Fazail Surah Shams سورہ شمس

Surah Shams

In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful

Surah Shams, which is in fact a Surah on the purification of the 'carnal soul' and sanctification of the heart from vice and impurities', explains the same themes as in previous Suras, but at the beginning of the Surah eleven great subjects from the world of creation and Divine essence are mentioned and to prove that salvation depends upon 'purification of the carnal soul' some oaths are made. These oaths envelop most of the Qur'anic oaths collectively.

At the end of the Surah Shams, the Thamood, as an example or a disobedient people, are briefly pointed out. They defied Allah's sacred Law and His prophet, Salih (as), and were destroyed for their crime; which was the fruit of neglecting 'the purification of the carnal soul’.

Surah Shams, in fact, restates one of the most important instructive points for the destiny of Man's life, and leads him to true Islamic values.

On the virtue of reciting Surah Shams, we refer to a tradition narrated from the Prophet (S) who said:

"He who recites Surah Shams is like he who has given charity (in the way of Allah) to all things that the sun and the moon shine upon.”1

And certainly, this great excellence belongs to the one who keeps the sublime content of this short Surah Shams alive in his spirit and knows that the 'purification of the carnal soul' is his constant duty.

Surah Shams is a 'makki' surah and has 15 ayaat. It is narrated from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) that the reward for reciting Surah Shams is compared to the things upon which the sun and the moon shine.

Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) has said that the person who recites Surah Shams, al-Layl, ad-Dhuha and al-Inshirah will, on the Day of Judgement, find all creatures of the earth testifying on his behalf and Allah will accept their testimony and give him a place in Jannah. Recitation of this surah also leads to an increase in sustenance, courage and popularity amongst the people.