The superiority of Surat Al-Ikhlas (No.112)

Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (ﷺ) said to his companions, "Is it difficult for any of you to recite one third of the Qur'an in one night?" This suggestion was difficult for them so they said, "Who among us has the power to do so, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?" Allah Apostle replied: " Allah (the) One, the Self-Sufficient Master Whom all creatures need.' (Surat Al-Ikhlas 112.1--to the End) is equal to one third of the Qur'an." Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5015 In-book reference : Book 66, Hadith 37 USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 61, Hadith 534 (deprecated numbering scheme)

Abu Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: Is any one of you incapable of reciting a third of the Qur'an in a night? They (the Companions) asked: How could one recite a third of the Qur'an (in a night)? Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: "'Say: He is Allah, One' (Qur'an. cxii) is equivalent to a third of the Qur'an."

Reference : Sahih Muslim 811 a In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 314 USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1769

Narrated Abu Ayyub (may Allah be pleased with him) : that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Would one of you like to recite a third of the Qur'an during a night? Whoever recited: Allaahu Al-Wahid As-Samad then he has recited a third of the Qur'an."

Commentsfrom the scholars:Ihshudu means: be together, gather the household people too. For thepurpose of creating an interest amongst the people, the Prophet (ﷺ) did not tell them straightway that he was going to read Surat Al-Ikhlas and it was equal to one third of the Qur'an.

Jami at Tirmidhi Grade : Sahih (Darussalam) English reference : Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 2896Arabic reference : Book 45, Hadith 3141

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said: "Qul Huwa Allahu ahad [Say: He is Allah, (the) One] is equivalent to one third of the Quran."

Comments from scholars a. Reward of recitation of Al-Ikhlas is equal to the recitation of one third of the Qur'an. b. The reason of this greatness IS that it covers the subject of Monotheism. c. Allah loves monotheism most and hates polytheism most.

Grade : Sahih (Darussalam) Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 3787 In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 132 English translation : Vol. 5, Book 33, Hadith 3787

Nevertheless, the people of knowledge state that getting the reward mentioned does not serve instead of reading the whole Qur'an. Reading Surah al-Ikhlas repeatedly does not serve instead of reading Al-Fatihah (the opening chapter) in prayer, and reading it 3 times does not serve instead of reading the whole Qur'an for the one who vowed to read the whole Qur'an.

We also remind the questioner that the guidance of our righteous predecessors is that they were not keen on reading Surah Al-Ikhlas 3 times rather they were keen on reading the whole Qur'an.

Allah knows best.