He reported God’s messenger as saying, “Is any of you incapable of reciting a third of the Qur’ān in a night?” On being asked how they could recite a third of the Qur’ān he replied. “‘Say, He is God, One’ (Qur’ān, 112) is equivalent to a third of the Qur’ān.” Muslim transmitted it, and Bukhārī transmitted it from Abū Sa'īd.
The Excellence of Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ
This narration from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) establishes the immense virtue of Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ (Chapter 112). The Companions' inquiry demonstrates their earnest desire to comprehend how this brief chapter could equal one-third of the Qur'ān's reward.
Scholarly Commentary on Equivalence
Imam al-Nawawī explains that this equivalence pertains to reward (thawāb), not to replacing one-third of the Qur'ān in ritual recitation. The chapter's profound tawḥīd (divine unity) content encapsulates the Qur'ān's core message, thus meriting such magnificent recompense.
Ibn al-Qayyim elaborates that the Qur'ān fundamentally comprises three essential themes: commandments (aḥkām), narratives (qiṣaṣ), and divine attributes (ṣifāt). Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ comprehensively addresses the third theme with unparalleled eloquence and precision.
Practical Implementation
Scholars recommend reciting this sūrah three times nightly to attain the reward of completing the entire Qur'ān. This practice exemplifies the divine mercy in providing accessible means for immense spiritual rewards, particularly for those with limited time or recitation ability.
The narration's pedagogical approach—posing a rhetorical question then providing the solution—demonstrates the Prophet's exemplary teaching methodology, engaging students' curiosity before imparting wisdom.