Tafsir of Surah An-Nas in the Quran

Introduction

The Surah An Nas, the last chapter presented in the Quran, is deemed to be blessed and highly regarded by the Muslims believers around the globe.

This short surah with only six verses reminds us that in the existing battle between good and evil within ourselves we are always involved. Through the comprehension of the last surah in the Quran, Muslims gain a deeper faith and realize the mightiness of Allah’s words.

By thinking through Surah An Nas in a deep and thoughtful way, you will find it easier to deal with the problems of life, and to make your life more in line with the teaching of Allah. This sure stands as a confirmation of the lasting wisdom and guidance, which is found within the Quran. This gives Muslims source of inspiration and strength.

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Surah An Nas translation

قُلۡ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ (1) مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ (2) إِلَٰهِ ٱلنَّاسِ (3) مِن شَرِّ ٱلۡوَسۡوَاسِ ٱلۡخَنَّاسِ (4) ٱلَّذِي يُوَسۡوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ ٱلنَّاسِ (5) مِنَ ٱلۡجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ (6)

Say: “I seek refuge with (Allâh) the Lord of mankind.
The King of mankind.
The Ilâh (God) of mankind
From the evil of the whisperer (devil who whispers evil in the hearts of men) who withdraws (from his whispering in one’s heart after one remembers Allâh).
Who whispers in the breasts of mankind.
Of jinn and men.

Tafsir (Explanation) of Surah An-Nas

The Shaytan is the source of all evil

This surah is a reminder that people should seek refuge with the lord and human creator from the shaytan, the devil, who is the origin of all evil.
He attempts through whispering into their hearts, to tempt people and do evil. The devil then makes evil good-looking to them and shows them good thing that they will like doing it.
He also makes goodness bad-looking for them, tries to put them out from it, shows the opposite of its image to them.
This is how he does it every time, whispering and disappearing; he goes when one person remembers his Lord and seeks his help to protect him.

Tafseer Surah al Nas and Benefits

What Should the Believer do to protect himself ?

The people should implore for help, seek refuge in Allah’s divinity and seek protection from Allah, by worshipping Allah which is the purpose for which Allah has created them.
That purpose cannot be achieved except by fighting the evil of the enemy, who wants to cut them off and prevent them from worshipping Allah and
Making them among his party, so that they will become the inhabitants of hell fire.
Waswas (devilish whispers) may be caused by the jinn or by humans, hence Allah says in the verse number (6): “Of jinn and men”.

Surah An-Nas Benefits

Allah will grant its reciter refuge

‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir reported that the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Have you not seen that some verses were revealed (to me) tonight the like of which has never been seen before? They are: {Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the daybreak} [Surat al-Falaq] and {Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind.} [Sūrat An-Nās]”. Sahih/Authentic. – [Muslim]

This means that there is no Surah of Qur’an which all the verses provide refuge for its reciter from the evil among the evils like these two Surahs.

Using it as a Ruqyah before going to the bed

Aishah reported: When the Prophet (PBUH) went to bed every night, he would join his palms together and blow into them and recite the Surahs al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, and an-Nas, and then he would wipe with his hands over as many parts of his body as he could, starting with his head, face, and the front of his body. He used to do that three times. In another version: When he was ill, he would command me to do this for him.”

The things learned from this hadith are:

From the behavior of the Prophet, who made ruqyah for himself when he fell ill and when he went to sleep, shows the greatness of the blessing of ruqyah in these two positions.
It is suggested to recite the refuge-seeking Surahs (Surah Al Falaq and Surah An Nas) before going to sleep and to seek refuge in Allah from anything feared during sleeping time.
The permission for recitation of ruqyah and its performance for others are also allowed.

Sources:

Translation of the Quran meanings into English by Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali and Muhsen Khan.
Tafseer As -Sa’di, Abdur-Rahman Nasir as-Sa‘di, Translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab.