Sūrah Al-Falaq The Daybreak
سورة الفلق
A Makkan sūrah of 5 verses the first of the two seeking-refuge sūrahs (al-Muʿawwidhatān). The Prophet ﷺ is commanded to seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak from four sources of evil: the evil of creation, darkness, those who blow on knots, and the envier.
Surah Overview
Key Themes from Ibn Kathīr
Ibn Kathīr records the famous ḥadīth from Bukhārī and Muslim: Labīd ibn al-Aʿṣam (a Jewish man from Banū Zurayq) performed siḥr on the Prophet ﷺ using his hair and a comb, placing it in a well (Dhī Arwān). The Prophet ﷺ began experiencing confusion as if he had done things he had not done. Jibrīl came with these two sūrahs and indicated where the siḥr was hidden. When it was retrieved and each verse was recited, one knot undid until the Prophet ﷺ was completely cured and the siḥr lost all effect.
The four evils: (1) "mā khalaq" = all of creation including jinn, humans, animals; (2) "ghāsiq idhā waqab" = the darkness of the night when it descends (time of evil spirits, crimes, hardships); (3) "an-naffāthāt fī l-ʿuqad" = women (or men) who blow on knots in magic rituals confirmed by the Labīd story; (4) "ḥāsid idhā ḥasad" = the envier when envy manifests in action. Ibn Kathīr notes that ḥasad (envy) causes real harm it is the root of most worldly evil.
- Siḥr is real: The ḥadīth of Labīd ibn al-Aʿṣam confirms siḥr's reality Ibn Kathīr does not spiritualize it away; the Prophet ﷺ was genuinely affected until cured by these verses.
- Lord of the daybreak: Rabb il-falaq the One who splits the darkness of night with dawn is the most fitting refuge against all forms of darkness and concealed evil.
- Four specific evils: General creation, nighttime darkness, magic knot-blowers, and enviers covering the spectrum from general to specific evil threats.
- Ḥāsid idhā ḥasad: The qualifier "when he envies" not the feeling of envy but its acting out; the protection sought is from envy that manifests in harmful action.
- Daily recitation Sunnah: The Prophet ﷺ recommended reciting al-Muʿawwidhatān after every ṣalāh, before sleep, and during illness making refuge from these four evils a daily practice.