The meaning of Surah Al-Falaq

Surah Al-Falaq teaches you what to do when something worries you: turn to Allah (the Arabic word for God, the One God) and ask for His protection. In this lesson you will go through its five verses and learn when the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, recited it.

The key word is a'oodhu, "I seek refuge". To seek refuge is to run to someone stronger for safety and hold on to them. In this surah, you run to Allah.

Verse by verse

The English under each verse is the Saheeh International translation of the meaning. The explanations follow Al-Tafsir al-Muyassar, a short and widely used Arabic commentary.

Al-Falaq is the daybreak, the morning. You call on Allah as the Lord of the morning. There is comfort in that: the One who brings each new day is the One you are turning to.

This covers the harm that could come from anything Allah created. Instead of listing every possible danger, you place all of them in His hands at once.

Ghaasiq is the deep darkness of night, and waqab means that it comes in and settles. You ask for protection from the night when it grows dark, and from any harm it may hide.

This refers to people who practice sorcery (magic) by blowing on knots they tie. The surah does not ask you to be afraid of this. It shows you that Allah's protection covers it too.

Envy (hasad) is resenting a blessing Allah has given someone else, wishing it would be taken away, and wishing them harm. You ask Allah to protect you from an envious person when that envy stirs in them.

When the Prophet recited it

The Prophet taught simple times to recite Al-Falaq, often together with Al-Ikhlas and An-Nas. Al-Falaq and An-Nas together are called al-Mu'awwidhatayn, "the two surahs of seeking refuge".

• Morning and evening. 'Abdullah ibn Khubayb, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet told him to recite Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas three times in the evening and in the morning, and said: "they will grant you protection from everything."

• Before sleep. Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, reported that every night when the Prophet went to bed, he would join his palms together, blow lightly into them, and recite Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas. Then he would wipe his hands over as much of his body as he could, starting with his head, his face and the front of his body. He did this three times.

• After each prayer. 'Uqbah ibn 'Amir, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet told him to recite al-Mu'awwidhatayn (Al-Falaq and An-Nas) after every prayer.

Next, you will learn to recite Surah An-Nas, the last surah of the Quran and the partner of Al-Falaq.