His words in the hadith, “I seek refuge,” mean: “I turn for protection.” Seeking refuge means turning to someone for shelter and protection. Its true nature is to flee from something you fear to one who will safeguard you from it and protect you from its evil. Thus, one who seeks refuge in Allah has fled from whatever may harm or destroy him to his Lord and Master. He has fled to Him, cast himself before Him, sought His protection, appealed to Him for shelter, and turned to Him for refuge.

As for “the words of Allah,” some say that they are the Noble Quran, while others say that they are His words of creation and decree. “Perfect” means complete and flawless, subject to none of the deficiency or defect that affects human speech.

His words, “from the evil of what He has created,” mean: from every evil present in any created being, whether an animal or otherwise; whether human or jinn; whether a harmful creeping creature, a beast, a wind, or a thunderbolt—in short, from every kind of affliction in this world and the Hereafter.1

It is authentically reported in the Sunans of Abu Dāwūd and al-Tirmidhī, among other works, that Abd Allāh ibn Khubayb, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “We went out on a rainy and intensely dark night in search of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, so that he might lead us in prayer. When I found him, he said, ‘Say something.’ I said nothing. He then said, ‘Say something.’ Again, I said nothing. Then he said once more, ‘Say something.’ I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what should I say?’ He replied, ‘Recite “Say: He is Allah—the One” and the two surahs of refuge three times in the evening and three times in the morning; they will suffice you against everything.’”2

This hadith therefore demonstrates the merit of reciting these three surahs—“Say: He is Allah—the One,” “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak,” and “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of humankind”—three times every morning and evening. Whoever observes this practice will, by Allah’s leave, find them sufficient protection against everything; that is, they will ward off evils and afflictions. Success comes from Allah alone, who has no partner.