Surah Al-Falaq 113:4
سُورَةُ الفَلَقِ · Meccan · Verse 4 of 5
وَمِن شَرِّ ٱلنَّفَّٰثَٰتِ فِى ٱلْعُقَدِ
Translation
the harm in witches when they blow on knots,
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
The second hidden danger: 'those who blow on knots.' In its setting this names sorcery, Ibn Kathir records that the Prophet himself was affected by it and Allah healed him, worked covertly, at night, by tying knots and breathing over them (Ibn Ashur, al-Razi). al-Biqa'i notes sorcery is singled out as the darkest harm because it is pure malice, hidden, and it sets out to unravel what Allah has joined, a spouse from a spouse, a person from their own peace. Ask yourself: beyond literal sorcery, where do I see this pattern, the quiet 'blowing on knots', the covert campaign to loosen a bond, sow suspicion, undo something good? And do I guard my own ties with Allah's protection, or leave them exposed?
Grounded in classical tafsir: Ibn Ashur, al-Biqa'i, al-Razi.
Wording
This verse guides us to seek refuge with Allah from a specific, insidious form of evil: "And from the evil of the blowers into knots." Let us gently ponder the specific words Allah chose to convey this profound protection.
What the words mean
The word ٱلنَّفَّٰثَٰتِ (al-Naffathat) refers to those who "nafath" (نفث). This is a unique Arabic word, distinct from "blowing" (nafk) or "spitting" (tafl). As scholars like al-Razi and Ibn Ashur explain, *nafath* is a light blowing, often accompanied by a slight movement of the tongue, without much or any saliva. It is a soft, ritualistic puff, used by sorcerers as they recite incantations.
These *Naffathat* blow فِى ٱلْعُقَدِ (fil 'Uqad), meaning "into the knots." This highlights a specific practice in sorcery where threads or cords are tied into knots, and the sorcerer performs this light blowing and recitation over each knot. Ibn Ashur notes that sorcerers believe the magic endures as long as these knots remain tied.
Why 'Naffathat' is feminine
It's striking that the word is in the feminine plural. Al-Razi and Ibn Ashur explain that traditionally, amongst the Arabs, this craft of sorcery was predominantly associated with women. Ibn Ashur suggests this was partly because women, after handling daily chores, might have more time for such "trivialities" as magic and divination, leading false notions to spread among them. So, the chosen word points to a known reality of the time.
The subtle emphasis
Ibn Ashur offers a profound insight into the wording. The verse seeks refuge from "the *Naffathat*" (the blowers), not from "the *act* of blowing." This distinction is important. It implies that the harm doesn't come directly from the blowing action itself, as if the blowing possesses inherent power. Rather, the danger arises from the *people* who practice sorcery, the "Naffathat" themselves. These individuals, in their pursuit of harm, might resort to various means, such as poisoning food, inciting others, or using deceptive tactics. Allah is the only One who truly causes things to happen, and by seeking refuge from the practitioners, we acknowledge that it is their evil intent and actions, ultimately permitted by Allah as a test, that are the source of potential harm.
This verse, therefore, uses precise language to guide us in seeking Allah's protection from a very real, and often hidden, form of human evil – those who employ dark practices and malicious intent to cause harm.
Sources: al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Falaq 113:4 is discussed in 4 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Falaq 113:4 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.