وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ 4
Translations
Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
Transliteration
Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms the absolute uniqueness of Allah in every aspect—none is comparable or equivalent to Him in His attributes, actions, or divinity. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that 'kufuwan' (a peer, equal, or match) negates any possibility of partnership with Allah or similarity to Him, whether in worship, knowledge, power, or mercy. This concluding verse of Surah Al-Ikhlas serves as the ultimate negation of polytheism and establishes Allah's incomparability as the foundation of monotheistic belief.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ikhlas was revealed in Mecca in response to the disbelievers' questions about Allah's nature and their inability to comprehend pure monotheism. This final ayah directly refutes the polytheistic practices of pre-Islamic Arabia and reinforces that no created being—whether human, angel, jinn, or idol—can be equated with or compared to Allah in any way.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, 'Recite Qul huwa Allahu ahad (Surah Al-Ikhlas) and the other two quls (Surahs Al-Falaq and An-Nas) three times each in the evening and morning—they will suffice you from all harm' (Sunan An-Nasa'i 5409). Additionally, 'Whoever recites Surah Al-Ikhlas ten times, Allah will build him a house in Paradise' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2817).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that the foundation of faith is recognizing that Allah alone deserves worship and loyalty because He is utterly unique and incomparable—a reality that should inspire humility, devotion, and complete reliance on the Creator rather than creation. In modern times, this verse challenges us to examine our hearts and ensure we are not unconsciously attributing divine qualities to wealth, status, technology, or other created things.