Why is Surat al-Ikhlas called the Chapter of Sincerity, and how does it encompass the three types of tawhid (the oneness of Allah)?
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The questioner : His first question says: Why is the chapter [Al-Ikhlas 112:1] called the Chapter of Sincerity, and what is the basis for its indication and its inclusion of the three types of tawhid (the oneness of Allah)? I ask for clarification of this.
The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. The Chapter of Sincerity is the saying of the Exalted:[Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4] It is called the Chapter of Sincerity for two reasons. The first reason is that Allah made it pure for Himself, so it contains nothing but speech about Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and His attributes.
The second reason is that it purifies its reciter from shirk (associating partners with Allah) if he recites it while believing in what it indicates. The way it encompasses the three types of tawhid (the oneness of Allah)—namely, tawhid al-rububiyyah (oneness of lordship), tawhid al-uluhiyyah (oneness of worship), and tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat (oneness of the names and attributes)—is as follows: As for tawhid al-uluhiyyah (oneness of worship), it is in His saying:[Al-Ikhlas 112:1] meaning that He is the true God who is worshipped, and no one else deserves to be worshipped. This is tawhid al-uluhiyyah (oneness of worship). As for tawhid al-rububiyyah (oneness of lordship) and tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat (oneness of the names and attributes), it is in His saying: His saying means the One who is perfect in His attributes, to whom all His creations turn. His perfection in attributes is what relates to tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat (oneness of the names and attributes), and the dependence of all His creations on Him and their turning to Him indicates that He is the Lord to whom one turns for the removal of hardships and disliked things, and for the attainment of desires and needs.
In His saying "One" (Ahad), there is tawhid (the oneness of Allah) in all three matters, meaning that He alone (Glorified and Exalted is He) is characterized by that divinity and that self-sufficiency (Glorified and Exalted is He). In His saying:[Al-Ikhlas 112:3] it is a refutation of the Christians who said: "That the Messiah is the son of Allah", and of the Jews who said: "That Uzayr is the son of Allah", and of the polytheists who said: "That the angels are the daughters of Allah". He (Glorified and Exalted is He) is [Al-Ikhlas 112:3-4] He said [Al-Ikhlas 112:4] because of the perfection of His attributes; no one is equal to Him, similar to Him, or comparable to Him.
The questioner : Yes, the last question.
Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One,
قل هو الله أحدThe Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. The Chapter of Sincerity is the saying of the Exalted:
(1) Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, (2) Allah, the Eternal Refuge. (3) He neither begets nor is born, (4) Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
قل هو الله أحد الله الصمد لم يلد ولم يولد ولم يكن له كفوا أحدThe second reason is that it purifies its reciter from shirk (associating partners with Allah) if he recites it while believing in what it indicates. The way it encompasses the three types of tawhid (the oneness of Allah)—namely, tawhid al-rububiyyah (oneness of lordship), tawhid al-uluhiyyah (oneness of worship), and tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat (oneness of the names and attributes)—is as follows: As for tawhid al-uluhiyyah (oneness of worship), it is in His saying:
Say, "He is Allah
قل هو اللهAllah, the Self-Sufficient
الله الصمدAllah, the Self-Sufficient
الله الصمدIn His saying "One" (Ahad), there is tawhid (the oneness of Allah) in all three matters, meaning that He alone (Glorified and Exalted is He) is characterized by that divinity and that self-sufficiency (Glorified and Exalted is He). In His saying:
He neither begets nor is born,
لم يلد ولم يولد(3) He neither begets nor is born, (4) Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
لم يلد ولم يولد ولم يكن له كفوا أحدNor is there to Him any equivalent."
لم يكن له كفوا أحدThe questioner : Yes, the last question.