Surah 113 · Meccan · 5 Verses
الفلق
SURAH AL-FALAQ
The Daybreak
Surah Al-Falaq's text and translation will be saved to this device. Audio files are not saved.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْفَلَقِ
Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak
Verse page →TransliterationQul a'udhu bi-rabbi l-falaq
مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
From the evil of that which He created
Verse page →TransliterationMin sharri ma khalaq
وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ
And from the evil of darkness when it settles
Verse page →TransliterationWa min sharri ghasiqin idha waqab
وَمِن شَرِّ ٱلنَّفَّٰثَٰتِ فِى ٱلْعُقَدِ
And from the evil of the blowers in knots2014
TransliterationWa min sharri n-naffathati fi l-'uqad
وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
And from the evil of an envier when he envies."
Verse page →TransliterationWa min sharri hasidin idha hasad
About This Surah
Surah Al-Falaq teaches the believer to seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak from created evil, the darkness when it settles, harmful occult practices, and the envy of an envier. Its five verses model dependence on God without giving readers permission to accuse particular people of hidden harm. The chapter is a prayer of refuge, not a diagnostic tool or a guaranteed medical treatment.
Al-Falaq opens with a command to seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak. The image of dawn places the prayer under divine lordship and evokes the emergence of light without promising that every hardship ends on a reader’s chosen schedule.
The request moves from evil in what has been created to particular forms of feared harm: darkness when it settles, those who blow on knots, and envy when it acts. The wording acknowledges moral and unseen danger while directing the worshipper toward God rather than toward obsessive speculation.
Responsible use of the surah requires restraint. It does not authorize identifying a neighbor, relative, or rival as an envier or practitioner of occult harm. Ordinary illness, anxiety, conflict, and misfortune should not automatically be given a supernatural diagnosis. Authentic reports describe the Prophet reciting the protective surahs during illness and, together with Al-Ikhlas, before sleep. These reports establish devotional practice; they do not make recitation a substitute for appropriate medical care, safeguarding, or professional help.
Core Themes
- Refuge sought in the Lord of daybreak
- Created harms placed under divine authority
- Darkness approached without superstition
- Envy recognized without accusing individuals
Reading Guide
Let refuge reduce fear-driven speculation
The prayer directs the reader to God. Do not use its categories to scan daily life for secret enemies or to assign every setback a supernatural cause.
Keep devotional and medical responsibilities together
The prophetic practice reported in Bukhari supports recitation during illness and before sleep. It does not prohibit treatment, safety planning, or asking qualified people for help.
Key Passages
Refuge in the Lord of daybreak — 1-2
The opening names the One in whom refuge is sought before listing dangers. Created harm is real but not independent of the Creator’s authority.
Darkness and hidden harmful practice — 3-4
The verses name feared harms without instructing readers to investigate private suspects. Their devotional direction is toward refuge, restraint, and trust rather than accusation. The surrounding verses define both its immediate purpose and the limits that prevent a careless or overbroad modern application.
Envy when it acts — 5
The final request concerns harmful envy. It gives language for seeking refuge but does not establish a method for diagnosing which person, if any, caused a particular problem. Read this language within the chapter’s full movement before drawing broader theological, legal, or devotional conclusions from a single passage.
Recitation Note
Sahih al-Bukhari 5016 reports recitation of Al-Falaq and An-Nas during illness. Sahih al-Bukhari 5017 reports that the Prophet recited Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas into his cupped hands before sleep, wiped what he could of his body, and did this three times. These are reported practices, not guaranteed cures or permission to neglect treatment.
Interpretation Limits
- The surah does not authorize accusations of envy, magic, or hidden harm against named individuals.
- Recitation should not replace appropriate medical, mental-health, legal, or safety assistance.
- The cited prophetic practices do not guarantee that illness or danger will end in a specified manner or time.