that are blameworthy: unbelief, wickedness, and disobedience. Thus, this surah teaches seeking refuge from the evil of the harmful deeds a person engages in—unbelief, wickedness, and disobedience. This also includes seeking refuge from the evil of one’s own soul.

Surah al-Falaq teaches seeking refuge from the evil of created things, both generally and specifically. Hence, it says, “the Lord of daybreak,” whereas this surah says, “the Lord of humankind.” For He who brings forth the dawn with light removes the evil in darkness through the goodness in His light. And He who splits the grain and fruit-stone after they have formed removes the evil in the knots of those who blow upon them. Indeed, splitting the grain and fruit-stone is a greater act than untying the knots of those who blow upon them.

Likewise, envy arises from a person’s narrowness of spirit and avarice: his heart does not open to Allah’s bestowal of favor upon him. The Lord of daybreak removes the harm caused by the envier’s narrowness of spirit and avarice.

He, glorified be He, splits nothing open except to bring forth good. He brings forth the dawn with its guiding light and the blazing lamp upon which His servants’ well-being depends. He splits the grain and fruit-stone to bring forth the various fruits and foods that sustain people and their animals. Human beings need to obtain the benefits of guidance and provision, and these are brought about through such splitting open. The Lord who has split things open for people to bring forth what benefits them is the One in whom refuge is sought from whatever harms them. Thus, He is asked to complete His favor by warding off harmful things from His servant, upon whom He first bestowed His blessings.

Splitting one thing open to bring forth another demonstrates perfect power and the bringing forth of something from its opposite, just as He brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living. This, too, is a kind of splitting open. Thus, He, glorified be He, is able to ward off a harmful opposite by means of a beneficial one.