Ikhlas means purity or sincerity. Islam is based on belief in one God and declaring this is taken to be a sign of sincerity and purity of spirit, both key religious virtues. The link between sincerity of faith and purity of theological doctrine appears in the Qur’anic surah entitled Ikhlas. Surah 112 is often regarded as especially signifi cant despite or perhaps because of its brevity; it contains only three short ayat. This surah, one of the surahs fi rst taught to Muslim children as they learn to pray, proclaims the oneness (tawhid) and absolute nature of the divine essence. This concept is presented in the fi rst verse which commands: “Say: He, God, is one.” The second declares that God is eternal (samad), that is, beyond the bounds of time and space. The third states that God does not give birth, nor is he born, and declares that he is beyond comparison: “There is no one like Him.” This fi nal verse fi gures heavily in distinguishing Muslim doctrine from Christian theology. In particular, the affi rmation that God does not participate in procreation is used to refute claims of Jesus’ divinity or divine sonship. As a whole, surah Ikhlas directly supports the Muslim profession of faith (shahadah), the fi rst of Islam’s fi ve pillars: “There is no god but God.” (Source: Islam, Key Concepts)
Monotheism: Core of Islamic Culture in Iran
