Lessons from Surah Al-Kafirun The Importance of Surah Al-Kafirun Since I was taught to recite Surah Al-Kafirun in the Sunnah prayers of both Fajr and Maghrib, I began to wonder why this Surah is emphasized in our prayers more than other Surahs. I learned that Surah Al-Kafirun is mentioned in many Hadiths.In one Hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) teaches us to recite this Surah before going to sleep because it purifies us of shirk (associating others with Allah):“Recite Surah Al Kafirun and then go to sleep after coming to its end, for it is a clearance from shirk.” [Abu Dawud]   The Prophet (PBUH) would regularly recite Surah Al-Kafirun in multiple prayers:

Lessons from Surah Al-Kafirun

The Importance of Surah Al-Kafirun

Since I was taught to recite Surah Al-Kafirun in the Sunnah prayers of both Fajr and Maghrib, I began to wonder why this Surah is emphasized in our prayers more than other Surahs. I learned that Surah Al-Kafirun is mentioned in many Hadiths.
In one Hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) teaches us to recite this Surah before going to sleep because it purifies us of shirk (associating others with Allah):
“Recite Surah Al Kafirun and then go to sleep after coming to its end, for it is a clearance from shirk.” [Abu Dawud]

 

The Prophet (PBUH) would regularly recite Surah Al-Kafirun in multiple prayers:

⦁ Both the Fajr and Maghrib Aunnah prayers

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) recited in the two (Sunnah) rak’ahs of the dawn (prayer): “Say: O unbelievers,” (Quran, 109.) and “Say: Allah is One” (Quran 112). (Recorded in Muslim) Ibn Umar said, “I watched the Prophet (PBUH) twenty-four to twenty-five times reciting in the two rakahs before the morning prayer and the two rakahs after the sunset prayer on approximately ten or twenty different occasions “Say Al Kafirun” and “He is Allah one.” (Recorded in Ahmad)

The two Rakahs after the Tawaf of the Kabah.

⦁ The Prophet (PBUH) recited Surah Al Kafirun and Surah Ikhlas in the two rakahs after tawaf. This is reported in a long hadith found in Muslim (The Book of Pilgrimage).

⦁ The Witr Prayer

Ubayy ibn Ka’b said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to recite in Witr, Sabbih isma rabbika al-‘a’la” (“Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High” – Surat al-A’la 87), Qul yaa ayyuha’l-kaafiroon (“Say: O disbeliever…” – Surat Al-Kafirun 109) and Qul Huwa Allahu ahad (“Say: He is Allah, the One” – Surat Al-Ikhlas 112). Recorded in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i.
In one Hasan (fair) hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) said that Surah Al-Kafirun is equal to one fourth of the Quran:
Abdullah ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Say: He is Allah the One (112:1) is equal to one third of the Quran. Say: O unbelievers (109:1) is equal to one fourth of the Quran.”
(Source: Mu’jam Al-Kabeer 13319, Grade: Hasan (fair) according to Al-Mundhiri)
You may also like: 6 Tips For Renewing Your Faith Daily