Surah Al-Ikhlas
الإخلاص
Surah Al-Ikhlas is a 4-verse surah that describes Allah as One, the Eternal Refuge, who neither begets nor was begotten, and to whom nothing is comparable.
- Meaning
- The Sincerity
- Surah
- 112 of 114
- Verses
- 4
- Revealed in
- Mecca
- Found in
- Juz 30
What Surah Al-Ikhlas is about
Surah Al-Ikhlas, "The Sincerity", is the Quran's most concentrated statement of tawhid, the oneness of Allah. It is only four verses long, yet the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ described it as equal to a third of the Quran.
Verse 1 begins with the word "Say", followed by the declaration that He is Allah, the One (Ahad). Verse 2 calls Him As-Samad, translated here as the Absolute. Classical scholars explained As-Samad as the One on whom all depend for their needs while He depends on no one, and as the One who is perfect and complete. Verse 3 states that He does not have children and was not born. Verse 4 concludes that there is nothing comparable or equal to Him.
Taken together, the four verses describe Allah by what He is and by what He is not. Each line closes off a different misunderstanding: that there could be more than one god, that Allah could have needs, that He could have offspring or origins, or that anything could stand beside Him. The surah's name, Al-Ikhlas, means sincerity or purity, and is often explained as purifying belief in Allah, or as the purity of devotion that comes from understanding Him correctly.
There are reports that the surah was revealed when people asked the Prophet ﷺ to describe the lineage of his Lord. These are recorded in Sunan at-Tirmidhi and elsewhere, but scholars have discussed their chains, and there is also disagreement over whether the surah is Meccan or Medinan. It is usually listed as Meccan.
Main themes
Allah is One
Verse 1 affirms that Allah is Ahad, uniquely and absolutely One. This is the starting point for everything else in the surah.
Verse 1As-Samad: depended on by all
Verse 2 describes Allah as the One every creature turns to in need, while He needs nothing. It is one of the most discussed names of Allah in classical commentary.
Verse 2Beyond birth and lineage
Verse 3 denies that Allah has offspring or was born. It sets Him apart from anything that has a beginning or is part of a family line.
Verse 3Nothing compares
The final verse says nothing is equal to Him. It rules out any rival, partner or likeness.
Verse 4
Verses to know
قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ﴿١﴾ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ ﴿٢﴾
1Say, “He is Allah, the One. 2Allah, the Absolute.
The opening declaration of oneness and the name As-Samad. These words are among the first that many Muslim children learn.
لَمۡ يَلِدۡ وَلَمۡ يُولَدۡ ﴿٣﴾ وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدُۢ ﴿٤﴾
3He begets not, nor was He begotten. 4And there is none comparable to Him.”
Two verses that define Allah by negation: no offspring, no origin, nothing comparable. Together they form one of the clearest statements of Islamic belief about Allah.
When Surah Al-Ikhlas is recited
Al-Ikhlas is one of the most frequently recited surahs. Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim report that the Prophet ﷺ said it is equal to a third of the Quran. Sahih al-Bukhari also reports that before sleeping he would cup his hands, blow into them, recite Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas, and wipe over as much of his body as he could, three times. Sunan Abu Dawud and Sunan at-Tirmidhi report the advice to recite these three surahs three times each morning and evening. Sahih Muslim reports that he recited Al-Kafirun and Al-Ikhlas in the two units before Fajr, and Sunan at-Tirmidhi reports, with a briefer version in Sahih al-Bukhari, that a Companion who recited this surah in every unit of prayer because he loved it was told that his love of it would admit him to Paradise.
Surah Al-Ikhlas in Arabic and English
All 4 verses, with the Arabic, a transliteration to help you read it aloud, and the English translation by Talal Itani.
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
- 1
قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
Qul huwa Allahu ahadun
Say, “He is Allah, the One.
- 2
ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ
Allahu alssamadu
Allah, the Absolute.
- 3
لَمۡ يَلِدۡ وَلَمۡ يُولَدۡ
Lam yalid walam yooladu
He begets not, nor was He begotten.
- 4
وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدُۢ
Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahadun
And there is none comparable to Him.”
Surah Al-Ikhlas PDF
The whole surah on printable pages: Arabic, transliteration and English side by side. Free to download, print and share.
Questions about Surah Al-Ikhlas
Why is Surah Al-Ikhlas equal to a third of the Quran?
The Prophet ﷺ said so in narrations in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Scholars explain that the Quran's content covers belief about Allah, laws, and stories and promises, and Al-Ikhlas fully covers the first of these. It equals a third in reward, though scholars note it does not replace reading the rest of the Quran.
What does As-Samad mean?
As-Samad, in verse 2, is usually explained as the One to whom everyone turns in need while He needs no one. Classical scholars also described it as the One who is perfect in all His attributes.
When should I read Surah Al-Ikhlas?
Well-known practices include reciting it with Al-Falaq and An-Nas before sleep, three times each in the morning and evening, and in the two Sunnah units before Fajr. It can be recited at any time.
How many verses are in Surah Al-Ikhlas?
Surah Al-Ikhlas has 4 verses. It is the 112th surah of the Quran and is usually listed as Meccan.