- According to the Holy Prophet: ‘The person who recites [the chapter of] Say: ‘O you disbelievers’ it is as if he has recited a quarter of the Quran, and the insolent devils will recoil from him, and he will be free from polytheism, and he will be saved from the great terror [on Doomsday].’
According to Makārim Shīrāzī, perhaps the reason why this chapter has been likened to a quarter of the Quran is that about a fourth of the Quran talks about rejecting polytheism, a theme that has been summarised in this chapter. As for why reciting this chapter drives away the devils, perhaps it is because this surah strongly rejects the offer of the disbelievers to engage in polytheism, and we know that polytheism is the main weapon of Satan. Salvation on the Day of Judgement is also directly linked to upholding monotheism and rejecting polytheism.
- A tradition from the Holy Prophet says that he asked Jubayr ibn Muṭʿim whether he wished to have the best companions and the most provisions with him when he was on a journey, and he replied in the affirmative. The Prophet then said: ‘Recite these five surahs: al-Kāfirūn, al-Naṣr, al-Ikhlāṣ, al-Falaq, and al-Nās, and begin your recitation with bi-smillāh al-raḥmān al-raḥīm.’ Jubayr then says: ‘I used to not have a lot of wealth and would travel with whoever Allah wished for me to travel with, and [after reciting these chapters] I would then become the most determined and had the most superior provisions until I would return from my journey.’
- In another narration, a man came to the Holy Prophet and asked to be taught something to recite before sleeping; the Prophet replied: ‘When you lie on your bed, recite: Say: ‘O you disbelievers’ and after completing the chapter, go to sleep, for it is a dissociation from polytheism.’
[1] Tabrisi, 10/839. [2] Amthal, 20/506. [3] Tabrisi, 10/839. [4] Tabrisi, 10/839.