Al-Falaq

←  Sura 113 of the Quran  →
الفلق
al-Falaq
The Daybreak

Arabic text · English translation

Classification Meccan
Other names (Eng.) Dawn
The Rising Dawn
Position Juz' 30
Structure 5 verses, 23 words, 71 letters

Surah al-Falaq (Arabic: سورة الفلق‎, Sūratu l-Falaq, "Dawn, Daybreak") is the 113th surah of the Qur'an. It is a brief five verse invocation, asking Allah for protection from the evil of Satan. This surah and the 114th (and last) surah in the Qur'an, an-Nas, are collectively referred to as al-Mu'awwidhatayn.

The word "al-Falaq" in the first verse, a generic term referring to the process of 'splitting', has been restricted in most translations to one particular type of splitting, namely 'daybreak' or 'dawn'.[1]

Verse 4 refers to one of soothsayer techniques to partially tie a knot, utter a curse and spit into the knot and pull it tight. In the pre-Islamic period, soothsayers claimed the power to cause various illnesses. According to soothsayers the knot had to be found and untied before the curse could be lifted. This practice is condemned in verse 4.[2]

This sura, along with the following sura, Sura 114, begins with 'I seek refuge', which is why both are referred to as al-Mu'awwidhatayn.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Leaman, ed. by Oliver (2008). The Qur'an : an encyclopedia (Reprinted. ed.). Routledge. ISBN 9-78-0-415-32639-1.
  2. ↑ Newby, Gordon D. (2002). A concise encyclopedia of Islam. Oneworld. ISBN 1851682953.

External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Previous sura:
al-Ikhlas		 Surah 113 Next sura:
An-Nas
Arabic text