In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
Importance of 'QUL' in the Noble Qur`an
Al-Ikhlas
Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim
Qul huwa Allahu ahad (1) Allahu samad (2) Lam yalid walam yoolad (3)
Wa lam yakul- lahoo kufuwan ahad (4)
Islam means “submission to God”. Muslims believe in one God, Allah, and follow His ordainments and the teachings of the Prophet, Allah’s messenger Muhammad (Peace be upon him), who received revelations from Allah, compiled as holy book; the Quran.
'Qul' means say or tell, in Arabic. The word Qul is for order or command that means to declare, or openly announce something so that every person becomes fully aware of it and there remains no ambiguity about it.
In Surah Ikhlas the word Qul is very important because Allah is commanding Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) to declare 'Oneness' of Allah, the only One Self-subsisting, Eternal.
The word Ikhlas has been derived from its root kh-l-s, which means, refined or purified. Surah Ikhlas is a Meccan Surah and is one of the earliest revelations of the Quran. It was revealed on the occasion when the pagans and polytheists questioned the Prophet (Peace be upon him) to explain the genealogy of his Lord. The following Hadith narrates this:
It was narrated on the authority of Ubayy ibn Ka’b (may Allah be pleased with him) that the polytheists said to the Messenger of Allah, “Tell us the lineage of your Lord.” In response, Allah the Almighty revealed (what means): {Say, “He Is Allah, [Who Is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither Begets nor Is Born. Nor is there to Him any equivalent} (Quran 112:1-4) [Ahmad and At-Tirmizi]
The command was to introduce Allah in all purity. Say: ‘(The fact is) He is Allah, the One and Alone in His Being. the Ever-All Owner-Sustainer-Master-Lord. Allah is the Supreme and Unique in all His attributes. He is Eternal, without beginning or end, Absolute, not limited by time or place or circumstance.
Following five surahs in the Holy Quran start with the Arabic word “Qul”:
• Al-Kafiroon(109)
• Al-Ikhlas(112)
• Al-Falaq(113)
• Al-Naas(114)
• Al-Jinn(72)
It seems that mention of the command 'Qul' was to make them understand that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) was only conveying what was revealed to him and he was not the author of the lofty concept. The message is given in a stern and decisive manner so that the addressees become aware that everything about the subject has been said; no more time will now be wasted upon the issue and it is equally and absolutely unlikely that any change in stance shall occur.
Surah Ikhlas is so important that, according to the Prophet (peace be upon him), it is equivalent to one-third of the Quran.
(Translation: Yusuf Ali)