entail the fulfillment of what is sought: warding off the evil from which refuge is sought, or removing it.

This will become clear only through the discussion in the third chapter, concerning that from which refuge is sought. The correspondence mentioned above will then become apparent. We therefore say:

Chapter Three
The Types of Evil from Which Refuge Is Sought in These Two Surahs

The evil that befalls a servant is of two kinds:

The first consists of sins he has committed for which he is punished. This comes about through his own actions, intentions, and efforts. This evil consists of the sins and their consequences. It is the greater and more enduring of the two evils, and the one most closely bound to the person concerned.

The second is evil inflicted upon him by another. That other is either morally accountable or not. A morally accountable being is either of his own kind—a human—or of another kind—a jinn. Those that are not morally accountable include vermin, venomous creatures «1», and others.

These two surahs encompass seeking refuge from all these evils in the most concise and comprehensive wording, expressing the intended meaning most clearly and seeking refuge most inclusively. No evil remains outside the scope of that from which refuge is sought in them.

Surah al-Falaq encompasses seeking refuge from four things:

First: the evil of all created beings that possess evil, in general.

Second: the evil of darkness as it settles.

Third: the evil of those who blow on knots.

Fourth: the evil of an envier when he envies.