Surah An-Nas (النَّاس) — Mankind
Surah An-Nas is the last surah in the Quran. Six verses, and they're all one continuous prayer. I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind, the God of mankind, from the harm of the whisperer who whispers into the chests of mankind, whether the whisperer is from the jinn or from people.
It's paired with Surah Al-Falaq, the surah right before it. The two of them are called the mu'awwidhatayn, "the two refuges," and Muslims recite them together for protection.
What makes An-Nas different from Al-Falaq is the kind of harm it's about. Al-Falaq is about external stuff. The dark of night. Sorcery. Envy from people around you. An-Nas is about the harm that's already inside you. The whisper that arrives in your own head. The doubt that makes you start questioning what you know is right. The surah doesn't promise the whisperer will leave you alone. It teaches that the only way to deal with a threat that's already inside is to turn outward, to the One who's bigger than what's in your head.
The Prophet ﷺ (PBUH) had a nightly Sunnah involving this surah. It's in Bukhari. Every night before sleep, he would put his hands together, recite Al-Ikhlas, then Al-Falaq, then An-Nas, blow gently into his palms, then wipe them over his body, starting with his head and face. He did this three times. A lot of Muslims still do it, especially when they're sick, scared, or just having a hard time.
How many verses are in Surah An-Nas?
Six verses. It's the last surah in the Quran.
What is Surah An-Nas for?
Protection. Specifically from the kind of harm that comes from inside, like whispers, doubts, intrusive thoughts, and the influence of jinn or harmful people. It's paired with Al-Falaq for this.
When did the Prophet ﷺ recite Surah An-Nas?
Every night before sleep. He recited Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas three times each, blew into his hands, then wiped them over his body. This is in Bukhari and a lot of Muslims still do it.