The Four Quls: Arabic text, English translation and benefits

The Four Quls are among the first surahs most children memorize and among the last words many Muslims say at night. They are short, rhythmic and easy to love. But they are also a complete lesson in tawheed, sincerity and seeking refuge in Allah.

Which surahs are the Four Quls?

“Qul” means “say” in Arabic. Four surahs begin with this command, and together they are popularly called the Four Quls:

Al-Falaq and An-Nas are known in the Quran and Sunnah as al-Mu‘awwidhatayn — the two surahs of seeking refuge. The grouping of all four as “the Four Quls” is a later study convention, not a name used by the Prophet ﷺ.

1. Surah Al-Kafirun (109)

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim.
Qul ya ayyuhal-kafirun.
La a'budu ma ta'budun.
Wa la antum 'abiduna ma a'bud.
Wa la ana 'abidum ma 'abattum.
Wa la antum 'abiduna ma a'bud.
Lakum dinukum wa liya din.

1. Say, “O disbelievers,
2. I do not worship what you worship.
3. Nor are you worshippers of what I worship.
4. Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship.
5. Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship.
6. For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.”

Translation: Saheeh International.

The surah is a declaration of pure worship: no compromise, no mixing, no confusion about who is being served. It was revealed when the leaders of Quraysh offered the Prophet ﷺ a bargain — worship our gods for a year, and we will worship yours. The answer is a clean line that protects belief from being diluted.

The Prophet ﷺ recited it in the two sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr and in the two sunnah rak‘ahs of Maghrib, and it is also recited in the final rak‘ah of Witr.

2. Surah Al-Ikhlas (112)

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim.
Qul huwallahu ahad.
Allahus-samad.
Lam yalid wa lam yulad.
Wa lam yakul-lahu kufuwan ahad.

1. Say, “He is Allah, [who is] One,
2. Allah, the Eternal Refuge.
3. He neither begets nor is born,
4. Nor is there to Him any equivalent.”

Translation: Saheeh International.

In four short verses, Al-Ikhlas answers the deepest question a person can ask: who is God? Allah is one, self-sufficient, unbegotten and without equal. The Prophet ﷺ said that this surah is equal to a third of the Quran in reward (Sahih al-Bukhari 5013), because it summarizes the doctrine of tawheed that runs through the entire Book.

That reward is a mercy, not a shortcut. It does not replace reading the Quran; it shows how much weight a few sincere words can carry.

3. Surah Al-Falaq (113)

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim.
Qul a'udhu bi rabbil-falaq.
Min sharri ma khalaq.
Wa min sharri ghasiqin idha waqab.
Wa min sharrin-naffathati fil-'uqad.
Wa min sharri hasidin idha hasad.

1. Say, “I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak
2. From the evil of that which He created
3. And from the evil of darkness when it settles
4. And from the evil of the blowers in knots
5. And from the evil of an envier when he envies.”

Translation: Saheeh International.

Al-Falaq names the Lord of the daybreak — the One who splits the darkness of night with light — and asks Him for refuge from three specific harms: the general evil of creation, the evil of night when it settles, and the evil of envy and those who practice harmful magic.

The surah does not teach fear of magic; it teaches where to take that fear. It was revealed at a time when the Prophet ﷺ was affected by a spell, and Allah answered with refuge in Himself.

4. Surah An-Nas (114)

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim.
Qul a'udhu bi rabbin-nas.
Malikin-nas.
Ilahin-nas.
Min sharril-waswasil-khannas.
Alladhi yuwaswisu fi sudurin-nas.
Minal-jinnati wan-nas.

1. Say, “I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
2. The Sovereign of mankind,
3. The God of mankind,
4. From the evil of the retreating whisperer —
5. Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind —
6. From among the jinn and mankind.”

Translation: Saheeh International.

An-Nas turns from external harm to the harm inside the chest: the whisper that suggests doubt, delay and disobedience. Allah is invoked by three names — Lord, Sovereign and God — because the whisperer attacks the heart from every direction. The whisperer retreats when Allah is remembered, which is why the surah is a daily practice and not a one-time cure.

What are the benefits of the Four Quls?

The hadith describe real benefits, but they are the benefits of Quran and remembrance, not a guarantee of worldly results:

• Sufficient protection. The Prophet ﷺ said that reciting Al-Ikhlas and the two Mu‘awwidhat three times in the morning and evening suffices against everything (Abu Dawud 5082, al-Tirmidhi 3575; graded hasan by al-Albani).
• Before sleep. Aisha reported that the Prophet ﷺ would recite them, blow into his hands and wipe over his face and body (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017).
• After prayer. Reciting the Mu‘awwidhat after each obligatory prayer is reported in the Sunnah and is a practice many mosques teach to children first.
• Reward for Quran. Every letter of the Quran carries reward. Al-Ikhlas carries the reward of a third of the Quran, as the authentic hadith states.
• Protection from envy and harm. Al-Falaq and An-Nas name the dangers plainly and place them under Allah's authority.

What they are not is a replacement for medicine, safety, or effort. They are a means of seeking Allah's help, not a substitute for taking the means He created.

When to recite them

Morning and evening

Recite each surah three times after Fajr and after Maghrib, ideally before the sun rises and before it sets. This is the practice described in the hadith of the man who complained of pain and was told to recite them three times morning and evening.

Before sleeping

Recite Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas, blow lightly into cupped hands, and wipe over the face and as much of the body as possible, starting with the head and chest. Repeat three times, as Aisha described.

After obligatory prayers

Many narrations place the Mu‘awwidhat after the concluding dhikr of each prayer. If you already recite them after Fajr and Maghrib, add the other three prayers as a simple habit.

When fear or anxiety rises

There is no need to wait for a specific time. The surahs are dua. Recite them slowly, with meaning, and follow the recitation with the ordinary means of safety and professional help where needed.

How to learn the Four Quls properly

Because the surahs are short, many people learn them by imitation without learning the rules that keep the meaning intact. A few minutes with a teacher prevents years of repeated mistakes.

• Listen first. Choose one reciter and listen to each surah several times before reading.
• Read the transliteration as a bridge, not a destination. Move to the Arabic script as soon as possible.
• Learn the meaning. Understanding what you are saying turns recitation into dua.
• Get correction. Ask a qualified teacher to listen to your recitation, especially the letters ha, ha, kha and the elongated vowels.
• Use them daily. A surah recited once a month is a memory; a surah recited twice a day becomes a habit.

Frequently asked questions