عَمَُّْ ْ 1576 اَلْفَلَق
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ ﴿۱﴾ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ﴿۲﴾ وَمِنْ شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ﴿۳﴾
﴾1﴿ Qul a'oozu bi rabbil-falaq
﴾2﴿ Min sharri maa khalaq
﴾3﴿ Wa min sharri ghaasiqin izaa waqab
﴾1﴿ Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn
﴾2﴿ From the evil of what He has created
﴾3﴿ And from the evil of darkness when it spreads
These two surahs (this one and the next) are called "Al-Mu‘awwidhatayn" (The Two Seeking Refuge Surahs) and "Al-Muqashqishatayn" (The Two Purifiers).
Relevancy:
This surah connects with the previous surah in two ways:
As the Qur’an reaches its conclusion, it provides complete guidance, especially in Tawhid (monotheism). However, many enemies oppose the spread of Tawhid and the Qur’an, and various obstacles exist that hinder its dissemination. These two surahs (Al-Falaq and An-Nas) mention the method of seeking divine protection from these threats.
In Surah Al-Ikhlas, the greatness of Allah Almighty was described. In this surah, it is emphasized that this divine being (Allah) is sufficient to provide refuge from all evil and harm. No one else can grant protection from any calamity except Him.
Claim of this surah:
The command in this surah is to seek refuge from all evils in general and specific evils in particular.
Summary of the surah:
First, there is a command to seek refuge, mentioning the one in whom refuge is sought in (1).
Then, the source of evil from which refuge is sought is mentioned in general in (2).
After that, three specific types of evil are detailed in three separate verses.
[1] Explanation of Key Words in This Surah
1. "قُلْ" (Say) – A Direct Command to the Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace)
The command "قُلْ" is directed to the Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace).
However, since the Ummah follows him, this indicates that even the Prophet himself needs Allah’s protection and refuge.
This implies that no one—no matter how high their status—is independent of Allah’s protection.
2. "أَعُوذُ" (I Seek Refuge) – A Direct Act of Seeking Protection
The word "أَعُوذُ" explicitly signifies seeking protection.
It is stronger than "استعیذ", because:
"استعیذ" conveys a request for refuge (طلب), as the "س" in باب استفعال indicates seeking.
"أَعُوذُ" conveys a direct act of taking refuge, which is more immediate and direct in seeking Allah’s protection.
3. "بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ" (In the Lord of Al-Falaq) – Meaning of "Al-Falaq"
The root meaning of "الفلق" is to split, tear apart, or bring forth something hidden.
This applies to various natural phenomena, such as:
Water gushing from mountains (springs).
Rain emerging from clouds.
Plants sprouting from the earth.
Children being born from their mothers' wombs.
Daylight breaking out from the darkness of night.
Seedlings emerging from seeds and grains.
Because "الفلق" encompasses all created things, Ibn Jarir (Tabari) narrates from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both of them) that "الفلق" refers to all of creation.
4. How "Al-Falaq" is Used in the Qur’an
The term "الفلق" appears in the Qur’an in two specific contexts:
1. For plants sprouting from seeds – As seen in Surah Al-An‘am (6:95):
"Indeed, Allah is the One who splits the grain and the seed..."
2. For the morning light breaking from darkness – As seen in Surah Al-An‘am (6:96):
"He is the One who causes the dawn to break..."
Meaning of "رَبِّ الْفَلَقِ"
"The Lord of Al-Falaq" means:
The Lord of all things that are brought forth and made visible.
The Lord of the morning light, which splits from the darkness of night.
The Lord of plants, trees, and vegetation, which sprout and grow.
The One who brings everything from nonexistence to existence.
This concept is discussed in detail in tafsirs that focus on the meaning of supplications (تعويذات).
[2] Explanation of Seeking Refuge from "Evil" (الشر)
1. "مُسْتَعَاذ مِنْهُ" (The Source of Evil from Which Refuge is Sought) is Mentioned in General Terms
The word "شر" (evil) is general and refers to anything that has a bad consequence.
In essence, evil is defined by its negative outcome—anything that ultimately results in harm or misguidance.
Here, "شر" (evil) refers specifically to anything that diverts the people of the Qur’an and the callers to Tawhid from their purpose and mission.
2. Meaning of "مَا خَلَقَ" (What He Has Created)
The phrase "مَا خَلَقَ" (what He has created) is also general and includes:
Beings and entities (such as humans, animals, and jinn).
Attributes and characteristics (such as anger, envy, or arrogance).
Ethical and moral traits (such as dishonesty or oppression).
Actions and behaviors (whether good or bad, depending on their consequences).
Conditions and circumstances (such as hardships, diseases, or trials).
3. Mention of Specific Evils in Supplications (Du‘as of Seeking Refuge)
Many authentic supplications for seeking refuge in Allah mention specific types of evil.
The Qur'an and hadith contain numerous du‘as where different kinds of harm, afflictions, and trials are explicitly sought protection from.
Conclusion
The comprehensive nature of "مَا خَلَقَ" means that we seek refuge in Allah from all possible sources of harm, whether they stem from beings, attributes, actions, or conditions—anything that could misguide, harm, or obstruct a believer’s path towards Tawhid and righteousness.
[3] Explanation of Seeking Refuge from the Darkness of Night (غاسق إذا وقب)
1. This is a Specific Type of "Evil" (مُسْتَعَاذ مِنْهُ خَاصٌّ)
Unlike the previous verse ("من شر ما خلق"), which refers to evil in general, this verse refers to a specific type of evil.
2. Contrast Between "Al-Falaq" (Dawn) and "Ghasiq" (Darkness)
The word "الفلق" (dawn) refers to the breaking forth of light and the emergence of clarity.
The word "غاسق" refers to darkness and concealment, the opposite of "فلق".
3. Meaning of "غاسق" (Ghasiq)
Scholars have various interpretations of "غاسق", but the most widely accepted meaning is "something that fills or overflows".
In this context, "غاسق" refers to the night when darkness fills the sky.
4. Meaning of "إِذَا وَقَبَ" (When It Spreads)
The word "وقوب" means to enter something and disappear into it.
The "وقوب" of the night refers to its darkness entering and covering everything.
This indicates the middle of the night or the onset of dusk when the sky turns completely dark.
5. Why Seek Refuge from the Darkness of Night?
Nighttime brings dangers that do not exist during the day, such as:
Poisonous creatures (scorpions, snakes, etc.) emerging from their burrows and caves.
Criminals and wrongdoers (such as thieves, murderers, and corrupt individuals) coming out under the cover of darkness.
Increased demonic activity—as mentioned in hadith, when the sun sets, jinn scatter throughout the earth.
6. Prophetic Guidance on Protection at Night
In authentic hadith, the Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace) instructed:
"When the sun sets, gather your children and livestock inside until the first part of the night passes, because at that time, devils spread out."
7. Connection to the People of the Qur'an
These nighttime disturbances can hinder a believer from focusing on the Qur'an and the call to Tawhid.
Since these obstacles prevent spiritual progress, seeking refuge in Allah from them becomes essential.
Conclusion
This verse teaches us to seek Allah’s protection from the dangers of the night, which include physical, spiritual, and unseen harms. The contrast between the light of dawn (الفلق) and the dangers of darkness (غاسق إذا وقب) highlights the importance of seeking refuge in Allah to remain steadfast on the path of guidance and safety.