Exegesis of Surat al-Ikhlas and mention of its virtue.

The Shaykh : As for Surat al-Ikhlas, it is This surah is not the greatest surah in the Book of Allah; the greatest surah in the Book of Allah is Surat al-Fatihah, as established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). However, Surat al-Ikhlas is equivalent to one-third of the Qur'an, though it does not suffice in place of the Qur'an. It is equivalent to one-third, but it does not suffice in its place. Therefore, if a person recites it three times in prayer and says, "I have recited it three times, and one recitation is one-third of the Qur'an, so I am as if I have recited the entire Qur'an," would that suffice for him in place of reciting Surat al-Fatihah in prayer? No. Thus, the equivalence does not necessitate substitution in terms of sufficiency; that is, the equivalence in reward does not necessitate equivalence in sufficiency. However, it is equivalent to one-third of the Qur'an, as established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).