Hadithcore
Riyad as-Salihin, 388

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:

Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ) appointed a man in charge of an army unit who led them in Salat (prayer); he always concluded his recitation with Surat Al-Ikhlas: "Say (O Muhammad (ﷺ)): 'He is Allah, (the) One. Allah-us-Samad (Allah - the Self-Sufficient). He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none equal or comparable to Him."' (112:1-4) Upon their return to Al-Madinah, they mentioned this to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), who said, "Ask him why he does so?" He was asked and he said, "This Surah contains the Attributes of Allah, the Gracious, and I love to recite it. Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then told them, "Tell him that Allah loves him". <b>[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]</b>.

وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، بعث رجلاً على سرية، فكان يقرأ لأصحابه في صلاتهم، فيختم بـ‏{‏قل هو الله أحد‏}‏ فلما رجعوا، ذكروا ذلك لرسول الله، صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال‏:‏ ‏"‏سلوه لأي شيء كان يصنع ذلك‏؟‏ ‏"‏ فسألوه، فقال ‏:‏ لأنها صفة الرحمن، فأنا أحب أن أقرأ بها، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏‏"‏أخبروه أن الله تعالى يحبه‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏

References1 variant
In-Book Reference
Introduction, Hadith 388
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
<b>Guidance from the Hadith:</b><br> 1) The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to hasten to ask the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) about anything that happens to them which they had no prior knowledge about its ruling. This reflects their perfect prudence and their excellence, may Allah be pleased with them.<br> 2) The superiority of Surat al-Ikhlās as it includes acknowledgment of the Oneness due to Allah Almighty. It is a chapter that highlights the attributes of the Most Compassionate, may He be Glorified.<br> 3) When one does something that Allah loves, seeking thereby to get closer to Him, Allah Almighty loves him.<br> 4) Fulfilling the requirements of Tawhid is one of the greatest means a slave may pursue in order to attain the love of Allah Almighty. Therefore, this Surah is all about explaining the Tawhid (proclaiming the Oneness of Allah) that is due upon the slaves.
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