The Surah He Loved
Week 29 • Surah Al-Ikhlas
The Story
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sent a group of men on an expedition. One man was placed in charge and also led them in prayer.
During namaz, he recited from the Qur’an. He always finished with Surah Al-Ikhlas.
The Qur’an has many surahs, or chapters. Al-Ikhlas is only four verses long.
Yet whenever this man led the group in prayer, he ended with those same verses.
Why Al-Ikhlas?
When the group returned, they told the Prophet about the man’s recitation.
The Prophet asked them to find out why he did this.
So they asked the man himself.
He explained that the surah described Allah, the Most Merciful. That was why he loved reciting it.
What did its four verses say?
They tell us that Allah is One.
Everyone depends on Him, but He needs no one.
He has no children, and He was not born.
There is nothing like Him.
Four short verses, teaching us something so important about Allah.
The companions shared his answer with the Prophet ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ had a message for the man who loved reciting those words about Allah.
“Tell him that Allah loves him.”
Dua of the Week: Surah Al-Ikhlas
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ١ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ ٢ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ٣ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ ٤
Qul huwa Allahu ahad. Allahus-samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.
"Say, He is Allah, One. Allah is needed by all. He has no children and was not born. There is no one like Him."
Quran 112:1–4. The surah the man loved describes Allah. These are its four verses. The English expresses their meaning in simple words.
Family Discussion
What did you learn about Allah from the four verses in this story?
Good Deed Challenge
Tell someone at home one thing you learned from Surah Al-Ikhlas. Ask them what they love about this surah, and listen to their answer.