Surah 113: Al-Falaq

The Holy Qur’an with English Translation and Commentary (Five Volume Commentary)

[a]In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

[a] See 1:1.

Say, ‘I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn,[b] [4871]

[b] 6:96.

[4871] Important Words:

الفلق (dawn) is subs. noun from فلق. They say فلق الصبح i.e. He (God) made the dawn to break. ‘Ali, the Holy Prophet’s Fourth Successor used generally to swear by the words والذی فلق الحبة و برأ النسمة i.e. By Him Who clove the grain, making it to germinate and Who created man or the soul. فلق among other things means, the daybreak or dawn; the whole creation; Hell; the plain appearance of the truth after it had been dubious; a low or depressed place of the earth between two hills; an elevated ground (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

A believer is enjoined to invoke the protection of God, the Lord of فلق. In view of different meanings of the word, he is told to pray:

(1) That when the night of darkness over Islam has passed away and the morning of its bright future dawns, its sun should continue to shine till it reaches the Meridian.

(2) That God might protect him from the hidden and manifest evil of all that He has created, including the evils of heredity, bad environment, defective education or other corrupting influences.

(3) That God should save him from the torments of Hell in this life and in the Hereafter.

(4) That God should enable him to avoid extremes and to adopt the middle course in all things which is the safest course, since the idea implied in ربوبیة is development by degrees and in stages. See also v. 6 below.

From the evil of that which He has created,

And from the evil of darkness when it overspreads,[4872]

[4872] Commentary:

غاسق (darkness) is derived from غسق which means, it became dark or intensely dark. غسقت العین means, the eyes flowed with water. غسق اللبن means, the milk poured forth from the udder. الغاسق means, the night; darkness; the Pleiades when it sets; the moon when it is eclipsed; the sun when it sets; the day when it enters upon the night, etc. (Lane & Aqrab).

وقب (overspreads). They say وقب الظلام i.e. the darkness overspread. وقبت الشمس means, the sun set. وقب الرجل means, the eyes of the man sank. وقب القمر means, the moon became eclipsed (Aqrab).

Commentary:

The verse may refer to the evils of the time when the light of truth becomes extinguished and the darkness of sin and iniquity spreads over the entire face of the earth. Or it may refer to the evils of the time when one is overwhelmed by distress and privation, when it is darkness all around him, and the last ray of hope disappears. See also last verse of the Surah.

And from the evil of those who blow upon the knots of mutual relationships to undo them,[4873]

[4873] Important Words:

النفاثات (who blow) is derived from نفث which means, he spat. نفثت الحیة الدم means, the serpent emitted poison. نفث الله الشیء فی القلب means, God inspired him with a thing. نفاثات means, those groups that spit or emit much poison; those who whisper evil suggestions (Aqrab).

Commentary:

The reference in the verse is to those whisperers of evil suggestions who cause solemn contracts and friendships to break down, and who inspire people with a spirit of defiance of established authority or with violating the oath of fealty, and thus seek to create discord and dissension in the Muslim Community and to encourage fissiparous tendencies among them. For a detailed note on the whole Surah see next verse.

And from the evil of the envier when he envies.’[4874]

[4874] Commentary:

The Surah deals with the material side of man’s life as does the next Surah with its spiritual side. Man is confronted with various kinds of dangers and difficulties in life. When he is engaged in an undertaking of a serious import, particularly when he takes upon himself to spread the light of truth, forces of darkness surround him on all sides; and when he proceeds further men of evil designs bar his way and create all sorts of impediments and difficulties. When at last success dawns on him, persons of a jealous nature seek to deprive him of the fruit of his labour. As protection against all these difficulties, obstacles and perils in life, a believer is enjoined to invoke the help and assistance of the Lord of فلق (dawn) to give him light when there is darkness all around; to protect him from the evil designs of mischief-makers and the nefarious machinations of jealous persons. What a complete and comprehensive prayer!

The last two Surahs of the Holy Qur’an may also specially refer to the time of the Promised Messiah and Mahdi. Verse 4 of the present Surah may refer to the eclipses of the sun and the moon which, according to a well-known saying of the Holy Prophet were to take place in the time of the Mahdi (Qutni), and the last two verses may refer to his enemies who will create all sorts of difficulties for him and will burn with rage as they will see his mission making rapid progress.

حاسد (the envious one) may also refer to the Dajjal, the Arch Envier who will give the Promised Mahdi an obstinate fight.