CHAPTER 114: AN-NAS (MANKIND / THE PEOPLE)

It was revealed in Mecca. It consists of six verses. It takes its name from the word "nas" (mankind) mentioned within it.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

114/1-6 I SEEK REFUGE IN THE LORD OF MANKIND

Translation

1- 6- (O my Prophet!) Say: “I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind [the King of kings and the Owner), the God of mankind (the One who is the God of humans), from the evil of the whispering, lurking (human and jinn devils) who whisper into the hearts of mankind (encouraging sin, hindering worship, and withdrawing as one seeks refuge in Allah).”

Commentary

(1-3). ‘Say: ‘I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,’ ‘the King of mankind,’ ‘the God of mankind’:’

The "Lord of mankind" is Allah, who created, nourished, raised, protected, and disciplined them. The "King of mankind" is Allah, who is their Owner, their Sovereign, who manages their affairs, and who establishes the decrees that will ensure the safety and happiness of humanity. The "God of mankind" is Allah, who is their object of worship, who possesses the attributes of divinity and worthiness of worship, and besides whom no one else truly possesses these attributes. (O. CELIK, 5/672)

(4). ‘From the evil of the lurking devil,’

The word "Waswas" refers both to the invisible devil who whispers to people and to the human devils—people of devilish character—who secretly set traps for people to make them do evil. The word "Khannas," which we translated as "lurking/sneaky," is an adjective meaning "one who acts secretly and makes a habit of staying behind." (QUR’AN WAY 5/725)

(5). ‘Who whispers into the hearts of mankind.’

"Vasvasa" (whispering) means doubt, hesitation, delusion, secret word, or the thought passing through a person's mind; as a term, it means an idea of uncertain origin, doubt, or delusion that appears in the mind involuntarily and drags the person toward an evil or useless thought or behavior. Instilling such a thought in someone is called "giving waswasa." Whispering is generally felt as an internal urge that directs a person toward evil, anti-religious, and immoral behaviors. The source of whispering in this sense is the devil. Indeed, many verses state that the devil whispers to humans (e.g., cf. A’raf 7/20; Taha 20/120). Although the devil, who is the symbol of evil, has a real existence, it is thought that he exerts his influence on humans through psychological ways. (DIA ISLAM ENCYCLOPEDIA, IV/458). Another source of whispering is the person's own soul (nafs). Verse 16 of Surah Qaf also expresses this. (QUR’AN WAY 5/724, 725)

Hadith: Safiyyah (our mother) visited the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) while he was in i'tikaf. The Messenger of Allah went out with her at night to take her back to her home. At that moment, two men from the Ansar met him. When these two men saw the Prophet (pbuh), they hurried away. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "Slow down, the woman with me is Safiyyah, the daughter of Huyay." They said, "O Messenger of Allah, we glorify Allah (from thinking that the Messenger of Allah would engage in inappropriate behavior)." Thereupon, the Prophet (pbuh) said: "Indeed, the devil circulates in the body of the son of Adam like blood. I feared that the devil might cast something or some evil into your hearts." (From Bukhari and Muslim; S. HAWWA 16/475)

(6). ‘Whether from among the jinn or from among mankind.’

(...) There are two types of devils who try to deceive people and deviate them from the right path: (1) The first are the jinn devils, who want to drag people into the wrong path by dropping whisperings into them. Every person has a devil who tries to drag them into evils and make evil deeds look beautiful in their eyes. Indeed, the Prophet (pbuh) reported that "every person has a jinn (devil) belonging to him." (Darimi, Rikak 25; Musnad 1/385). In another hadith, it is said, "The devil circulates in the blood vessels of the son of Adam." (Bukhari). (2) The other devil who deviates people from the right path is the "human devils." These are people who have lost their criteria of reality and value and have caught themselves in the current of carnal pleasures and desires. In this sense, they are people who have become slaves of the devil. These people often approach others appearing as if they are on the side of truth (surat-i haq) and direct them toward behaviors that end in frustration. (QUR’AN WAY 5/725)

The command in the surah to seek refuge in Allah from the evil of jinn and humans also includes, in our opinion, being vigilant against desires, feelings, and thoughts coming from an uncertain source or from within ourselves, and passing them through the filters of reason, conscience, and religious values. (QUR’AN WAY 5/725)

Muslims start every good deed with the Basmalah and want to be protected from the evil of the devil. However, to be protected from the evil of the devil, it is not enough to suffice only with words. In order to be protected from the evil of the devil, it is necessary to learn Islam, to apply the decrees of the Qur'an, the word of Allah, and to struggle against the devil and his friends (cf. 4/76). (...) It is not difficult to struggle against the devil and his friends and to be successful. Because, as stated in the verse, the trick of the devil is weak. However, success is still possible only with the grace, help, and mercy of Allah. (4/83; I. KARAGOZ,8/688)

Completed with the permission and help of Allah on Monday, December 3, 2018 / 25 Rabiul Awwal 1440 (Time: 08:53).

Infinite praise and thanks be to Him. On this occasion, I ask for the forgiveness of my mistakes and shortcomings. With the wishes to read, learn, and practice; may my Lord bring us together in His paradise. Amin.

DUA (PRAYER):

Ya Rab! (O Lord!) For the sake of Your Beloved Ahmed, the Master of the Universe, our Master Muhammad (pbuh), accept this book of mine which I have written in my humble and insignificant state, and make it worthy of Your pleasure.

Forgive this lowly servant, his parents, his teachers, those who served in the preparation of this book and who translated it into English, and all my believing brothers and sisters with Your mercy, grace, and generosity, and admit them to Your paradise. Protect us all from associating partners with You and opposing You, from arrogance and transgression, from the fitna (trial) of life and death, from the fitna of the Masih Dajjal, from the fitna of wealth and poverty/deprivation, from all kinds of fitnas, from grief, from helplessness and lack of will, from plunging into sins, from being crushed under heavy debt, from the punishment of the grave, and from the fire of Hell.

Make faith beloved to us and beautify it in our hearts. Ya Rab! Make unbelief, evil, and sin ugly to us and increase our hatred toward them! Ameen.