This paper targets to analyze Surah 112 of the Qur’an, which consists of 4 verses. It is relatively short, yet considered to be one of the most significant. It goes under the name “Surah al-Ikhlas,” which in translation from Arabic means “The Purification” or “The Unity”. It contains many fundamental principles of Islamic doctrine and provides a profound understanding of the religious essence of Islam. At the same time, the interpretation of this particular Surah is a theological issue that has become a centerpiece of many debates within the interreligious discourse.
The first verse reads as follows: “Say: “He, Allah, is one”(The Qur’an with Surah introductions and appendices, 2010). Prophet Muhammad insisted that his followers shall repeat “Surah al-Ikhlas” three times in the morning and three times in the evening. From the theological point of view, it can be considered as a verbal recognition that there is only one God, whose name is Allah. According to the second verse, all living creatures without any exceptions depend on him. It is important to stress out the word “depend” as it defines the nature of the relationships between God and believers in Islam. According to the third verse, Allah neither gave birth to anyone nor was born himself. It characterizes Islamic God as an eternal creature. In comparison, the Orthodox Church claimed that Muhamed presented a wrong understanding of God since He was revealed to future Christians as Begetting (Father) and Begotten (Son). However, that does not imply that Christians believe that God gave birth to the infant Christ in the physical sense, yet that does reveal a significant difference in perceptions of God in terms of time.
One may argue that “Surah al-Ikhlas” helps to understand the most fundamental principle of Islam. As it is proclaimed in the final verse, Allah stands above the world of men, and there is no other like him. Thus, from the Islamic point of view, the only pure faith is faith in Allah. These four short verses provide a clear and strict understanding of the Islamic religion that is based on the concept of unity.
Reference
The Qur’an with Surah introductions and appendices, 2010. Maktabah Booksellers and Publishers.