سورة الفلق

Al-Falaq means "The Daybreak", the moment when the morning light comes out of the night. It is surah 113. It has 5 verses.

1. قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ Qul a'uudhu bi rabbi l-falaq Say: I seek the protection of the Lord of daybreak,

2. مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ Min sharri maa khalaq from the evil of what He has created,

3. وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ Wa min sharri ghaasiqin idhaa waqab from the evil of the night when it grows completely dark,

4. وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ Wa min sharri n-naffaathaati fi l-'uqad from the evil of those who blow on knots (to do magic),

5. وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ Wa min sharri ḥaasidin idhaa ḥasad and from the evil of the envious one when he envies.

The little lesson: when we are afraid, we can ask Allah to protect us. Allah is stronger than everything! This surah also teaches us not to be jealous of others: we can ask Allah for good things for ourselves without wishing harm on others.

Did you know? Every night before sleeping, the Prophet ﷺ recited Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas, blew into his hands and wiped them over his body. (Bukhari 5017)

Memorisation tip: verses 3, 4 and 5 all start with "wa min sharri" ("and from the evil of…"). Say it aloud, then finish the verse!

Understanding Surah Al-Falaq

1. Explanation Al-Falaq and An-Nas are two sisters: they are called "al-mu'awwidhataan", the two surahs of protection. When they were revealed, the Prophet ﷺ said that verses like them had never been seen before. (Muslim 814) [À VÉRIFIER : numéro] • Verse 1: I seek refuge with the Lord of daybreak. The One who brings the morning light out of the dark night can also keep away from me everything that frightens me. • Verse 2: I ask Him to protect me from the evil of every creature that can do harm. • Verse 3: and from the evil of the night when it grows dark: that is when dangerous animals and thieves come out. • Verse 4: and from the evil of sorcery (those who blow on knots). Magic exists, but it cannot harm anyone without Allah's permission (meaning of verse 2:102). • Verse 5: and from the evil of the envious one, when their envy pushes them to act against someone.

2. Lessons to learn • When I am afraid, I turn to Allah first; I do not need lucky charms or amulets. • I recite the surahs of protection in the morning and evening. The Prophet ﷺ advised reciting Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas three times in the morning and evening: "they will be enough for you against everything". (Abu Dawud 5082, Tirmidhi 3575) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros] • When I see something good in someone's life, I am not jealous: I say "maa shaa' Allaah" or "baarak Allaahu lak" (may Allah bless you). • I do not have to live in fear: Allah is stronger than every evil.

3. To remember • Al-Falaq: I ask Allah's protection from harms that come from outside. • Four harms are named: harmful creatures, the dark night, sorcery, the envious one. • Nothing can harm me without Allah's permission.

4. The message of the surah Allah is the only true refuge: whoever places themselves under His protection has nothing to fear, and needs nothing other than Him.

Source: Al-Mukhtasar fi tafsir al-Qur'an (English translation), with well-known points from the tafsirs of Ibn Kathir and As-Sa'di.