Understand Sūrah Al-Falaq

In the Name of Allāh Ta‘ālā, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

We know that the Qur’ān is the speech of Allāh Ta‘ālā; its purpose is attaining true happiness, which is eternal salvation; and the need for it is immense, as every religious science depends on it. They are all reliant on knowledge of the Book of Allāh Ta‘ālā (Al-Asbahānī).

1. Say: "I seek refuge with the Lord of the daybreak"
Jābir (Raḍiyallāhu ‘anh) says that Falaq means morning. The Qur’ān itself says "cleaver of the daybreak" [Al-Qur’ān 6:96]. Ibn ‘Abbās (Raḍiyallāhu ‘anhumā) says that Falaq means creation. Ibn Jarīr (Raḥimahullāh) and Imām Al-Bukhārī (Raḥimahullāh) say that it means morning and this view seems reasonable. Allāh Ta‘ālā directs believers to seek refuge in the Lord of the Falaq.

2. "From the evil of what He has created"
And to seek refuge from the evil of what He created. His creation includes Hell, Iblīs (Shayṭān) and his offspring.

3. "And from the evil of the darkening as it comes with its darkness,"
One should seek refuge from the evil of nightfall. According to Ibn Zayd (Raḥimahullāh), the Arabs called the setting of the star Pleiad as Ghāsiq and believed that after its setting and at its rising, disease increases and spreads. Some commentators say that the word Ghāsiq means moon. They base their argument on a Ḥadīth that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ once held the hand of ‘Ā’ishah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘anhā), and pointing to the moon, said, "Seek refuge from the evil of this Ghāsiq." [Imām Aḥmad (Raḥimahullāh)].

4. "And from the evil of those who practise witchcraft when they blow in the knots,"

5. "And from the evil of the envier when he envies."

"… witchcraft when they blow in the knots" refers to sorceresses. A Ḥadīth says that the angel Jibrā’īl (عليه السلام) came to the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ and said, "O Muḥammad ﷺ! Are you sick?" When the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said yes, he said, "Invoke the Name of Allāh Ta‘ālā against every disease that pains you, against the evil of every envier and against any evil eye. May Allāh Ta‘ālā heal you."

The disease referred to in this Ḥadīth was probably a magic spell. Allāh Ta‘ālā healed His Messenger ﷺ and repelled that magic.

Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal (Raḥimahullāh) reported that a Jew bewitched the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ, and then he remained under its spell for several days. Then Jibrā’īl (عليه السلام) came to him and informed him that such and such Jew had enchanted him, and has hidden a knotted rope in such and such a well. He asked him to send somebody to get it. The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ sent someone to bring them back, untied them, and the spell was broken. The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ never mentioned it to that Jew nor showed him any anger.

Al-Bukhārī (Raḥimahullāh) reported a Ḥadīth from ‘Ā’ishah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘anhā). She narrated that when the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ was bewitched under a magic spell, he thought that he came to his wives while he had not done so. Once he said to me, "I asked my Lord and He showed me. Two persons came and one sat near my head and the other near my legs. The man sitting near my head asked the other, 'What has happened to this man.' He said, 'He is under the/a spell.' He asked, 'Who bewitched him?' He answered, 'Labīd ibn A‘ṣam from the Banī Zurayq tribe. They are allies of the Jews.' The man asked, 'What has charmed?' The other answered, 'The comb and the hair.' He asked, 'Where are those things?' 'In the well of Dharwān, under a rock.'"

The Prophet ﷺ sent ‘Alī (Raḍiyallāhu ‘anh) to the well and had the things dug out. I (‘Ā’ishah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘anhā)) suggested that the magician should be punished.

The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said, "Praise is for Allāh Ta‘ālā. He healed me. Now I do not like to incite people for me."

Imran | Sanatayn Student