My brother, Qatada bin An-Nau'man said, "A man performed the night prayer late at night in the lifetime of the Prophet (ﷺ) and he read: 'Say: He is Allah, (the) One,' (112.1) and read nothing besides that. The next morning a man went to the Prophet (ﷺ) ,~ and told him about that . (The Prophet (ﷺ) replied the same as (in Hadith 532) above.)
Virtues of the Qur'an - Sahih al-Bukhari 5014
This narration from Qatada bin An-Nau'man demonstrates the profound excellence of Surah al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112). The Companion recited only this surah throughout his entire night prayer, yet the Prophet ﷺ affirmed its spiritual weight.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars explain that Surah al-Ikhlas contains the essence of Tawhid (Divine Unity). Imam al-Qurtubi states this surah equals one-third of the Qur'an because it comprehensively establishes Allah's Oneness in His Essence, Attributes, and exclusive right to worship.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani comments in Fath al-Bari that the Prophet's ﷺ approval indicates the permissibility of repeating a single surah in prayer when done out of reverence and contemplation, particularly when that chapter encapsulates fundamental Islamic creed.
The incident also illustrates the Companions' diligence in seeking religious guidance and the Prophet's ﷺ gentle correction methodology, affirming righteous actions while guiding toward optimal practice.
Spiritual Significance
Reciting Surah al-Ikhlas with contemplation cultivates pure monotheism and protects against shirk. Its concise verses contain profound theological truths about Allah's eternal nature, self-sufficiency, and uniqueness.
The narration encourages quality over quantity in worship - a single chapter recited with presence of heart outweighs lengthy recitation without comprehension. This aligns with the principle that deeds are judged by intention and sincerity.