Best Tafseer Surah Al-Falaq – Lessons, Benefits, Maqsud, And Transliteration

This article is a brief introduction to Surah Al-Falaq; where it includes the meaning of Al-Falaq, and whether it is Makki or Madani. It also includes Why was Surah Al-Falaq revealed (Asbab al-n-Nuzul)? What is the Maksud of Surah Al-Falaq? We also focused in this article on the Translation, Transliteration in English, Tafseer and meaning of Surah Al-Falaq along with Surah Al-Falaq lessons and benefits as well.

Introduction to Surah Al-Falaq

Surah Al Falaq is one of two surahs of the Quran called Al-Muawathatain, which means the two refuges that protect against evil. These two Surahs are Surah Al-falaq benefits and Surah Al-Naas. 

A Tafsir of Surat al-Falaq is among the most commonly recited surahs in ruqya (means of protection) and azkar (supplicating to Allah) during the day and night, as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught us. It is also one of the most memorizable surahs in the Surah Falaq Virtues And Lessons, owing to its short verses and frequent repetition.

As many Muslim scholars suggested, it is a Madani surah that was revealed after The Prophet’s (PBUH) Hijra. Al Falaq is an Arabic word that linguistically means splitting and contextually means twilight, morning, dawn or daybreak.

Why Was Surah Al-Falaq Revealed (Asbab al-n-Nuzul)?

Surah Al-falaq benefits was revealed as a ruqya to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) after an evil Jewish person performed some sort of magic on him (PBUH). However, this magic didn’t harm the prophet (PBUH); as Allah (SWT) revealed to him the place of the magic, and Surah Al-Falaq as a cure and protection ‘ruqya’ for him and for every Muslim who suffers from magic, illness or envy. 

What is The Maksud of Surah Al-Falaq?

The Maksud of Surah Al- Falaq is teaching The Prophet (PBUH) and Muslims how to seek refuge in Allah and ask Him for protection against all types of evil; either humans, animals, Jinn or anything. The Surah discusses the potential evils one could be faced during life and is considered a means of protection against all of them.

Surah Al-Falaq Translation and Transliteration in English

A Tafsir of Surat al-Falaq is one of the shortest Surahs in the Quran; it consists of only five short verses. That’s a pearl of wisdom to make it easy for people to recite it every day and night.

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 in knots.

وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
Wa min sharri haasidin izaa hasad
And from the evil of an envier when he envies.”

Tafseer of Surah Al-Falaq Meaning in English (Verse by Verse)

Surah Al-falaq Benefits consists of simple and easy verses. However, within a few comprehensive verses, it covers the great meanings of Isti’aza (seeking refuge) and Tawakkul (trust, confidence, and reliance upon Allah).

1. ‘Qul’ means say, and that’s a speech to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The start of the Surah Falaq Virtues And Lessons by ‘Qul’ is similar to that we have mentioned in the Tafseer of Surah Al-Ikhlas, Tafseer of Surah Al- Naas, Surah Al-Kaafiroon, and Surah Al-Jinn. 

‘A’oozu’ means I seek refuge and protection. 

‘Bi rabbil-falaq’ ‘rabbi’ means the Lord, ‘al-falaq’ means the splitting or the break, which refers to the splitting of darkness for the appearance of light in the daybreak. 

That’s an amazing linguistic description of the Quran as if Allah, who breaks the night for the appearance of light, has the power to break your magic, envy, illness or any evil. 

This Surah is considered a duaa, and as we have learned from the benefits of Surah Al-Fatiha, a duaa is better, to begin with supplicating by Allah’s names. Here in Surah Al-Falaq, the Surah started by Allah’s name, ‘Rabb Al-Falaq.’

2. ‘Min Sharri maa khalaq’ refers to the completion of the previous verse and a clarification of the evils we should seek refuge in Allah from. It means I seek refuge in Allah from the evil of all what He has created. 

That simple comprehensive duaa covers everything as if we acknowledge our weakness and ask Allah by his knowledge to protect us from what we know and what we don’t know.

3. ‘Wa min sharri ghaasiqin izaa waqab’: This verse means seeking refuge in Allah from the evils in night and darkness. When you are at night, harmful animals appear, and evil people disguise themselves.

4. ‘Wa min sharrin-naffaa-saati fil ‘uqad’ That’s seeking refuge in Allah from those who blow in knots. That is a referral to people who perform black magic and evil deeds. 

5. ‘Wa min sharri haasidin izaa hasad’: The verse means seeking refuge in Allah from the one who envies others. Envy means to desire what’s in the hand of others and wish the demise of blessings from them, which is an extremely bad deed. 

So, Allah taught us in Surah Al-Falaq to seek refuge and protection from the following: The evil of any creature, The evil of darkness and night, the evil of magicians and foretellers, and the evil of envy.

Lessons of Surah Falaq and Life Applications

Surah Al-falaq benefits includes many lessons from surah falaq within its verses. They are related to the meaning of seeking refuge in Allah and avoiding evil deeds.

1. Always Seek Refuge in Allah’ Isti’aza’

Seeking refuge in Allah’ Isti’aza’ is one of the noblest deeds one could do. It is an acknowledgment that you are weak and rely upon The Strong ‘Allah’ to keep all evils away from you. This meaning is similar to ‘Isti’ana’ we previously mentioned in the Tafseer of Surah Al-Fatiha. Where Allah is the only one, we should rely upon, ask for help and seek refuge.

Allah says in the Quran that we should always start by ‘Isti’aza’ whenever we read the Quran:

“When you recite the Quran, seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the accursed.”

(Quran 16:98)

He (SWT) also said we should perform ‘Isti’aza’ whenever we are into a bad deed:

“If you are tempted by Satan, then seek refuge with Allah. Surely, He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing”

(Quran 7:200)

2. A Muslim Should Never Fear Darkness, Envy or Black Magic as Long as He Recites Quran

A Muslim should never fear anything but Allah, as long as he has tawakul on Allah in everything. Tawakul should be accompanied by properly taking care and paying attention to dangers, as well as recitation of azkar and ruqya (including Surah Al-Falaq).

Allah says in the Quran:

“do not fear the people; fear Me!”

(Quran 5:44)

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also taught Ibn Abbas, one of his companions, the meaning of tawakul, and fearing nobody but Allah; he said:

“…And if people were to gather together to harm you with anything, they would not harm you except with what Allah had already prescribed against you..”

(AlNawawi 19)

3. Never Seek Magicians and Foretellers

Magicians and foretellers seek help from evil Jinn rather than Allah (SWT). They harm people, spread lies, hatefulness, envy, and kufr (disbelief in Allah). That’s why Allah (SWT) has prohibited magic and foretelling, and Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) warned against seeking any of them. (Mishkat al-Masabih 4595)

Allah said in the Qur’an regarding magic:

“…rather the devils disbelieved. They taught magic to the people. … Yet people learned ˹magic˺ that caused a rift ˹even˺ between husband and wife; …whoever buys into magic would have no share in the Hereafter…”

(Quran 2:102)

4. Keep Away from Envy

Envy is a sort of hating what’s good for others. It is among the worst deeds one could do, leading to hatred, selfishness and narcissism. It is against altruism and other good morals. 

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught us to be one unit like brothers and sisters, so he warned us against envy, hatred and malevolence. Riyad as-Salihin 1591

He (PBUH) also said that envy sweeps away hasanat (the reward of good deeds) as the fire does to wood. (Riyad as-Salihin 1569)

Benefits and Virtues of Surah Al-Falaq

Surah Al-Falaq has common benefits and virtues with Surah Al-Naas. They both have great virtues and benefits, owing to them being ruqya.

1. Surah Al-Falaq and Surah Al-Naas are Unique

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stated that Surah Al-Falaq and Surah Al-Naas are unique, and none of the revelations are similar to them. (Mishkat al-Masabih 2131)

2. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Recited Surah Al-Falaq and Surah Al-Naas for Illness

The Prophet (PBUH) used to recite Al-Mu’awithatain during his severe illness. He used to blow on his hands and pass them over his face and body while reciting. (Sahih al-Bukhari 5751)

That’s similar to Surah Al-Fatiha, where the prophet (PBUH) acknowledged it as a ruqya from illness. 

That’s a lesson to Muslims on how to cure diseases; by making duaa and reciting ruqya along with seeking the proper medicine.

3. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Recited Surah Al-Falaq and Surah Al-Naas in Wind and Darkness

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to recite Al-Mu’awithatain in darkness and severe wind; where he repeated them several times and taught the companions to do the same. (Sunan Abi Dawud 1463)

4. Surah Al-Falaq and Surah Al-Naas as Ruqya for Black Magic

Al-Mu’awithatain are considered ruqya against black magic; where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to recite them as a cure for the magic performed by the Jew, as we previously mentioned. 

5. Surah Al-Falaq and Surah Al-Naas in Witr Prayer

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to recite Al- M’uawathatain within prayer at night and said that you would not recite anything greater before Allah than both surahs. (Sunan an-Naasa’i 953)

You can also find the tafseer of the following surahs helpful:

• Maksud And Tafseer of Surah Al-Fatiha With Transliteration
• Top 10 Practical Lessons And Benefits of Surah Al-Fatihah
• Learn All You Need to Know About Tafseer Surah Al-Ikhlas
• Learn All About Surah Al-Fil – 2022 Best Guide
• Maksud, Benefits, Lessons & Tafseer of Surah Al-Kafirun With Transliteration
• Best Tafseer Surah Al-Naas – Maksud, Benefits, And Lessons
• The benefits and Virtues of Surah Al-Masad – Comprehensive Tafseer

Conclusion: What is the general Meaning Of Surah Al-Falaq?

Surah Al-Falaq is a small Madani Surah that was revealed after Hijra. It involves the great meanings of isti’aza and Tawwakul. 

It is one of the greatest Surahs in The Quran because it is a ruqya and azkar. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to recite it in case of illness, wind, darkness and black magic, which is a lesson for every Muslim to be armed by it every day and night to be protected against all evils.

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