(1) It is sahih (authentic). Narrated by Imam Malik in al-Muwatta, Book of the Quran, chapter on what has been reported concerning the recitation of Surah Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad, 1:208; by al-Tirmidhi in Thawab al-Quran, chapter on what has been reported concerning Surah al-Ikhlas, 8:209. He said: “This is a hasan sahih gharib hadith. We know it only through the narration of Malik ibn Anas and Ibn Hunayn, who is Ubayd ibn Hunayn.” It was also narrated by al-Nasai in Amal al-Yawm wa al-Laylah, p. 702; in al-Sunan, Book of al-Iftitah, 2:171; and in al-Tafsir, 2:570; by Ibn al-Sunni in Amal al-Yawm wa al-Laylah, p. 324; by al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak, 1:566, who graded it sahih, and al-Dhahabi concurred; by al-Bayhaqi in Shuab al-Iman, 5:480; and by the compiler in Sharh al-Sunnah, 4:476-477. It has supporting narrations recorded by Ahmad, al-Tabarani, Ibn al-Sunni, and al-Darimi. See the commentary on al-Nasai's Tafsir at the previously cited place; see also Majma al-Zawaid, 8:145. (2) Narrated by al-Bukhari in a suspended form in al-Adhan, chapter on combining two surahs in one rakah, 2:255. Al-Tirmidhi recorded it with a connected chain through the same route in Thawab al-Quran, chapter on what has been reported concerning Surah al-Ikhlas, 18:212-213, and said: “This is a gharib hadith through this route.” It was also narrated by al-Bayhaqi in al-Sunan, 2:61, and in Shuab al-Iman, 5:483; and by Abu Yala in al-Musnad, 3:348-349. It was further narrated by al-Darimi in Fadail al-Quran, chapter on the virtue of Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad, 2:230; Ibn Mandah in al-Tawhid, 1:68-69; Ibn al-Sunni in Amal al-Yawm wa al-Laylah, p. 324; Ibn Hibban, p. 349 of Mawarid al-Zaman; and the compiler in Sharh al-Sunnah, 4:475. It also has a supporting narration from Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim. See Fath al-Bari, 2:255-257.