"Say He Is Allah the One" — Describing Allah to the Delegation Asking About Lordship
asbab
Level: basic
makki-events
as-095
قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
— الإخلاص 1
Surah: "Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent." (112:1-4)
Occasion (Sahih): Ubayy ibn Ka'b narrated: the polytheists said to the Prophet: "O Muhammad, describe your Lord's lineage for us." The surah was revealed. In another narration from Ibn Abbas: a Jewish delegation came saying: "Describe your Lord — of what is He made? Gold, silver, or iron?" The surah was revealed.
Doctrinal lesson: Al-Ikhlas equals one third of the Quran — "Allah Al-Samad" is the greatest attribute: the Self-sufficient upon whom all depend.
Source: Sunan Al-Tirmidhi (3364); Musnad Ahmad (5/134); Tafsir Ibn Jarir (30/336)
Question: What did the polytheists and People of the Book ask the Prophet that caused Surah Al-Ikhlas to be revealed?
Answer: The polytheists asked for Allah's lineage. The Jews asked about His substance: gold or silver? The surah was revealed as a complete description of divine oneness, negating anthropomorphism and lineage.