1
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ
Qul a'udhu bi rabbin nas
Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
سورة الناس
Surah An Nas (Surah 114)
Read Surah An Nas in Arabic with transliteration, English translation, verse by verse audio, meaning and the virtues of this short chapter that closes the Quran.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2
مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ
Malikin nas
The King of mankind,
3
إِلَـٰهِ ٱلنَّاسِ
Ilahin nas
The God of mankind,
4
مِن شَرِّ ٱلْوَسْوَاسِ ٱلْخَنَّاسِ
Min sharril waswasil khannas
From the evil of the whisperer who slinks away,
5
ٱلَّذِى يُوَسْوِسُ فِى صُدُورِ ٱلنَّاسِ
Alladhi yuwaswisu fi sudurin nas
Who whispers into the hearts of people,
6
مِنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ
Minal jinnati wan nas
From among the jinn and mankind.
Introduction to Surah An Nas
Surah An Nas is the 114th and final chapter of the Quran. It has six short verses and is among the first surahs many Muslims memorize. The name An Nas means "mankind" or "the people", a word repeated in nearly every verse. The surah teaches the believer to seek refuge in Allah from the hidden whispering of Shaytan, which targets the heart rather than the body.
Scholars differ on whether it was revealed in Makkah or Madinah, and both opinions appear in classical tafsir. What is agreed is that it is paired with Surah Al Falaq (113), and together they are called Al Mu'awwidhatayn, "the two surahs of seeking refuge".
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Arabic name | سورة الناس |
| Surah number | 114 |
| Verses | 6 |
| Position | Last surah of the Mushaf, in Juz 30 (Juz Amma) |
| Revelation | Makki or Madani, scholars differ |
| Paired with | Surah Al Falaq (113) |
| Main theme | Seeking refuge in Allah from Shaytan's whispers |
Meaning and Tafsir, Verse by Verse
Verses 1 to 3: Three Names of Allah
The surah opens with the command "Say", then names Allah by three attributes: Rabb (Lord and Sustainer), Malik (King and Ruler) and Ilah (the One worthy of worship). Many scholars note that the progression moves from care, to authority, to devotion. A person asking for protection is turning to the One who nurtures, commands and deserves worship, which is why the seeker can be confident in His shelter.
Verses 4 to 6: The Whisperer
Al Waswas refers to the repeated whispering of evil suggestions, and Al Khannas describes one who withdraws when Allah is remembered. Ibn Kathir and other mufassirun explain that Shaytan whispers to the heart of a human being and retreats when the person remembers Allah, and returns when the person grows heedless. The final verse shows that such whispering can come from the jinn and also from people.
Key Arabic Words
أَعُوذُI seek refuge, I take shelter
رَبّLord, Sustainer, Cherisher
مَلِكKing, Sovereign
إِلَـٰهGod, the One worshipped
ٱلْوَسْوَاسThe whisperer, the repeated evil suggestion
ٱلْخَنَّاسThe one who withdraws and hides
صُدُورChests, hearts
ٱلْجِنَّةThe jinn
Virtues of Surah An Nas
- A unique revelation. The Prophet ﷺ told Uqbah ibn Amir that verses had been revealed whose like had not been seen, naming Al Falaq and An Nas (Sahih Muslim).
- Before sleep. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that each night the Prophet ﷺ would join his palms, blow into them, recite Al Ikhlas, Al Falaq and An Nas, then wipe over his body as far as he could reach, three times (Sahih al Bukhari).
- Morning and evening. The Prophet ﷺ taught that reciting Al Ikhlas, Al Falaq and An Nas three times each morning and evening is sufficient for a person (Sunan Abi Dawud, Sunan at Tirmidhi).
- After the prayer. Uqbah ibn Amir reported that the Prophet ﷺ commanded him to recite the Mu'awwidhat after every prayer (Sunan Abi Dawud, Sunan an Nasa'i).
Lessons and Reflections
- Protection is sought from Allah alone, using His names and attributes.
- Evil whispers are a real spiritual challenge, and the cure is the remembrance of Allah.
- Harm can come from unseen forces and from people, so a believer stays alert and relies on Allah.
- Short surahs carry deep meaning and are worth reciting daily with understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many verses are in Surah An Nas?
Surah An Nas has 6 verses. It is Surah number 114, the last chapter of the Quran.
What does An Nas mean?
An Nas means mankind or the people. The word appears repeatedly through the surah.
Is Surah An Nas Makki or Madani?
Scholars have differed. Many classify it as Makki, while others say it was revealed in Madinah. Both views are recorded in classical tafsir.
When should Surah An Nas be recited?
It is recited in prayer, in the morning and evening adhkar together with Al Ikhlas and Al Falaq, after the obligatory prayers, and before sleep.
What is Al Mu'awwidhatayn?
It means "the two surahs of seeking refuge", namely Surah Al Falaq (113) and Surah An Nas (114).
Continue Reading
Explore more on Islamic Info Center, including duas for protection and our Ramadan 2027 calendars. You can also read the same surah with other translations on Quran.com.
Arabic text follows the Uthmani script. Translation is a simple English rendering of the meanings and is not a substitute for the Arabic Quran. Audio is streamed from the Quran.com audio library (recitation by Mishary Alafasy). Reviewed by Mohammad Mamun, Islamic Info Center, www.islamicinfocenter.com.