The answer is simple; Surah Falaq is the best dua for seeking protection from all evils.
The holy Quran is a book of great knowledge and wisdom. Even though it is a sacred religious book for Muslims, anyone who is interested in the concept of God and the universe must read it. The Quran explains everything in detail and presents great examples for men of understanding.
The recitation of the Quran allows Muslims to receive dual benefits. In addition to finding instructions on how to live life and understanding God, they also get to seek protection. The Quran comprises numerous Surahs, and each of these Surahs has a specific purpose.
A popular short Surah that is known for its many benefits is Surah Falaq or Surah Al-Falaq. It can be found in the last chapter of the Quran and is easy to memorize. One of the best times to recite Surah Falaq is at night. This post takes a close look at why you should recite Surah Falaq before sleeping.
Surah Falaq in English, Transliteration and in Arabic
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Bismillah hir rahman nir Raheem
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْفَلَقِ
Qul a’oozu bi rabbil-falaq
Say, “I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak;
مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
Min sharri maa khalaq
From the evil of that which He created;
وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ
Wa min sharri ghaasiqin izaa waqab
And from the evil of darkness when it settles;
وَمِن شَرِّ ٱلنَّفَّـٰثَـٰتِ فِى ٱلْعُقَدِ
Wa min sharrin-naffaa-saati fil ‘uqad
And from the evil of the blowers (sorcerers) in knots;
وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
Wa min sharri haasidin izaa hasad
And, from the mischief of the one who envies.
By simply reading the translation of Surah Falaq, you will come to realize just how powerful it is and why you should recite Surah Falaq before sleeping. It is a simple dua that asks Allah to protect you from numerous evils; of the night, of magic, of envy, and of the things that Allah created that may harm you.
The beauty of the Surah lies in the following:
- It asks Allah to protect us from all the things that Allah has created that may harm us. It does not necessarily mean that those things are evil, but they may harm us because it is in their nature to do so. For example, a lion may injure or kill us, not because it’s evil, but because it is in its nature. Similarly, a shark, a mountain of lava, an earthquake, and more are things that are not evil but may bring us harm.
- Secondly, by reciting the Surah, we beseech Allah to remove all the obstacles that may hinder our growth. “The blanket of the night,” the “ghasaq and waqab” are the barriers that can stunt our growth and take away our chances of prosperity, and thus we ask Allah to remove these barriers.
- It asks to protect us from feeling overwhelmed and as though we are drowning without any recourse. When magic or evil spells are cast upon a person, it creates a feeling of being overwhelmed by darkness and negativity, and so we ask Allah’s protection from this evil.
- Through Surah Falaq, we ask Allah to protect us from people and creatures who are evil and mean to harm us out of spite and envy.
Therefore, the Surah asks Allah for complete protection as we fall asleep. Some scholars argue that Surah Al-Falaq is about protecting the body from all harm, whereas Suah Al-Naas is about protecting the spirit, which is why it is considered one of the best 3 Surahs to read at night.
The Benefits of Surah Falaq
The following narrations will help you understand Surah Falaq’s benefits and why it is one of the 3 Surahs to read at night.
1. Sahih Bukhari: 5016
Hazrat Aisha (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) has narrated that whenever Prophet Muhammad would get sick, he would recite Surah Falaq and Surah An-Nas (Mu-awwidhat) and blow his breath over his body upon completion. If the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) became very sick, Lady Aisha would recite the two Surahs and rub his hands hoping to bless them. Therefore, the Surah is essential for health.
2. Shama’il Muhammadiyah Book 38, Hadith 244
Another narration by Lady Aisha about Surah Al Falaq tells us that every night before sleeping on his bed, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would place his hands together and recite Surah Falaq, Surah Ikhlaas, and Surah An-Nas. Then, he would blow on them and wipe his head, face, and the front of his body thrice. You can do the same for a good night’s sleep.
3. Jami’ at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3367
Uqbah bin Amir Al-Juhni (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) has narrated that the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) said that God had revealed an Ayat unlike any that has been revealed before referring to the verse “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of Al-Falaq” of Surah Falaq. If you feel sad or depressed at night, you need to recite the Surah for refuge and peace.
4. Riyad as-Salihin Book 16, Hadith 49
Abdullah bin Khubaib (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) has reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has informed him that reciting Surah Falaq and Surah An-Nas thrice at dawn and dusk should suffice in all respects. By reciting the Surahs before sleeping, you will not have to worry about anything.
5. Riyad as-Salihin Book 9, Hadith 25
Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) has reported that Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) used to seek protection against the evil eyes and the evil of jinn until Surah Falaq and Surah An-Nas were both revealed. After their revelation, he would simply recite them to seek protection. Thus, you should recite the Surahs before going to bed for protection from the evil of the jinn and evil eyes.
Surah Falaq – The Surah to Help You Sleep
Surah Falaq is a Surah that will keep you protected from all kinds of evil as you sleep. If you ponder over its verses, you can easily assess that it offers protection from all sorts of evil that befalls during the night, including black magic and envy.
Hence, you need to develop the habit of reciting Surah Falaq every night before sleeping to seek protection from all forms of ills. It will help you come in Allah’s protection from evils that harm your body.
Want to learn some duas to protect you rom harm? Read: Eight Powerful Dua’s for Protection Against Harm
