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Surah 112

الإخلاص

Al-Ikhlas
The Sincerity
4 verses · About Allah's oneness

A short, powerful surah about the oneness of Allah. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) called it equivalent to one-third of the Quran.

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Bismillah
بِسْمِbismi
اللَّهِAllahi
الرَّحْمَٰنِar-Rahmani
الرَّحِيمِar-Raheem

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Verse 1
قُلْqul
هُوَhuwa
اللَّهُAllahu
أَحَدٌahad

Say, "He is Allah, the One,"

Verse 2
اللَّهُAllahu
الصَّمَدُas-samad

Allah, the Eternal Refuge.

Verse 3
لَمْlam
يَلِدْyalid
وَلَمْwa lam
يُولَدْyulad

He has no children, and He was not born.

Verse 4
وَلَمْwa lam
يَكُنyakun
لَّهُlahu
كُفُوًاkufuwan
أَحَدٌahad

And there is nothing like Him.

About Al-Ikhlas

Al-Ikhlas means "sincerity" or "purity of belief." In just four short verses, this surah explains the most important idea in Islam: Allah is One. Not two, not three, not many. One.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) loved this surah so much, he taught that reciting it once is like reciting one-third of the entire Quran. That's because believing in Allah's oneness (called Tawhid) is the foundation of everything else.

Al-Ikhlas is often recited right after Al-Fatiha in prayers, and many Muslims read it three times before sleep along with Al-Falaq and An-Nas (the three Quls).

Did you know?
Equal to one-third of the Quran

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Reciting Al-Ikhlas once is equal to reciting one-third of the Quran." That's because this short surah teaches the central belief of Islam: Allah is One.

Discover the other two Quls →

Al-Ikhlas is one of the three Quls. Many Muslims recite all three together before sleep. Al-Fatiha is also a beautiful companion:

For Parents

What does Al-Ikhlas mean?

Al-Ikhlas (الإخلاص) means "sincerity" or "purity of belief." It is also called Surah At-Tawhid (the chapter of oneness).

The name does not appear in the surah itself, but it captures what the surah is about: pure, sincere belief that Allah is One.

Why is Al-Ikhlas called one-third of the Quran?

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught that reciting Al-Ikhlas once is equal in reward to reciting one-third of the Quran.

Scholars explain this is because the Quran's main topics are belief in Allah, stories, and laws, and Al-Ikhlas is the purest summary of one whole topic: belief in Allah's oneness.

How long is Surah Al-Ikhlas?

Al-Ikhlas is just four verses long. It takes about 10 to 15 seconds to recite.

Most children can memorize Al-Ikhlas within a few days of regular listening. It is one of the easiest short surahs to learn.

What are the three Quls?

The three Quls are Al-Ikhlas (Surah 112), Al-Falaq (Surah 113), and An-Nas (Surah 114). They are called the Quls because each one begins with the Arabic word "Qul," meaning "Say."

Many Muslims recite all three together before sleep, after prayers, or when seeking blessing and protection.

When was Surah Al-Ikhlas revealed?

Al-Ikhlas was revealed in Mecca, during the early years of Islam.

Tradition says it was revealed when the Quraysh tribe asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to describe Allah. This surah was Allah's answer.

What is Tawhid?

Tawhid (التوحيد) means "oneness" or "making one." It is the central belief in Islam: that Allah is One, with no partners and no equals.

Al-Ikhlas is sometimes called Surah At-Tawhid because it teaches this central idea in just four verses.

How can my child memorize Al-Ikhlas?

Al-Ikhlas is short and rhythmic, so children pick it up quickly. Play the audio often, before bed or during car rides.

After a few days, recite one verse and let your child finish it. Most kids can recite all four verses within a week.

What does "Allah is As-Samad" mean?

As-Samad (الصمد) is one of Allah's names. It means "the Eternal Refuge," the One who needs nothing, but everything needs Him.

It is a name only Allah has. He is the one all creation turns to, while He turns to no one.

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