الناس
The last surah in the Quran. A short prayer asking Allah to protect us from bad whispers. One of the two surahs of refuge.
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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,"
The King of mankind,
The God of mankind,
From the harm of the sneaky whisperer who hides away,
Who whispers bad thoughts into the hearts of people,
From among the jinn and mankind.
About An-Nas
An-Nas means "mankind" or "people." It is the very last surah in the Quran. Along with Al-Falaq (Surah 113), it is called one of the Mu'awwidhatayn, which means "the two surahs of seeking refuge."
An-Nas is a short prayer asking Allah to protect us from a special kind of harm: the bad whispers (waswas) that come into our hearts. These whispers can come from shaytan or from people trying to lead us away from good. The surah teaches that Allah is our Lord, our King, and our God, and only He can truly keep us safe.
Many Muslims recite An-Nas before sleeping each night, along with Al-Falaq and Al-Ikhlas (the three Quls). It is also recited when worried, scared, or feeling tempted to do something wrong.
An-Nas and Al-Falaq are called the Mu'awwidhatayn, "the two surahs of seeking refuge." The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recited them every night before sleep, blowing into his palms and rubbing them over his body. Today, Muslims still follow this beautiful sunnah.
Discover the three Quls →Surahs paired with An-Nas
An-Nas is one of the three Quls, recited together for protection and blessing. Al-Fatiha is also a beautiful companion:
For Parents
What does An-Nas mean?
An-Nas (الناس) means "mankind" or "people." The word "an-nas" appears five times in this short surah.
It is the very last surah in the Quran, and "an-nas" is also the very last word of the Quran.
Why is An-Nas called a surah of refuge?
An-Nas, along with Al-Falaq, is called one of the Mu'awwidhatayn, which means "the two surahs of seeking refuge." Both are short prayers asking Allah for protection from harm.
An-Nas focuses specifically on protection from harmful whispers and bad thoughts that come into the heart.
What are the Mu'awwidhatayn?
The Mu'awwidhatayn (المعوذتان) are the two surahs of seeking protection: Al-Falaq (Surah 113) and An-Nas (Surah 114).
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) often recited both before bed, when feeling sick, or when seeking blessing and protection. They are usually recited together.
How long is Surah An-Nas?
An-Nas is six verses long. It takes about 15 seconds to recite.
Most children can memorize it within a few days, especially because the word "an-nas" repeats throughout the surah and gives it a clear rhythm.
What is a waswas?
A waswas (وَسْوَاس) is a whisper, usually a bad thought or doubt that creeps into a person's heart. Sometimes it comes from shaytan, sometimes from people trying to mislead us.
The Quran teaches us to seek Allah's protection from waswas through this short surah.
What are the three Quls?
The three Quls are Al-Ikhlas (Surah 112), Al-Falaq (Surah 113), and An-Nas (Surah 114). They are called the Quls because each begins with the Arabic word "Qul," meaning "Say."
Many families recite all three before sleep each night, blowing into their palms and rubbing them over their bodies, following the Prophet's sunnah.
How can my child memorize An-Nas?
An-Nas is rhythmic and repetitive. The word "an-nas" appears in nearly every verse, which helps children grasp the structure. Play the audio at bedtime.
Many Muslim families recite it together every night, so children naturally absorb it. Most kids learn An-Nas within a week.
When was Surah An-Nas revealed?
Most scholars say An-Nas was revealed in Medina, after the Prophet's migration. Some narrations link it to a moment when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) needed protection from harm.
From the very beginning, it has been recited for refuge.