A man heard another man reciting "Say: He is Allah, (the) One" and repeating it. When morning came he went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and told him about that. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, it is equal to one-third of the Quran."
The Book of the Commencement of the Prayer - Sunan an-Nasa'i
Hadith Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 995
Textual Analysis
The hadith concerns the virtue of Surah al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112), which contains the fundamental Islamic doctrine of Allah's absolute Oneness (Tawhid). The Prophet's emphatic oath "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul" underscores the certainty and importance of this declaration.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam al-Nawawi explains that this surah equals one-third of the Quran because the Quran's teachings fundamentally comprise three essential matters: Tawhid (Divine Unity), laws/commandments, and narratives. Surah al-Ikhlas comprehensively establishes Tawhid, thus encompassing one of the Quran's three primary objectives.
Ibn al-Qayyim elaborates that the surah's merit lies in its pure affirmation of Allah's unique attributes - His Oneness, Self-Sufficiency, and that He neither begets nor was begotten. This constitutes the foundation of all Islamic belief.
Practical Implications
This hadith encourages frequent recitation of Surah al-Ikhlas in prayer and devotion. Scholars note that while it equals one-third in reward, it doesn't replace reciting the entire Quran for obligatory acts. The repetition mentioned indicates the Companion's recognition of its special status even before the Prophet's confirmation.