Summary of Qur'an Chapter 114 Surah An-Nas Mankind

Summary of Qur'an Chapter 114 Surah An-Nas Mankind 

Surah An-Nas (The Mankind), the 114th and final chapter of the Qur’an, is a brief but powerful prayer for protection. It consists of six verses revealed in Madinah and instructs believers to seek refuge in Allah — the Lord, King, and God of mankind — from the whispers and deceit of the evil one, whether from jinn or humans. Its focus is on safeguarding the heart, mind, and faith from internal spiritual threats, complementing the previous chapter, Surah Al-Falaq, which deals with external harms. 

As mentioned earlier in the introduction to Surah Al-Falaq, Surah An-Nas is a Madinan surah. In fact, according to my (Dr. Israr Ahmad’s) research, in this last group of Surahs that begins with Surah Al-Mulk, only these two Surahs (Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas) are Madinan. 

Here, incidentally, you should also know about an inverse (reciprocal) proportion between the amount of Madinan and Makkan Qur’an in this last group of surahs and the first group. That is, just as in the first group of Surahs, the Makkan Qur’an is very little (only Surah Al-Fatihah). The Madinan Qur’an is comparatively much more (comprising Surah Al-Baqarah, Surah Aal-e-Imran, Surah An-Nisa, and Surah Al-Ma’idah); in the same way, in this last group under study, the Madinan Qur’an is very little (Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas). In comparison, the Makkan Qur’an amounts to almost two parts. 

In Surah Al-Falaq, we are commanded to seek refuge from those harms and evils that affect a person’s outward circumstances and physical condition. In contrast, in Surah An-Nas, we are instructed to seek refuge or shelter from those evils that influence a person’s inner self and launch an assault on his faith and conviction. 

Regarding Surah An-Nas, it is worth noting that this surah is also paired with Surah Al-Fatihah. There is a deep similarity and connection between the verses of these two surahs, which becomes clear when they are studied together. For example, in the first and second verses of Surah Al-Fatihah, there is praise of Allah and mention of His attributes, along with the acknowledgment that He is the Lord of all worlds, while in the first verse of Surah An-Nas, refuge is sought from the Lord of all mankind. The next two verses of both Surahs (Maliki Yawmid-Deen and Malikin-Nas) show a very obvious similarity in both wording and meaning. 

After this, in Surah Al-Fatihah, there is a pledge to worship Allah and a request for His help and guidance, whereas in parallel, in Surah An-Nas, there is an acknowledgment of Allah’s divinity (اِلٰہِ الناس) along with seeking His protection against the whispers of Satan. It is clear that seeking help to walk on the straight path and seeking refuge from Satan’s attacks are closely related concepts — meaning, “O Allah, we promise to worship You, but we need Your help. For this, we need Your support and Your protection, so that by coming under Your refuge, we may be saved from Satan’s whisperings.” 

From this perspective, when these two surahs are examined, Surah An-Nas appears as a reflection or duplicate of Surah Al-Fatihah (The Opening). 

Hadith 1: 

• Narrated `Ali bin Al-Husain: 

Safiya, the wife of the Prophet (PBUH), told me that she went to Allah's Messenger (PBUH) to visit him in the mosque while he was in I`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan. She had a talk with him for a while, then she got up in order to return home. The Prophet (PBUH) accompanied her. When they reached the gate of the mosque, opposite the door of Um-Salama, two Ansari men were passing by, and they greeted Allah's Apostle. He told them: Do not run away! And said, "She is (my wife) Safiya bint Huyai." Both of them said, "Subhan Allah, (How dare we think of any evil) O Allah's Messenger (PBUH)!" And they felt it. The Prophet said (to them), "Satan reaches everywhere in the human body as blood reaches in it, (everywhere in one's body). I was afraid lest Satan might insert an evil thought in your minds." 

• Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 2035 
• In-book reference: Book 33, Hadith 10 
• USC-MSA web (English) reference: Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 251. 

Hadith 2: 

Safiya, daughter of Huyyay (the wife of Allah's Apostle), reported that while Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) had been observing I'tikaf, I came to visit him one night and talked with him for some time. Then I stood up to go back, and he (Allah's Apostle) also stood up with me to bid me goodbye. She was residing in the house of Usama b. Zaid. The two persons from the Ansar happened to pass by him. When they saw Allah's Apostle (PBUH). They began to walk swiftly; thereupon Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said to them: 

Walk calmly, she is Safiya, daughter of Huyyay... Both of them said: Messenger, hallowed be Allah, (we cannot conceive of ab., ug doubtful even in the remotest corners of our minds), whereupon he said: Satan circulates in the body of man like the circulation of blood, and I was afraid lest it should instill any evil in your heart or anything. 

• Reference: Sahih Muslim 2175a 
• In-book reference: Book 39, Hadith 33 
• USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 26, Hadith 5405. 

Hadith 3: 

• Volume 7, Book 71, Number 644: 
• Narrated 'Aisha: 

Whenever Allah's Apostle went to bed, he used to recite Surat-al-Ikhlas, Surat-al-Falaq, and Surat-an-Nas and then blow on his palms and pass them over his face and those parts of his body that his hands could reach. And when he fell ill, he used to order me to do like that for him. 

Hadith 4: 

Narrated by Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will hold the whole earth and fold the heaven with His right hand and say, ‘I am the King: where are the kings of the earth?'” 

• Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 93, Hadith Number 479. 

Hadith 5: 

Narrated by Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “The (Hell) Fire is surrounded by all kinds of desires and passions, while Paradise is surrounded by all kinds of disliked undesirable things.” 

• Sahih Bukhari Volume 8, Book 76, Hadith Number 494. 

• Inordinate desires and animalistic passions lead to the Fire, while self-control, perseverance, chastity, and all other values, and the obedience to Allah and His Messenger Mohammad PBUH, lead to Paradise. What leads to Hell is easy to do, while what leads to Paradise is difficult to do. 

Source: Dr Israr Ahmed's Book, Bayan-ul-Qur'an.