Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
This is why Imam Bukhari included this hadith in his Sahih; if this hadith had only been narrated through the chain of Ibrahim al-Nakha'i, Imam Bukhari would not have included it, because that chain is disconnected (munqati‘).
Imam Bukhari and most of the Ahl al-Hadith refer to a disconnected chain as mursal, and a connected chain as musnad (Wahidi).
This surah has been given the name Surah al-Ikhlas, and the ahadith that Imam (Bukhari) has transmitted here are sufficient to establish its virtue.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
Special love for this surah and adopting it as a regular practice is a panacea for the advancement of both religion and worldly life, because it contains the exposition of pure monotheism (tawhid), condemnation of all forms of polytheism (shirk), and the eradication of false beliefs.

➋
From the virtues of this surah, as narrated by Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah in the ahadith he has mentioned, it is understood that reciting Surah al-Ikhlas three times earns the reward of reciting the entire Qur'an.
The one who used to recite Surah al-Ikhlas at night was none other than Qatadah ibn Nu‘man radi Allahu anhu, who was the maternal brother of Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri radi Allahu anhu and lived in his neighborhood.
This is explicitly stated in another narration.
(Musnad Ahmad: 15/3)
In one hadith, it is mentioned that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam appointed a man as the commander of a military detachment, and he would lead them in prayer and recite Surah al-Ikhlas in every rak‘ah.
He explained that it contains the attributes of Allah, so he liked to recite it. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
"Allah also loves him for this."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Tawhid, Hadith: 7375)
In another hadith, it is mentioned that a man would begin his recitation in every rak‘ah with: ﴿Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad﴾, so the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said to him:
"Because of your love for ﴿Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad﴾, Allah has admitted you to Paradise."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Adhan, Hadith: 772)

➌
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam declared this surah to be one-third of the Qur'an. We will explain this further in the upcoming Kitab al-Tawhid, insha’Allah ta‘ala.

Hadith Commentary:
This surah is called Surah Ikhlas.
In it, all forms of shirk (associating partners with Allah) are refuted, and pure monotheism (tawhid) is presented.
Every single word of it is a manifestation of tawhid.
The subjects of the Qur’an are divided into three parts:
One part is the exposition of divine oneness (tawhid) and His attributes and actions; the second is the narration of stories; the third is the exposition of the rulings of the Shari‘ah. In “Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad,” one part is present, and for this reason, the status of this surah is considered equal to one-third of the Qur’an.
In the commentary of Surah Ikhlas, Hazrat Shah Abdul Aziz rahimahullah says: “Some of the scholars have said that association (shirk) sometimes occurs in number, and this is negated by the word ‘Ahad’; sometimes it occurs in rank and status, and this is negated by the word ‘Samad’; sometimes it occurs in relation, and this is negated by the words ‘Lam yalid wa lam yulad’; and sometimes it occurs in action and effect, and this is negated by the words ‘wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.’ For this reason, this surah is called Surah Ikhlas.”
That is, some scholars have said that association (shirk) also occurs in number, which is negated by the word “Ahad”; and sometimes association occurs in rank and status, which is negated by the word “Samad.”
Sometimes association occurs in relation, which is negated by the words “Lam yalid wa lam yulad”; and sometimes association occurs in action and effect, which is negated by the words “wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.”
Further, Hazrat Shah Sahib rahimahullah says that the false religions of the world are five:
First, the Dahriyyah (atheists); second, the philosophers; third, the dualists (thanawiyyah); fourth, the Jews and Christians; fifth, the Magians (Zoroastrians). And regarding each one, Hazrat Shah Sahib has mentioned the word from this surah by which that sect is refuted.
Thus, this surah has been declared comprehensive and exclusive in the matter of tawhid, and for this reason, it has the virtue that is mentioned in this hadith.

Hadith Commentary:
1.
According to another narration, Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri radi Allahu anhu reports that his brother Qatadah bin Nu‘man radi Allahu anhu told him that a man, during the time of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, kept reciting (Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad) — that is, Surah al-Ikhlas — until morning, and did not recite anything more than that.
When morning came, he went to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
After that, the entire hadith was narrated.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Virtues of the Qur’an, Hadith: 5013)
In this hadith, Surah al-Ikhlas is considered equivalent to one third of the Qur’an.
Various explanations have been given for this:
➊
One third consists of rulings and issues.
It contains the mention of lawful and unlawful, and in this one third, there is mention of reward and punishment, promise and threat.
The third part is for the attributes and names of Allah Ta‘ala.
In this surah, the names and attributes of Allah Ta‘ala are mentioned; therefore, it is called one third of the Qur’an.
➋
The subjects of the Qur’an are divided into three parts:
One part contains the oneness of Allah (tawhid), His actions, and His attributes.
The second part contains stories and events, and the third part consists of the rulings of the Shari‘ah.
Since this surah contains pure tawhid and the mention of His attributes, it is considered one third of the Qur’an.
➌
Fundamentally, three types of beliefs are mentioned in the Noble Qur’an: tawhid (oneness of Allah), risalah (prophethood), and akhirah (the Hereafter). In this surah, the belief in tawhid is presented in a very comprehensive manner; therefore, it has been considered equivalent to one third of the Qur’an.
2.
The Mu‘tazilah and Jahmiyyah believe that the speech of Allah Ta‘ala (kalam Allah) entirely consists of the attributes of Allah, so it is not permissible to consider any part of the speech of Allah superior to another.
This belief is based on ignorance, because in the speech of Allah, the information that contains His praise and glorification, and in which His attributes are mentioned, is far superior to that which mentions Iblis, Pharaoh, Abu Lahab, Haman, etc. Although all of these are called the speech of Allah, one is superior to the other.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah says that (Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad) and (Tabbat Yada Abi Lahab) are both the speech of Allah Ta‘ala; in this respect, both are equal, but in terms of what is being reported in them, there is a great difference between the two.
(Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad) is a speech in which Allah Ta‘ala has informed about Himself, and in (Tabbat Yada Abi Lahab), He has informed about one of His creatures who is among the worst of people.
In this respect, one is superior to the other.
(Majmu‘ al-Fatawa 17/57)
Ubayy bin Ka‘b radi Allahu anhu says that the polytheists said:
O Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)! Describe the lineage of your Lord, so at that time this surah was revealed.
(al-Mustadrak lil-Hakim: 2/540)
In summary, the meaning of this surah is that Allah Ta‘ala is One.
He alone is the Creator and Owner of the universe.
The entire system of the universe is in the hands of this One.
He alone gives life and causes death.
He alone is the All-Powerful, the Helper, the Fulfiller of needs, and the Remover of difficulties.
He alone hears supplications and fulfills wishes.
This surah has been declared comprehensive and sufficient regarding the matter of tawhid.
Its virtue has been mentioned in the hadith for this very reason.

996. Commentary:

➊ "Equivalent to a third" — Regarding this, the scholars have various opinions. Some say that it is equivalent to a third in terms of its subject matter, because the foundation of the religion is based on three things:
➊ Tawhid (monotheism)
➋ Messengership
➌ The Hereafter.
In this surah, there is a complete and perfect exposition of Tawhid. Some scholars are of the view that it is called one third of the Qur'an because the Qur'an contains rulings, narratives, and the affirmation of Allah's oneness (Tawhid), and this surah comprises the third part, thus it is a third of the Qur'an. Their evidence is the narration in Sahih Muslim: The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, "Indeed, Allah, the Exalted, has divided the Noble Qur'an into three parts, and He made Surah «﴿قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ﴾» one of its thirds." [صحیح مسلم صلاة المسافرین ، حدیث : 811]
And according to some, what is meant is that the reward for its recitation is equal to the reward for reciting one third of the Qur'an. For further details, see: [فتح الباري : 78-77/9 ، تحت حدیث : 5013]
These are the interpretations of each group, so instead of making various kinds of interpretations, if we take the text at its apparent meaning—that this surah, in terms of recitation and reward, is equivalent to a third of the Qur'an—then by the grace of Allah, it is not far-fetched. And Allah knows best.

➋ "A man heard another man" — The reciter was Qatadah ibn Nu‘man radi Allahu anhuma, as Imam Ahmad rahimahullah narrates from Abu Sa‘id radi Allahu anhu that Qatadah radi Allahu anhu stood in prayer at night and recited «﴿قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ﴾» all night, and did not recite anything more than that. [مسند أحمد : 15/3]
Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah says: It is possible that the listener was Abu Sa‘id himself, because he was his maternal half-brother and they lived as neighbors, and this is what Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr has stated with certainty. It is as if Abu Sa‘id radi Allahu anhu concealed his own and his brother's names. [فتح الباري : 78/9 ، تحت حديث : 5013]
However, Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah's considering Abu Sa‘id radi Allahu anhu as the listener is questionable, because in Sahih al-Bukhari, Abu Sa‘id radi Allahu anhu says: My brother Qatadah radi Allahu anhu informed me that in the time of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, a man recited only «﴿قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ﴾» during his night prayer, and when morning came, a man went to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and related the whole incident of the night. It is as if that man considered this recitation to be little... Then the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "By Him in Whose hand is my soul! Indeed, this surah is equivalent to a third of the Qur'an." [صحیح البخاري ، فضائل القرآن ، حدیث : 5014]
From this narration, it is explicitly clear that the listener was not Abu Sa‘id. However, the reciter could have been Qatadah radi Allahu anhu. And Allah knows best.

➌ From this hadith, it is also known that Allah has a hand, as befits His majesty.

Takhrij al-Hadith:
[وأخرجه البخاري 5013، من حديث مالك به]

Jurisprudential Points:
➊ Surah al-Ikhlas is a chapter of great virtue because it has been declared equivalent to one-third of the Qur’an.
➋ One should not consider any act established by the Book and the Sunnah as insignificant, nor should it be neglected or treated carelessly.
➌ The same surah may be repeated in all rak‘ahs. Also see: al-Muwatta, Hadith: 382.