As-salaamu 3laikum, I heard that there is a hadeeth which says something like surat al-ikhlas is equivalent to one third of the Qur'an. Is this true and if so what does it mean? Also what is meant by certain surahs of the Qur'an having special virtues? I am confused about it because I was thinking that the whole Qur'an is the Words of Allah and therefore must all have the same status. Could you clarify what is the meaning, Jazaak Allahu khair

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. 

Allaah has favored some Soorahs of the Quran over others just as He favored some Prophets over others and some times and places over others; Allaah does whatever He wills, He creates whatever He wills and He chooses whatever He wills. And Allaah decides and there is no adjuster to His decision.

We have already clarified in Fatwa 88161 the virtues of Soorah Al-Ikhlaas, that it is equal to one-third of the Quran. This means that whoever recites it gets the same reward as the one who has recited one-third of the Quran. This does not mean that it is sufficient to recite it instead of one-third of the Quran; in other words, if someone recites it three times then this does not substitute reciting the whole Quran.

Several virtues of other Soorahs of the Quran are confirmed by evidence, and the meaning of each virtue is different from the other. Some of the virtues have to do with the Soorah interceding for the person or pleading on one's behalf on the Day of Judgment, or with Allaah protecting the person who recites it, or with it being of greater reward. It is presented in Saheeh Al-Bukhari and others as related by Abu Sa’eed ibn Al-Mu’alla who said: “I was praying and the Prophet called me and I did not respond to him, and when I finished praying, I said: “O Messenger of Allaah, I was praying. He said: “Did Allaah not say {O you who have believed, respond to Allaah and to the Messenger when he calls you}[Quran 8:24]; then he said: “Shall I teach you the greatest Soorah in the Quran before you go out of the Masjid?" He took my hand and when we were about to go out, I said, "O Messenger of Allaah, you said that you would teach me the greatest Soorah of the Quran." He said “Al-Hamdu Lillaahi Rabb Al-'Aalameen (i.e. Al-Faatihah); it is the seven most repeated verses, and the great Quran which I was given." [Al-Bukhari]

Ibn Hajar said in Fat-h Al-Baari: “It means that its reward is greater than other Soorahs, and this is evidence that it is permissible to favor some of the Quran over other parts of it." [End of quote]

Allaah Knows best.