8/18. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1461 — Surah Ikhlas Equals One Third of the Qur'an
Regarding Surat As-Samad (Al-Ikhlas)
Surah Ikhlas Hadith: Equal to One Third of the Qur'an
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1461
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1461
حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، سَمِعَ رَجُلاً، يَقْرَأُ { قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ } يُرَدِّدُهَا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ جَاءَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ وَكَانَ الرَّجُلُ يَتَقَالُّهَا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنَّهَا لَتَعْدِلُ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ " .
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri Narrated from:
A man heard another man reciting "Say, He is Allah, One" He was repeating it. When the next morning came, he went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and mentioned to him. The man tool it (this surah) as a small one. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: By Him in Whose Hand is my life, it is equivalent to a third of the Qur'an.
[1] Al-Ikhlāṣ (112).Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1461In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 46English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1456
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1461
This hadith about Surah Ikhlas shows how a short surah can carry a very high value. A man heard another person repeating the words of Surah Al-Ikhlas. The next morning, he told the Messenger of Allah, and it seems he thought the surah was small because it is brief. The Prophet corrected that view with a strong statement: by the One in Whose Hand is his life, this surah is equal to a third of the Qur'an. The lesson is simple. Do not judge Qur'an recitation by length alone. Surah Ikhlas is short, easy to repeat, and full of meaning about Allah's oneness. This makes it a powerful part of Qur'an recitation and daily worship.
What we learn from this hadith
- A short surah can have great value in the sight of Allah.
- Surah Ikhlas should not be looked down upon because of its length.
- Repeating Qur'an with care can be a meaningful act of worship.
- The Prophet corrected weak assumptions about the Qur'an with clear guidance.
