SuratuI-Falaq (Q1133) & Suratun-Nas (Q114) – SS2 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

Suratul-Falaq (Chapter 113) and Suratun-Nas (Chapter 114) are the last two chapters of the Qur’an. Muslims recite them to ask Allah for protection from harm. Suratul-Falaq seeks refuge from outside dangers such as darkness, magic and envy. Suratun-Nas seeks refuge from evil whispers that put wrong thoughts in the mind.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• recite Suratul-Falaq and Suratun-Nas;
• explain the meaning of each verse of the two Surahs;
• state the lessons taught by each Surah;
• explain how the two Surahs are connected;
• state when and why Muslims recite these Surahs in daily life.

What are the Al-Mu’awwidhat?

The Qur’an is the holy book of Islam. It has 114 chapters called Surahs. The last two chapters are very special. They are called Suratul-Falaq (Chapter 113) and Suratun-Nas (Chapter 114).

Together with Suratul-Ikhlas (Chapter 112), they are called “Al-Mu’awwidhat”, which means “the chapters of seeking protection.” Muslims often recite these chapters for protection from harm.

What does Suratul-Falaq (Chapter 113) say?

The text of Suratul-Falaq

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

1. Say: “I seek refuge with the Lord of the daybreak,”
2. “From the evil of what He has created,”
3. “And from the evil of darkness when it settles,”
4. “And from the evil of those who blow on knots,”
5. “And from the evil of an envier when he envies.”

The meaning of Suratul-Falaq

This Surah teaches us to ask Allah for protection from different kinds of evil:

1. The Lord of daybreak: “Falaq” means daybreak or dawn. It refers to how Allah makes light come after darkness. This shows Allah’s power to remove bad things from our lives.
2. Evil of what He created: This means we should seek protection from all harmful things in the world. Even though Allah created everything, some things can harm us if we do not seek His protection.
3. Evil of darkness: Darkness can be scary because we cannot see dangers in it. Darkness can also mean times of trouble or confusion in life. We ask Allah to protect us during these hard times.
4. Those who blow on knots: This refers to magic or witchcraft. In the past, people would tie knots and blow on them while saying magic words to try to hurt others. Islam teaches us to seek Allah’s protection from such practices.
5. Envier when he envies: Envy is when someone feels unhappy because of the good things others have. This unhappiness can make them want to harm the person they envy. We ask Allah to protect us from such harm.

What lessons does Suratul-Falaq teach?

• Allah is our protector.
• We should always turn to Allah when we feel scared or in danger.
• All power belongs to Allah, and no evil can harm us without His permission.
• We should trust in Allah’s protection.

What does Suratun-Nas (Chapter 114) say?

The text of Suratun-Nas

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

1. Say: “I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind,”
2. “The King of mankind,”
3. “The God of mankind,”
4. “From the evil of the retreating whisperer,”
5. “Who whispers in the breasts of mankind,”
6. “From among the jinn and mankind.”

The meaning of Suratun-Nas

This Surah teaches us to ask Allah for protection from evil whispers that try to make us do bad things:

1. Lord of mankind: Allah is the Creator who made all people.
2. King of mankind: Allah is the Ruler who has power over all people.
3. God of mankind: Allah is the only one worthy of worship by all people.
4. The retreating whisperer: This refers to Shaytan (Satan), who puts bad thoughts in our minds but “retreats” or goes away when we remember Allah.
5. Whispers in the breasts of mankind: Bad thoughts come into our hearts and minds. These thoughts can make us want to do wrong things.
6. From among the jinn and mankind: These evil whispers can come from invisible beings (jinn) like Shaytan, or from bad people who try to make us do wrong.

What lessons does Suratun-Nas teach?

• Allah protects us in three ways: as our Creator, our King and our God.
• The most dangerous evil is the one that comes from inside us as bad thoughts.
• We need Allah’s help to fight against these bad thoughts.
• Both jinn and people can try to make us do wrong things.
• When we remember Allah, evil whispers become weak.

How are the two Surahs connected?

These two Surahs work together to teach us about protection:

• Suratul-Falaq focuses on protection from external dangers (like darkness, magic and envy).
• Suratun-Nas focuses on protection from internal dangers (bad thoughts and whispers).
• Together, they cover all types of dangers we might face.

How are these Surahs used in daily life?

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us to recite these Surahs:

1. Every morning and evening
2. Before sleeping
3. When feeling scared or worried
4. When feeling sick
5. As protection for children

The Prophet said that no one who seeks protection through these Surahs will ever be harmed.

What are the benefits of reciting these Surahs?

1. They remind us that Allah is always there to protect us.
2. They help us feel safe and calm when we are scared.
3. They strengthen our faith in Allah.
4. They protect us from harm, both seen and unseen.
5. They help us fight against bad thoughts.
6. They connect us to Allah throughout the day.

How can teachers and parents teach these Surahs to children?

1. Explain the meanings in simple words.
2. Tell stories about how the Prophet used these Surahs.
3. Make a habit of reciting them together before bed.
4. Talk about different fears and how Allah protects us.
5. Practise memorising one verse at a time.
6. Draw pictures about the meaning (like the sun rising after darkness).

Evaluation

1. What does “Falaq” mean?
2. State the five kinds of evil from which Suratul-Falaq asks for protection.
3. Who is the “retreating whisperer” in Suratun-Nas, and when does he retreat?
4. Explain how Suratul-Falaq and Suratun-Nas are connected.
5. State four occasions when the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us to recite these Surahs.

Assignment

1. Write out the six verses of Suratun-Nas in English and explain each one in your own words.
2. List four benefits of reciting Suratul-Falaq and Suratun-Nas.