Study of Suratul-Nas (Reading and Meaning) – JSS1 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

Suratul-Nas is the 114th and last chapter (surah) of the Holy Quran, a six-verse prayer for seeking Allah’s protection from the evil whisperer.

Behavioural objectives

1. State the position of Suratul-Nas in the Quran, the meaning of its name and the number of its verses.
2. Read Suratul-Nas in Arabic with the help of the transliteration and the tips for correct reading.
3. Give the meaning of each verse in English.
4. Name the three attributes of Allah mentioned in the surah.
5. Explain what “waswas” is, where it comes from and how to fight it.
6. State the benefits of reciting the surah and when it is recited.

What basic facts should we know about Suratul-Nas?

Suratul-Nas is the last surah of the Quran, and its name “An-Nas” means “The People” or “Mankind”.

Position in the Quran

• Order: it is the 114th and last surah.
• Place of revelation: many scholars classify it as a Makki surah, revealed in Makkah.

Structure

• Verses (ayat): it has 6 verses.
• Bismillah: it is said at the start but is not counted as one of the six verses.

Names and titles

• An-Nas: the main name, meaning “The People” or “Mankind”.
• Al-Mu’awwidhatayn: “The Two Protectors”, the name given to this surah and Suratul-Falaq together.

What led to its revelation?

• Reports link Suratul-Nas and Suratul-Falaq with an attempt to harm the Prophet (peace be upon him) by black magic.
• Both surahs teach us to seek Allah’s protection from evil.

How do we read Suratul-Nas?

Suratul-Nas is read in Arabic from the Bismillah, followed by six verses, with careful pronunciation.

Arabic text with transliteration

• The transliteration shows how to pronounce each verse.
• The Bismillah comes first.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)

1. قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ Qul a’udhu bi rabbin nas (Say: “I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind,”)
2. مَلِكِ النَّاسِ Malikin nas (The King of mankind,)
3. إِلَٰهِ النَّاسِ Ilahin nas (The God of mankind,)
4. مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ Min sharril waswasil khannas (From the evil of the retreating whisperer,)
5. الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ Alladhee yuwaswisu fee sudoorin nas (Who whispers in the breasts of mankind,)
6. مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَ النَّاسِ Minal jinnati wan nas (From among the jinn and mankind.”)

What are the tips for correct reading?

• Pronunciation: say each letter from its correct place in the mouth.
• Speed: read at a moderate pace.
• Pauses: pause briefly at the end of each verse.
• Reflection: think about the meaning as you read.

Which tajweed rules apply?

1. Noon in “An-Nas”: it carries a shaddah, so hold the nasal sound (ghunnah) clearly.
2. Lam of “Al” in “Al-Khannas”: it is pronounced clearly, because “kha” is a moon letter.
3. Seen in “Yuwaswisu”: it is pronounced with a soft hissing sound.
4. Sad in “Sudoor”: it is a heavy letter, pronounced with a full mouth.

What is the meaning of Suratul-Nas?

Suratul-Nas is a prayer in which Allah teaches us to seek refuge with Him from the evil of the whisperer.

Word-by-word translation

Overall meaning

• A prayer for protection: we ask Allah to protect us from the evil of the whisperer (Satan).
• The whisperer: he puts bad thoughts in the hearts of people.
• Two sources: the whispering can come from jinn (unseen beings) and from humans.

What are the three attributes of Allah in Suratul-Nas?

The surah describes Allah in three ways: as Lord (Rabb), King (Malik) and God (Ilah) of mankind.

What themes and lessons does Suratul-Nas teach?

Suratul-Nas teaches us to depend on Allah for protection from evil thoughts and influences.

Main themes

1. Seeking Allah’s protection: we ask for His help against evil.
2. The nature of whispers: evil thoughts can be put into our hearts by Satan or by bad people.
3. Allah’s complete authority: the three attributes show His power over everything.
4. Invisible dangers: whispers in the heart cannot be seen but can lead us to sin.
5. Human weakness: people are weak and need Allah’s protection.

Practical lessons

1. Seek refuge with Allah: when tempted to do wrong, ask for His protection at once.
2. Watch your thoughts: be careful about the ideas that come to your mind and the suggestions others give you.
3. Know Allah’s attributes: learning His names and attributes strengthens faith.
4. Beware of bad influence: it can come from both the seen and unseen worlds.
5. Say the words: the command “Say” (Qul) tells us to speak these words of seeking refuge.

What are the benefits of reciting Suratul-Nas?

Reciting Suratul-Nas brings protection from evil, healing and a stronger faith.

• Protection from evil: the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited it with Suratul-Falaq for protection.
• Spiritual healing (Ruqyah): when sick, the Prophet blew on his hands after reciting the Mu’awwidhatayn and wiped his body with them.
• Protection from the evil eye and black magic: regular recitation seeks protection from these harms.
• Stronger faith: understanding the surah builds belief in Allah’s power and protection.
• A pure heart: seeking refuge from whispers helps keep the heart clean of bad thoughts.

When should we recite Suratul-Nas?

Muslims recite Suratul-Nas in prayer, before sleep, after the five daily prayers and whenever they need protection.

• In prayer (salah): it can be recited after Suratul-Fatihah in a prayer.
• Before sleep: the Prophet advised reciting the Mu’awwidhatayn at night for protection.
• After each prayer: some Muslims recite it with Suratul-Falaq and Ayatul Kursi after each of the five daily prayers.
• When afraid: it brings comfort and a sense of security.
• In difficult times: it is recommended when facing challenges or when someone seems to plan harm.

What is waswas (whispers)?

Waswas means evil thoughts or suggestions that come to the mind, leading to bad actions or doubts about faith.

What are the sources of waswas?

The surah names two sources of whispers.

• Jinn: especially Satan (Iblis) and his followers, who try to mislead humans.
• Humans: people who suggest evil things or lead others away from the right path.

How does waswas work?

The evil whisperer (Al-Waswas Al-Khannas) works in these ways:

• He puts thoughts into our hearts.
• He retreats (khannas) when we remember Allah.
• He returns when we are careless or forget Allah.
• He targets our weak points.
• He makes evil seem attractive and good.

How can we fight waswas?

Reciting the surah itself is the first defence against waswas.

• Remember Allah often: the whisperer retreats when Allah is remembered.
• Seek knowledge: learn about Islam.
• Keep away from bad places and people: avoid whatever increases evil thoughts.
• Stay busy: do good and useful activities.
• Choose good friends: pick friends who remind you of Allah.

What special facts are there about Suratul-Nas?

Suratul-Nas has a special place as the last surah of the Quran and is closely linked with Suratul-Falaq.

• Last surah: it closes the Quran with a reminder to seek protection from Allah.
• Repetition of “An-Nas”: the word “mankind” appears five times, showing the message is for all people.
• Link with Suratul-Falaq: the two are often recited together and share the theme of seeking protection.
• Three attributes: Rabb (Lord), Malik (King) and Ilah (God) describe Allah’s relationship with people.

What stories are related to Suratul-Nas?

Two reports connect Suratul-Nas with the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Revelation of the Mu’awwidhatayn

• It is reported that someone tried to harm the Prophet with black magic.
• The angel Jibreel (Gabriel) then taught him Suratul-Falaq and Suratul-Nas as protection.

The Prophet’s practice at bedtime

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported what the Prophet did each night:

1. He cupped his hands together and blew on them.
2. He recited Suratul-Ikhlas, Suratul-Falaq and Suratul-Nas.
3. He wiped his hands over as much of his body as he could, starting with his head and face and the front of his body.
4. He did this three times.

Evaluation

1. What does “An-Nas” mean, and why is this surah named this way?
2. Write the first verse of Suratul-Nas in Arabic and its meaning in English.
3. What are the three attributes of Allah mentioned in Suratul-Nas?
4. What is “waswas” and where does it come from according to this surah?
5. When did the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recommend reciting Suratul-Nas?

Assignment

Write out the six verses of Suratul-Nas with their meanings in English, then list three ways of fighting waswas.