The Prophet (ﷺ) sent (an army unit) under the command of a man who used to lead his companions in the prayers and would finish his recitation with (the Sura 112): 'Say (O Muhammad): "He is Allah, the One." ' (112.1) When they returned (from the battle), they mentioned that to the Prophet. He said (to them), "Ask him why he does so." They asked him and he said, "I do so because it mentions the qualities of the Beneficent and I love to recite it (in my prayer)." The Prophet; said (to them), "Tell him that Allah loves him."
Oneness, Uniqueness of Allah (Tawheed)
Sahih al-Bukhari 7375
Hadith Commentary
This narration demonstrates the profound significance of Surah al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112) in Islamic theology. The companion's consistent recitation of this chapter in every rak'ah reflects his deep understanding of its comprehensive nature.
Surah al-Ikhlas encapsulates the essence of Tawheed - Allah's absolute Oneness, Eternity, Self-Sufficiency, and incomparability. The companion recognized that this brief chapter contains the fundamental attributes of Ar-Rahman (The Beneficent), making it equivalent to one-third of the Quran as affirmed in other authentic narrations.
The Prophet's response "Tell him that Allah loves him" indicates that sincere love for Allah's attributes and dedication to understanding His Oneness earns divine love. This shows that proper comprehension and implementation of Tawheed is the highest form of worship.
The incident also illustrates the Prophet's teaching methodology - he didn't immediately correct what might appear as an innovation, but inquired about the intention, showing that actions are judged by their purposes and conformity to Islamic principles.