الفلق
Surah Al-Falaq
The Daybreak · Surah 113 · Meccan · 5 verses
1قُلۡ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلۡفَلَقِ ١Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the Daybreak.InsightElmalılı explains why the word ‘Say’ is kept in recitation as well. He relates al-Maturidi’s view: this command is addressed not only to the Prophet but to every responsible person. That is why it has remained unchanged through the centuries as advice to all servants.2مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ٢From the evil of that which He created.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this expression covers every kind of evil, material and spiritual, of this world and the next: humans and jinn, germs, fire, sins and one’s own self. For him the soul too is created, so a person also seeks refuge from the evil of their own self.3وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ٣From the evil of the darkness when it is intense.InsightElmalılı explains that the word ‘ghasiq’ has many meanings, rooted in filling, flowing and pouring. When the darkness of night fills and settles, it is called ‘ghasaq’. ‘From ghasaq to falaq’ means from the darkening of night to the brightness of morning.4وَمِن شَرِّ ٱلنَّفَّـٰثَٰتِ فِي ٱلۡعُقَدِ ٤And from the evil of malignant witchcraft.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these knots are not only knots tied in strings. They can also be beliefs and passions knotted into hearts. Every kind of magic and suggestion that blows on these knots and deceives people falls within this meaning.5وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ ٥And from the evil of the envier when he envieth.InsightElmalılı makes a fine distinction: as long as envy stays inside a person, it does no harm to others. The evil begins when envy turns into action, that is, when one sets out to harm through words and deeds.