as when the earth splits open to yield vegetation and clouds to release rain.”

Many Quran commentators have said that falaq means daybreak. Thus one says, “This is clearer than daybreak,” using either falaq al-subh or faraq al-subh. Others have said that falaq means all creation.

As for the claim that it is a valley in Hell, a tree in Hell, or one of the names of Hell, its soundness is not established either by the meaning of the word or by any report from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Nor is there any wisdom in singling out His lordship over such a thing. This is unlike saying “the Lord of creation,” “the Lord of everything that splits open,” or “the Lord of the light He brings forth for His servants by day.” Singling these out for mention reveals the greatness of the Lord in whom refuge is sought.

If falaq is understood to have both a general and a particular meaning, then with its general reference to creation, I seek refuge “from the evil of what He has created”; and with its particular reference to daylight, I seek refuge “from the evil of darkness when it settles.”

For “that which darkens” has been interpreted as the night, as in His words:

“Establish prayer from the sun’s decline until the darkness of the night.”

This is the view of most Quran commentators and scholars of the Arabic language. They said that “settles” means “enters into everything.”

Al-Zajjāj said: “Ghāsiq means that which is cold. Night is called ghāsiq because it is colder than day.”

Al-Tirmidhī and al-Nasā’ī related from ‘Ā’ishah that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, looked at the moon and said: “‘Ā’ishah, seek refuge in Allah from its evil, for it is the darkening one when it settles.”

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