children when He has no wife He created all things. (6:101)
meaning, He owns everything and He created everything. So how can He have a peer among His creatures who can be equal to Him, or a relative who can resemble Him Glorified, Exalted and far removed is Allah from such a thing. Allah says,
And they say: Ar-Rahman has begotten a son. Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing. Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins, that they ascribe a son to Ar-Rahman. But it is not suitable for Ar-Rahman that He should beget a son. There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto Ar-Rahman as a slave. Verily, He knows each one of them, and has counted them a full counting. And all of them will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection. (19:88-95)
And Allah says,
And they say: "Ar-Rahman has begotten a son. Glory to Him! They are but honored servants. They speak not until He has spoken, and they act on His command. (21:26-27)
Allah also says,
And they have invented a kinship between Him and the Jinn, but the Jinn know well that they have indeed to appear before Him. Glorified is Allah! (He is free) from what they attribute unto Him!) (37:158-159)
In Sahih Al-Bukhari, it is recorded (that that the Prophet said,
There is no one more patient with something harmful that he hears than Allah. They attribute a son to Him, while it is He Who gives them sustenance and cures them.)
Al-Bukhari also recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said,
Allah the Mighty and Majestic says, "The Son of Adam denies Me and he has no right to do so, and he abuses Me and he has no right to do so. In reference to his denial of Me, it is his saying: `He (Allah) will never re-create me like He created me before.' But the re-creation of him is easier than his original creation. As for his cursing Me, it is his saying: `Allah has taken a son.' But I am the One, the Self-Sufficient Master. I do not give birth, nor was I born, and there is none comparable to Me.''
This is the end of the brief Tafsir of Surat Al-Ikhlas, and all praise and blessings are due to Allah.
★ STUDY TAFSIR | TAWHEED | FIQH | HADEETH ★
A Free online Islamic Course.
Get a Certificate signed by a Sheikh Yasir Al Jabri
Available through Facebook, Whats-app & Email
HOW TO JOIN / FAQs : -
www.learn-islam.org/terms-intro