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My question is that is it right to recite surah IKHLAAS in all the rakats of namaz? That is, Sunnat, Vitar, and Nafal.

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brother,

 

My question is that is it right to recite surah IKHLAAS in all the rakats of namaz? That is, Sunnat, Vitar, and Nafal.

 

Thank You!

 

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Answer:

 

Ikhlas in every rakah

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2169 Narrated by Ayfa' ibn Abdul Kila'i

Ayfa told of a man who asked Allah's Messenger (saws) which Surah of the Quran was greatest and the Messenger of Allah (saws) replied: ‘Surah Al-Ikhlas’.

 

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1771 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘Get together, for I am going to recite one-third of the Qur'an before you.’ And those who could get together gathered there. Then the Messenger of Allah (saws) came out and recited the 112th Surah Al-Ikhlaas of the Quran and then entered (his house). Some of us said to the others: ‘Perhaps there has been some news from the Heavens on account of which the Prophet (saws) has gone inside (the house).’ The Messenger of Allah (saws) again came out and said: ‘I told you that I was going to recite one-third of the Qur'an; keep in mind, this (Surah al-Ikhlas) is equivalent to one-third of the Qur'an!’

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.534 Narrated by Abu Said Al Khudri

The Prophet (saws) 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 (saws)?" Allah Messenger (saws) replied: "Surah Al-Ikhaas (112th Surah) is equal to one third of the Qur'an."

 

Al-Muwatta Hadith Hadith 15.17

Yahya related from Malik from Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abdullah ibn Sasaca from his father that Abu Said al-Khudri heard a man reciting Surat al-Ikhlaas (Sura 112), repeating it over and over again. In the morning he went to the Messenger of Allah (saws) and mentioned it to him. The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "By The One in whose Hands is my life, it (Surah Al-Ikhlaas) is equal to one third of the Qur'an."

 

Your Question: My question is that is it right to recite surah IKHLAAS in all the rakats of namaz? That is, Sunnat, Vitar, and Nafal.

An incident did occur in the time of the Prophet (saws) where one amongst the Ansaars would recite Surah Al-Ikhlaas in every rakah of his prayer.

Ubaidullah ibn Thabit related that Anas said, "One of the helpers (Ansar) led the people in prayer at (the mosque) of Quba'. Before he began his recitation he would always recite Surah 112 Al-Ikhlaas until he finished that Surah, and then he would recite another surah. He did that in every rakah. They said to him, 'You begin with that Surah (Al-Ikhlaas), but we don't find it sufficient until you add another Surah to it?' He said, 'I will not stop doing so. I like to lead you in the prayer with that. If you don't like it, I will leave (leading you in the prayers).' They thought that he was the best among them, so they didn't want someone else to lead them. They referred the matter to the Prophet (saws) and he said, 'O so and so, what has kept you from doing what your companions have asked you? Why do you keep reciting that Surah (Al-Ikhlaas) in every rak'ah?' He said, 'I love that Surah.' The Prophet (saws) said, 'Your love for that Surah (Al-Ikhlaas) will cause you to enter Paradise."

 

As much as the merits of the blessed Surah 112 Al-Ikhlaas were announced by the Messenger of Allah (saws) in Truth, it was not the practice of the Messenger of Allah (saws), nor his noble companions, nor the believers of the earliest generations to recite this blessed Surah in every rakah of their prayers.

 

The practice and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was to recite different Surahs in each rakah of his prayers after the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, and the absolutely clear guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) to the believers regarding the prayer is:

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.604 Narrated by Malik

The Prophet (saws) said: "Pray as you have seen me pray.”

 

Because the Messenger of Allah (saws) did not stop the Ansaar companion from reciting the Surah Al-Ikhlas in every rakah of his prayer, one can rightly claim that it is acceptable and permissible and not forbidden….but the established Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was to recite a different Surah after the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah in his prayers.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan


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