Commentary on Sūrat al-Falaq (Daybreak)

“In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.”

“Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak,
from the evil of what He has created,
from the evil of the darkening one when it sets in,
from the evil of those who blow upon knots,
and from the evil of an envier when he envies.”

The basmala has already been discussed.

“Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak.” The Lord of daybreak is Allah, and al-falaq means daybreak. It may also have a broader meaning, encompassing everything that Allah Most High cleaves open, such as daybreak, date stones, and grains. Allah Most High says: “Indeed, Allah is the Cleaver of grain and date stones,” and He says: “The Cleaver of daybreak.”

“From the evil of what He has created”—that is, from the evil of all created things, including one’s own soul, for the soul is ever commanding one to evil. Thus, when you say, “from the evil of what He has created,” the first thing included is your own soul. As stated in the Sermon of Need: “We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our own souls.” (1) The words “from the evil of what He has created” include the devils among humankind and the jinn, harmful creeping creatures, and other things.

“And from the evil of the darkening one when it sets in.” It has been said that the “darkening one” is the night, and it has also been said that it is the moon. The correct view is that it encompasses both. As for its referring to the night, Allah Most High says: “Establish prayer from the sun’s decline until the darkness of night” [al-Isrā: 78]. Harmful creatures and wild beasts are more prevalent at night; hence refuge is sought from the evil of the darkening one—that is, the night.

As for the moon, a hadith reports that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—showed Aishah the moon and said: “This is the darkening one.” (2) And it was only