- Dream friends must be very familiar with the Al-Ikhlas letter. Yes, this is a short letter that is memorized by most Muslims. In fact, this letter has often been taught since childhood. The short reading, consisting of only four verses, makes this letter widely memorized and read in daily life. For example, during prayer readings or during religious events. However, you also don't need to doubt the virtue of this letter, my Dream friend. This has been explained in the saying of the Prophet Muhammad that the Al-Ikhlas letter is equal to Allah SWT as reading one-third of the Quran. Isn't that amazing?

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

Artinya: "Katakanlah (Nabi Muhammad), "Dialah Allah Yang Maha Esa."

اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ

Artinya: "Allah tempat meminta segala sesuatu."

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

Artinya: "Dia tidak beranak dan tidak pula diperanakkan."

وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ. Artinya: "serta tidak ada sesuatu pun yang setara dengan-Nya."

The following is the translation of the given 'Bahasa' text to 'English' while preserving any html tags: "This hadith is from the companion Abu Sa'id ra, that there was a man who heard another man repeatedly reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas. In the morning, he went to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to report it. It seemed as if he belittled Surah Al-Ikhlas. Then, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, "By the One in whose hand is my soul, it is equivalent to one-third of the Quran." (Narrated by Bukhari, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i, and Ahmad)"

This hadith is from the companion Abu Darda' ra, the Prophet saw said, "Can any of you not read one-third of the Qur'an in one night?" So, the companions said, "How can we read one-third of the Qur'an?" The Prophet Shallallahu 'Alaihi wa Sallam answered, "Say: 'He is Allah, [who is] One' (Surah Al-Ikhlas) is equivalent to one-third of the Qur'an." (HR. Muslim)

In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "Gather together, for I will recite to you one-third of the Quran." Then, one by one, they gathered. Then, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also went out and recited 'Qulhuwallahu ahad' (Surah Al-Ikhlas) and he (pbuh) entered again. Some companions whispered to each other. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:

"Truly, I will recite to you one-third of the Qur'an. Truly, I received this news from the sky. Then he went out and said, 'Truly, I said, I will recite to you one-third of the Qur'an. Know that this surah is equal to one-third of the Qur'an.' (HR. Muslim)"

For example, in the book Majmu' Al-Fatawa by Sheikhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, there is a view that states that what is equivalent and proportional is its reward. Where the reward for reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas is the same as the reward for reciting the entire Quran. Then, other scholars say that what is equivalent is the meaning of monotheism in the Quran. The contents of the Quran are three, namely jurisprudence, news, and monotheism (including the names and attributes of Allah SWT). Sheikhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said that the meaning of the hadith is that the Quran was revealed in three parts.

One-third of it is laws, one-third contains promises and threats, and one-third consists of the names and attributes of Allah SWT. And this letter collects between the names and attributes of Allah SWT. Through the opinions of scholars, it can be understood that the Al-Ikhlas letter has rewards like reading one-third of the Quran. However, it does not mean that it is sufficient to read it like the Quran in its true sense. The same goes for someone who reads the Al-Ikhlas letter three times in their prayer, it does not exempt them from the obligation of Al-Fatihah within themselves. Although they will be rewarded as if they read the Quran 30 juz (including reading Al-Fatihah in it).