A Simplified Explanation of Sūrah Al-Ikhlāṣ from Al-Tafsīr Al-Muyassar

Al-Ikhlāṣ

Verse 1

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
قُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ

Say, O Messenger: He is Allāh, the [Absolutely] Singular in deserving worship; in being Lord of all creation; and in having names and attributes [of complete perfection].¹ No one shares [any] of that with Him.

Verse 2

اللهُ الصَّمَدُ

Allāh is the One who is perfect in His Highness, Majesty, and Greatness, the One to whom all created things turn, seeking the fulfillment of [all] needs and desires.

Verse 3

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

He has no child, no parent, nor [any] wife [or female companion].

Verse 4

وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

And there is no one from His creation who is like or similar to Him in His names, attributes or actions–Great and All-High is He, Exalted and Far-Removed from any imperfection or deficiency.

 

Translator’s Notes:

¹More precisely: He is Allāh, the [Absolutely] Singular in al-ulūhiyyah, al-rubūbiyyah, and al-asmāʾ wa-l-ṣifāt.

Al-ulūhiyyah refers to His being the only One deserving of worship; al-rubūbiyyah, to His being the One Absolute Lord of all, creating, providing, giving life and death, managing all affairs; al-asmāʾ wa-l-ṣifāt, to His being the only One possessing names and attributes of complete perfection.

 

N.B.: Footnotes are mine unless otherwise stated (Trans.)

 

Source: Al-Tafsīr Al-Muyassar. King Fahd Qurʾān Printing Complex. Madīnah: 1433 H.