Names
This surah is called Surat An-Nas. [645] See: Al-Fayruzabadi: Basa?ir Dhawi At-Tamyiz, 1/557.
It is also called Surat Qul a?udhu bi Rabb il-nas (Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind).
It was narrated that ?Uqbah ibn ?Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: ?Do you not see verses that have been revealed tonight, the like of which has never been seen? Qul a?udhu bi Rabb il-falaq (Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak) Al-Falaq 113 and Qul a?udhu bi Rabb il-nas (Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind) An-Nas 114.? [646] Narrated by Muslim, 814.
This surah and Surat Al-Falaq, are called Al-Mu?awwidhatayn (the two surahs seeking refuge with Allah); these two surahs, along with Al-Ikhlas, are called Al-Mu?awwidhat.
It was narrated that ?Uqbah ibn ?Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said to me: ?There have been revealed to me verses the like of which has never been seen: Al-Mu?awwidhatayn.? [647] Narrated by Muslim, 814. And it was narrated that he said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) instructed me to recite Al-Mu?awwidhat following every prayer. [648] Narrated by Abu Dawud, 1523; At-Tirmidhi, 2903; An-Nasa?i, 1336.
Virtues and characteristics
It is recommended to recite it following every prayer.
It was narrated that ?Uqbah ibn ?Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) instructed me to recite Al-Mu?awwidhat following every prayer. [649] Narrated by Abu Dawud, 1523; At-Tirmidhi, 2903; An-Nasa?i, 1336.
It is one of the best three surahs that were revealed in the Torah, the Gospel, the Zabur (Psalms) and the Furqan (the Qur?an).
It was narrated from ?Uqbah ibn ?Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said to him: ?O ?Uqbah ibn ?Amir, shall I not teach you the best three surahs that were revealed in the Torah, the Gospel, the Zabur (Psalms) and the Furqan (the Qur?an)? I said: Yes indeed, may Allah cause me to be sacrificed for you. And he taught me Qul Huwa Allahu ahad (Say, He is Allah, who is One) Al-Ikhlas 112, Qul a?udhu bi Rabb il-falaq (Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak) Al-Falaq 113 and Qul a?udhu bi Rabb il-nas (Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind) An-Nas 114. Then he said: ?O ?Uqbah, do not forget them and do not go to sleep at night until you recite them.? He said: I have never forgotten them since he said, ?Do not forget them,? and there never been a night when I did not recite them. [650] Narrated by At-Tirmidhi, 2406; Ahmad, 17334. ?
Whoever recites Al-Mu?awwidhat three times every morning and afternoon, they will suffice him against all things.
It was narrated that ?Abdullah ibn Khubayb (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We went out on a rainy and very dark night, looking for the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to lead us in prayer, and I found him. He said: ?Say,? but I did not say anything. Then he said: ?Say,? but I did not say anything. Then he said: ?Say,? and I said: What should I say, O Messenger of Allah? He said: ?Say: Qul Huwa Allahu ahad (Say, He is Allah, who is One) and Al-Mu?awwidhatayn, in the evening and in the morning, three times, and they will suffice you against all things.? [651] Narrated by Abu Dawud, 5082; At-Tirmidhi, 3575; An-Nasa?i, 5428. ?
If the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) fell sick, he would treat himself with ruqyah by reciting Al-Mu?awwidhat.
It was narrated from ?A?ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that when the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) fell sick, he would recite Al-Mu?awwidhat over himself and blow.? When his sickness grew worse, I ?A?ishah would recite over him and wipe his hand over him, hoping for its barakah (blessing). [652] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 5016; Muslim, 2192.
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would seek refuge with Allah for himself by reciting Al-Mu?awwidhat when he went to his bed:
It was narrated from ?A?ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) went to his bed every night, he would cup his hands together, then he would blow into them and recite into them Qul Huwa Allahu ahad (Say, He is Allah, who is One) Al-Ikhlas 112, Qul a?udhu bi Rabb il-falaq (Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak) Al-Falaq 113 and Qul a?udhu bi Rabb il-nas (Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind) An-Nas 114, then he would wipe whatever he could reach of his body with his hands, starting with his head and face and the front of his body; he would do that three times. [653] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 5017.
No other verses that were revealed to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) are like the verses of Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas.
It was narrated that ?Uqbah ibn ?Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: ?Do you not see verses that have been revealed tonight, the like of which has never been seen? Qul a?udhu bi Rabb il-falaq (Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak Al-Falaq 113 and Qul a?udhu bi Rabb il-nas (Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind) An-Nas 114.? [654] Narrated by Muslim, 814. ?
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was commanded to recite it, along with Surat Al-Falaq, when he was bewitched.
It was narrated that Zayd ibn Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) said: A Jewish man put a spell on the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and he fell sick. Jibril (peace be upon him) came to him with the Mu?awwidhatayn and said: A Jewish man has put a spell on you, and the material used to cast that spell is in the well of So-and-so. He sent ?Ali, who brought it to him, then he instructed him to untie the knots and recite verses, so he started reciting and untying, until the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) got up as if he had been released from restraints. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not say anything to that Jewish man about what he had done to him, and he never confronted him with it. [655] Narrated by ?Abd ibn Humayd, 271; At-Tahawi: Sharh Mushkil Al-Athar, 5935.
Makki or Madani?
There is a difference of scholarly opinion regarding Surat An-Nas. It was said that it is Makki, and it was said that it is Madani. [656] Those who favoured the view that it is Makki include: Muqatil ibn Sulayman, Az-Zajjaj and Al-Wahidi. See: Tafsir Muqatil ibn Sulayman, 4/941; Az-Zajjaj: Ma?ani Al-Qur?an wa I?rabuhu, 5/381; Al-Wahidi: Al-Wasit, 4/575. Those who favoured the view that it is Madani include: Al-Baghawi and Ibn Kathir. See: Makki: Al-Hidayah ila Bulugh An-Nihayah, 12/8513; Tafsir Al-Baghawi, 5/332; Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 8/530.
Objectives
The most important objectives of this surah include:
Seeking refuge with Allah from the evil of what is whispered into people?s hearts. [657] See: Ibn Taymiyah: Majmu? Al-Fatawa, 17/514.
Topics?????
The most significant topics addressed in Surat An-Nas include:
Seeking refuge with Allah, the Lord, Sovereign and God of mankind, from the evil of the Shaytan, one of whose characteristics is that he is an insidious whisperer who whispers into people?s hearts, and that he may be a jinni or a human.


?