Correct Answer:
C. Al-Tauba
The correct answer is Al-Tauba (also known as Bara'ah). This surah is unique in the Quran as it is the only one that does not begin with the customary invocation, "Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim" (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful). The reason for this omission is widely understood to be that Surah Al-Tauba primarily deals with declarations of disavowal and war against polytheists who broke treaties, signifying a stern warning rather than a message of mercy at its outset. Options like Al-Baqarah, An-Nisa, and Al-Ikhlas all begin with the Bismillah, making them incorrect.