Basic Questions about the Surahs
What does Al-Falaq mean?
The Morning
Where were al Falaq and an Naas revealed? Makkah or Madinah?
The Hadiths indicate that the Mu`awwidhatayn (Al-Falaq and An-Nas) were revealed in Madinah.
Should you be afraid of the dark? Why or Why not. Explain in the light of Surah al Falaq.
Allah is the Lord of the Night and the Day. He can protect us whether its darkness or light. We should not be afraid of the Dark. Rather we should recite al Ikhlaas, al Falaq and an Naas whenever we are afraid of the dark.
Allah created us from angels from _______ and jinns from _________ .
1. light
2. smokeless fire
Your friend won gold in the recent BJJ competition whereas you lost and did not win any medals. You looked at him and felt really bad. What can you do to make sure you don't become jealous (haasid) of him and don't afflict him with the evil eye?
1. I will be happy for my friend. I will ask Allah to bless him (I can say Allahumma baarik or Baarak Allah feeh)
2. I will ask Allah to make me successful as well in future competitions.
3. I will work harder during my training and classes.
What is غاسق ?
The night as it approaches/the sun when it sets and darkness comes over the sky
Mention any two times you can read these surahs to help you
1. Before bed to protect us
2. When we are sick or in pain
3. When we are suffering from bad thoughts (waswaas) from the Shaytan
4. For anyone afflicted by magic or evil eye
We seek refuge from darkness in Surah al Falaq. Can you think of any two harms that can happen in darkness?
Shayateen spread in darkness, thieves and evil people plot their actions in darkness, it is easy for enemies to hide in darkness, harmful insects and reptiles can bite in darkness, etc.
How can we fight the waswaasil-khannas?
Fight shaytan and evil people by remembering Allah and saying (اعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم)
What is sihr or magic? What do the blower of the knots do?
Sihr is the evil act of trying to harm other people. Magicians get some type of string or rope, then tie it into different kinds of knots, and then blow on these knots and say some made-up words. Muslims don’t do this.
We seek refuge in Allah from only ONE thing in Surah an Naas. Who/what is that?
Shaytan
How did Prophet Muhammad (saw) recite al Ikhlas, al Falaq and an Naas before he went to bed? Describe his specific actions
Whenever the Prophet go went to bed every night, he used to cup his hands together and blow over it after reciting Surat Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas, and then rub his hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub, starting with his head, face and front of his body.
Everything Allah has created is good. But things that are good can also harm us. Can you think of 2 examples of things that are good, but they can also harm us?
(open-ended)
Examples - too much rain can cause floods, too much movement of the earth can cause earthquakes, over-eating can cause sickness, etc.
Who is ar-Rabb? How does he take care of us?
It means the One who created and keeps something alive and well. So Allah created us, but not only that! He also keeps us living, every moment of every day!
You have a friend. Every time you are with him, you end up doing thinking and doing bad deeds. Using bad words, backbiting people, missing your salah. When you want to pray, he stops you or distracts you. When you do something good, he finds many faults with you. Is he a good friend? Why or why not?
No, he is not a good friend because he is making us disobey Allah. We can try to remind him to be good and to obey Allah. But if he continues to disobey Allah, we should not listen to his whispers of disobeying Allah. Allah has asked us to seek refuge from anyone who whispers bad - from jinn or man.
Surah al Falaq seeks refuge in only One Name of Allah. Can you tell us what that Name is?
ar-Rabb
What did the prophet say about reading these Surahs in the morning and in the evenings?
It will suffice you against anything.
We seek refuge in the Lord of Daybreak. Can you think what would happen if there was no day? What would happen to the earth? How is the day useful to us?
(mention)
Can you explain who is "waswaasil khannas". What is his main job and how does he do it? (hint: something to do with our chest).
Waswaasil Khannas can be anyone who whispers bad ideas to us. It can be from bad jinns or evil people. Shaytan stays near our chest and heart. Every time we forget Allah, he will whisper evil things to our heart. Every time a person remembers Allah, Shaytan runs away. And he coming back and doing this, every day.
Your parents love you. But everytime they ask you to do something (pray Salah, do your homework, clean your room, say sorry to your friend or sibling, recite the Quran) you start getting angry and get bad thoughts about your parents. Why are you getting these bad thoughts? What should you do when you get them. Explain thinking about the lesson of Surah an Naas.
These evil thoughts are from Shaytan. He whispers us to be bad to our parents and disobey them because that will make Allah angry with us. He makes it seem like these thoughts are coming from us. We have to fight these evil whispers. Recite protection, and obey our parents.
Surah an Naas seeks refuge in THREE Names of Allah. Can you tell us what those Names are?
ar-Rabb, al-Malik, al-Ilah
Why were the معوذتين revealed? (hint: someone had done something to Prophet Muhammad (saw)
The incident of Magic on Prophet (saw)
Can you name all the 4 things from which we seek Allah's refuge from in Surah al Falaq?
- Evil of what He created
- Darkness
- Those who blow into knots
- The envier (the one who is jealous)
Surah al Falaq seeks protection from four things but Surah an Naas from only ONE. Yet we use three Names of Allah to seek protection from that one thing. What is that One thing we seek protection from? Why do you think it is SO important to seek protection from that thing?
That one thing is SHAYTAN. He is our chief enemy, he hates us and has promised to harm us. That is why we must always be careful of him. He is so evil so we use THREE Names of Allah to seek protection from Him
Your friend won gold in the recent BJJ competition whereas you lost and did not win any medals. You looked at him and felt really bad. What can you do to make sure you don't become jealous (haasid) of him and don't afflict him with the evil eye?
1. I will be happy for my friend. I will ask Allah to bless him (I can say Allahumma baarik or Baarak Allah feeh)
2. I will ask Allah to make me successful as well in future competitions.
3. I will work harder during my training and classes.